If ever there was a central thread running through for Sarah and Bryn, it was BIG. Big Love, Big Plans, Big Design. Read on for more details and pictures by Khariza Rae

The Big Love

It was a beautiful Summer afternoon in San Jose. The sun was shining, the drinks were flowing, and the atmosphere was euphoric. On this day, true love was in the air. On this day, true love – true Queer love – was to be celebrated.

In the beautiful words of their officiant, Renesha Westerfield introduced an important theme for the event: the acknowledgement of Queer Love.

“Bryn and Sarah want to acknowledge that they stand on the shoulders of all Queer people who came before them, and who fought for them to be able to stand here today…they acknowledge how lucky they are to have found each other and to live in a time and place where their love will be legally recognized.”

The Big Plans

Sarah and Bryn had big plans: to tell their story, to wow their guests with an evening like no other, and to celebrate Queer love. The theme? “Moody Jungle.” The place? Blanco in San Jose. The vibe? Epic.

Lily Spruce partnered with Sarah and Bryn to bring their vision to life. What made this partnership particularly special was that Claire – a Lily Spruce lead and a proud member of the Queer Community herself – was their coordinator.

The Big Design

Bryn, the visionary, cultivated a design scheme ripe with black, forest greens and touches of gold. Featuring gorgeous floral and greenery from Orange Moon Floral and The Plant Library, and a custom lighting installation from Got Light – which included a backdrop of palm fronds and a “living” dance floor lit to represent moving water – the venue was alive with the “Moody Jungle” theme. Even the littlest details were curated: velvet napkins from BBJ La Tavola, vintage green water glasses from Frances Lane, bathroom mirror decals from Etsy.

Everywhere you looked, there was a “wow” moment – from the unique printed signage (designed by friend and bridal party member) to the stunning specialty bar in the Great Room (provided by Fine Linen Creation) to the unique layout of the dining room tables (designed by Bryn herself).

Up on the Mezzanine, guests popped into the custom Phone Booth – by our friends at Boovara Designs – for a photo opp before leaving the couple a message on their FeteFone Audio Guest Book. Guests posed on the velvet loveseat, adorned with greenery and placed under a neon sign reading “Never Getting Over You.”

Fave Moment: after their Grand Entrance to the Great Room, it was time for the sweetest surprise! As a gift for her new wife, Bryn took to center stage to perform the sacred dance of Hula. It was truly exquisite! Needless to say, there was not a dry eye left in the room. It’s moments like these that remind us – as wedding planners – why we do what we do.

After dinner in the Great Room, guests headed back upstairs for the “Late Nite” party, where Lily Spruce had worked with vendors to transform the former ceremony and cocktail hour spaces into an after party. Guests posed for customized photo prints at Danny’s Photobooth. Tony’s Catering treated guests to sweet and savory treats, including a churro and ice cream station. DJ Sami – of Heart of Gold DJ’s – turned it up with dance classics.

On the Roof, guests cheered as Sarah and Bryn made their way to the dance floor in their second outfit of the evening. The kicker? Both outfits incorporated the words “Till Death”: Sarah wore them emblazoned on the back of her shirt, and Bryn on a gold clip in her hair.

All in all, it was most certainly an evening to remember. From the curated group of vendors to the magical little moments, these brides successfully wowed their guests and made their community proud. All in the name of true Queer love. Congratulations, you rule-breaking lovebirds!

Package Booked: 2 Months Out + Day Of

What we did:

Handled Parking Permit (the venue had a tricky load-in area)
Ran Ceremony Rehearsal
Discussed Design Execution
Advised on all Final Design, Decor, and Logistical Decisions, including Timeline
Floorplan Management and Finalization
Managed Vendors (all NINETEEN!)
Collaborated with Brides to create Custom Floorplan
Provided Specialty Decor for Staircase

On the day and night of the event, Lily Spruce:

Managed Execution of Specialty Dinner Floorplan
Upon Special Request, coordinated with Bridal Party for transportation of personal items
Set up all Client Provided Specialty Decor
Executed Decor of Staircase
Coordinated all Vendors
Handled + Dispersed Gratuities
Ran Event “Programming” + Executed Timeline