Real Couples // A Stress Free, No Fuss Wedding: Miranda + Andrew
/Miranda and I have been best friends since elementary school. Between the two of us, she has always been the style savvy one — the one who could look at a dress hanging awkwardly on a hanger and tell you that it’ll look fabulous on you (and be right) — and then proceed tell you how to accessorize. Then one day, Facebook told me my best friend got engaged.
Miranda and Andrew spent more time deciding how to celebrate tying the knot than actually planning the occasion. From city hall, to small beach ceremony, to a grand celebration at Nixon Library, it took them some time to figure it out. They had their share of stubborn moments, overstepping family members, and budget challenges, but they knew when to stick up for each other, and when things weren’t worth the stress.
Like many couples today, they paid for their wedding. And thanks to the internet, they planned it from their home 2500 miles away. They approached wedding planning with a no fuss, no mess style. If it was too expensive, they moved on to other options. They had lots of DIY to save money, but kept the more complicated details (like bouquets, photo booths, and draping) to the professionals.
On a random day, Miranda stepped into BHLDN and came across her wedding dress, which happened to be 50% off. So she bought it. No entourage, no sleeping on it. The week of the wedding, we ran around town to gather last minute details. Small orchids for centerpieces, chocolate from Costco, and succulents from the backyard. We drank coffee while she printed and cut her own Mad Libs, advice cards, and menus. Our last stop was picking up her dress from alterations, where it all came together. The dress fit perfectly and paired perfectly with the accessories she expertly picked out, in typical Miranda style.
After 27 months of contemplating, non-planning, and planning, Miranda and Andrew were married by his mother, surrounded by 75 of their closest friends and family. When they began planning their wedding, they had two things in mind: good food and dancing. By the end of the night, the dance floor was packed, everyone was full from the amazing prime rib dinner, and Miranda and Andrew went back to their beachside hotel together, legally wed, with a bag full of leftover late night snacks in tow.
Photos by David Do, Words by Kristine Tsai (planner)
DAVID DO
David Do is a wedding photographer, father, husband, and lover of people. He loves traveling the world to capture weddings. He is also the president of Empowerment and Art, where he helps abused foster children learn about photography, business, and personal development.
KRISTINE TSAI
Kristine Tsai is a wedding planner based in the San Francisco Bay Area. After spending several years as an engineer and planning her own wedding, she decided to change her career and has since helped many couples plan and coordinate one of the most precious moments of their lives. She believes that every wedding is unique, and the path towards your wedding day should always be clear, manageable, and fun. In her spare time, she loves to sew, bake, and play with her 6-year-old golden retriever.
