This micro-wedding ended up being even better than the original wedding plans!

Tori & Eric were trying to please everyone else for their initial wedding plans and make sure their guests were going to enjoy themselves. Then the global pandemic hit, and their wedding went from planning on 150 guests, to ordering 20 chairs, and not being able to fill all of them because of COVID-19.

Their wedding turned into a magical, intimate ceremony only wedding, because receptions weren’t allowed.  After cancelling their original plans, they found Cuvier Park and thought it was perfect for their new micro-wedding. This wedding became a lush, tropical, intimate and very romantic ceremony. 

Even though they were unable to have a traditional reception, the night before the wedding they were able to make dinner reservations for up to 10 people at Olive & Basil in La Jolla. So, with eight of their friends and family they had the opportunity to celebrate a little more.

What advice would you give to other couples that are trying to figure out what to do about their upcoming wedding?

“I would say, don’t let other people make the call for you. (Which was the hardest part for us) If you have even a small interest in an elopement style wedding, or small intimate wedding, now is your time. DO IT. After all, getting married is about being there for each other NO MATTER WHAT. For better, or for worse, right? Well, now is your time to prove it to yourselves. 

Our videographer was able to do a live stream for us, and we were able to say hi to absolutely everyone who stuck around virtually. Pick what is most important to you, and what is less important. For us, the videographer, photographer and florist were incredibly important for us. I wanted gorgeous photos to hang on my wall, and an amazing video to be able to look back and show to people and say even in a global pandemic, we were so madly in love, that we didn’t want to wait.”

They had to make some adjustments, chairs were grouped by households, not isles, 6- feet apart. Instead of a live musician, they had a hand sanitizer station. Instead of matching bracelets for the bridesmaids, they now had matching masks.

Because of the global pandemic, they had their dream wedding. If they had to go back and do it again this way, they absolutely would. 

Since Tori & Eric were unable to have a reception with a wedding cake, they still wanted to send their guests home with a sweet treat from The Baked Bear.

Wedding Date: August 26, 2020

Photographer: True Photography

Videography:  BE Studios

Venue: Cuvier Park – The Wedding Bowl

Florist:  Tess Fresh Flowers

Rentals:  Platinum Party Rentals

Bridal Gown:  Kitty Chen Couture from Mariposa Bridal Boutique

Menswear:  Friar Tux

Jewelry:   East West Gem Company

Bridal Beauty: Studio 119

Cake/ Dessert:  Cookies from The Baked Bear

Officiant:  Craig Does Weddings