At WedVibes, we’re always drawn to the stories behind the aesthetics—the vision boards, voice notes, and late-night Pinterest scrolls that quietly shape iconic wedding moments. So, we did what we do best: reached out to real brides who are planning weddings their way. From spontaneous proposals to guest lists made on Google Docs, these brides are rewriting the rules and curating celebrations that feel less like tradition and more like self-expression.
In this series, they open up about the moodboards they can’t stop tweaking, the TikTok trends they’re into, and the vendors who just get it. Expect real love stories, real planning highs (and lows), and plenty of inspiration for your own “main character” moment.
Meet The Couple
Our names are Alana and Dara, and we live in Los Angeles, CA. I’m a full-time content creator. I love to cook; I literally cook every day and prefer to cook rather than eat out. I also love to walk! Dara is in real estate and is also a contractor (his passion is ground-up development). He’s into vintage cars, so on the weekends you can find us in his 1960 190 SL, probably on our way to walk by the beach and get brunch at Gjusta!
How did you meet?
We were actually set up by two different mutual friends! Once the second friend mentioned me to Dara, he got my number and left me a voicemail! Very old school.
The Proposal
I planned a weekend getaway to San Diego because I was working with the Fairmont Grand Del Mar to create content for their hotel. My best friend, Pia, happened to be going to a wedding in San Diego that weekend, so she also reached out to the hotel to work with them, too, so it kind of became something we were doing together. Little did I know, she was in on it the whole time and even fabricated a collaboration with House of CB to get me into a white dress. When I saw her face when I put on my white dress, I kind of put together all the clues and knew it would be happening.
We took a car ride down to La Jolla Shores, where he had a little setup with champagne, flowers, and the ocean in the background. Then our moms and sisters popped out of the bushes, and we continued with a surprise engagement lunch with all our closest friends and family at Valentina in Encinitas, one of our favorite restaurants in San Diego!
The Wedding Vision
1. When and where is your wedding taking place?
Our wedding is taking place in Mexico City on 11.22.25 at a beautiful hacienda.
2. Describe your wedding in 3 words.
Elegant, sophisticated and timeless.
3. What are three non-negotiable elements for your big day?
A strong sense of curation (I want the smallest details to feel very us), a memorable dining experience, music, and ambiance that caters to everyone.
Planning Process
1. What’s been the highlight of your planning process so far?
So far, visiting venues in person in Mexico City. Finding the perfect venue that isn’t played out and that fits my vision was difficult, and it was literally the last venue we saw after seeing around 15!
2. What’s surprised you most about wedding planning?
So far, we’ve been very big picture focused, which is hard for me because I’m very detail-oriented and I have curated ideas for the smallest parts of the wedding. My planner and his design team have told me multiple times we aren’t there yet.
3. Is there an Instagram account, TikTok trend, or aesthetic you’re secretly loving right now?
I’m really into the moody aesthetic. I’m not a floral girl so I’m leaning into candles, drapery, silver plates and lace. Most of my inspiration has come from non-wedding-related events like brand events in Europe!
4. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting their planning journey?
Find a wedding planner who understands your vibe from the beginning. After interviewing a few different ones, I picked the one who I think will create something magical that no one has seen.
