Sidney and Isaac knew from the start that they weren’t planning a typical wedding. “The theme of our wedding was ‘anti-wedding,’” Sidney shared—and that sentiment shaped every part of the day. The couple had already secretly tied the knot in 2019, making this event a joyful reveal and celebration with their loved ones.
Location: Oakland, California, US
Style: Creative, moody, non-traditional
Time of planning: About 1 year
Number of guests: 100
Setting: Ciel Creative Space, Warehouse
Season: Summer
From the moment Sidney and Isaac met as sophomores at UCSC, sparks flew—and they’ve “been inseparable ever since,” Sidney shares. After ten joyful years filled with adventures, inside jokes, and late-night giggles, they decided it was finally time to say “I do.”
Isaac, a nature-loving wildlife botanist with a fascination for bugs and hiking trails, perfectly complements Sidney, a Sex, Marriage, and Family Therapist who specializes in queer relationships and identities. From scouring vintage antique fairs and exploring new foodie spots to simply being “completely unhinged together,” their playful, child-like humor has been the foundation of their relationship—and the key to keeping the magic alive.
Welcome Day
The welcome dinner was the perfect beginning to a weekend that celebrated Sidney and Isaac in all their colorful, unconventional glory. “We wanted the wedding to reflect both of our personalities,” Sidney shared—and that energy was on full display from the very start. Isaac took charge of all the floral arrangements, crafting bold, dark-neon tablescapes that popped against sleek black china and flatware. “My mom, who runs her own catering business, did the grazing table,” the bride shared, adding a deeply personal touch to the evening.
They added heart-shaped menus to keep the vibe fun and cheeky and asked guests to show up in their most vibrant outfits. The playful atmosphere didn’t stop there—guests were treated to live sketches and even greeted by two giant inflatable dolls that looked just like the couple. “The decor was bizarre, quirky, and utterly ‘us,’” Sidney said—and it set the tone for a celebration like no other.
Fashion
Sidney’s wedding looks perfectly reflected her bold, sentimental, and effortlessly cool style. “I wore three different dresses and a custom veil, which was made using parts of my mom’s wedding dress,” she shared. For the welcome dinner, she chose a thrifted find from a Joshua Tree road trip, that was reworked by a designer Dan McLean. On the big day, she wore a sheer Mirror Palais gown with a silk bodice, then changed into a flirty Revolve mini to dance the night away.
"If it wasn’t clear by now, our wedding was a show!"
Ceremony
No officiant was waiting at the end of the aisle—“Instead of an officiant, we had our two best friends, Ruby and Wes, standing at the end of the aisle.” They wrote and performed an original song live while guests lined the path “runway-style,” creating a powerful moment that blurred the lines between ceremony and celebration. Their first dance wasn’t just a moment—it was the moment. “Our first dance was hands down the highlight of the weekend,” Sidney shared.
“Midway through the song, a moody fog rolled across the floor, and magnetic fireworks went off.” The cheers, the happy tears, the rush of love from their friends and family—it all created what Sidney describes as “an indescribably emotionally charged moment.” It was a beautiful expression of everything they are: heartfelt, original, and deeply connected to their loved ones.
Reception Decor
Sidney and Isaac wanted their reception to feel like nothing guests had ever experienced before—“like our guests just entered into a seductive spaceship,” as Sidney described it—and the Ciel Creative Space delivered that vision and more. With its soaring white walls, industrial textures, and dreamy natural light, the art-forward warehouse felt like home for the couple, who are both drawn to bold design and creative spaces. The venue’s brutalist charm made it the perfect setting for their rave-style after-party with 100 of their closest friends.
Their planner, Alex at Earth & Events, brought the magic with floral arrangements that Sidney called “something out of a mad science experiment—wild, organic, and unpredictable.” As the sun set, the vibe shifted: the space glowed with moody red uplighting and flickering candlelight, anchored by a dining table lit only by a red LED strip—”an ode to Star Wars.” The warehouse transformed into a surreal, otherworldly celebration pulsing with energy, emotion, and love when night fell.
Three Cakes, No Rules
“Isaac and I are huge cake lovers, so naturally, we went all out,” Sidney shared—and they truly did. The newlyweds opted for three custom wedding cakes from Rivas Boulevard, each with its own unusual shape and mismatched style that felt totally on brand. Lit with candles, the cakes became their own dreamy little smoke shows, adding a touch of drama and magic to close out the weekend in the sweetest (and most unforgettable) way.
Party
The party wrapped up just as bold and unforgettable as the couple themselves. “Our DJ, Shido, aka DJ Jambalaya, is a close friend of ours, and he completely owned the night,” Sidney shared. He kept the dance floor alive and buzzing with high-energy beats and unexpected mashups—like the Macarena remixed into Tell Me When to Go by E-40. “It was iconic!” she added. It was the perfect ending to a weekend full of personality, laughter, and pure joy.
Couple About the Vendors
The day wouldn’t have come together without an incredible vendor team who truly got the couple’s one-of-a-kind vision. “Alexandra Piper from Earth and Events was our wedding planner, and she was a godsend,” they shared. It was unlike anything they’d ever seen, and she turned their wildest dreams into a real-life fairytale.
Their photographer, Alex Mari, was equally essential in telling their story. “Her work spoke to us instantly,” Sidney said. Every image felt like a glimpse into the soul of the weekend—artful, unfiltered, and entirely unforgettable.
PLANNING AND DESIGN Alexandra Piper from Earth & Events | PHOTOGRAPHY Alex Mari | CONTENT Esme Franco | VENUE Ciel Creative Space | DRESSES Mirror Palais, Revolve, Dan Mclean | CAKES Riveras Boulevard | STATIONERY Ally Eveleigh | LIVE ILLUSTRATION Kieron Piper | MATCHBOXES & INFLATABLES Earth & Events | DJ DJ Jambalaya | AV Paul Stylez | RENTALS Found Rental Co | CATERING Hopscotch Catering & Beyond the Border SF
