Minda and Tom's Vibrant Retro Themed California Wedding by Red Eye Collection

Today I am taking you off to sunny California for the gorgeous wedding of Minda and Tom who were married on 26th October 2024 at Sunol’s Casa Bella in Sunol. The couple wanted a fun, vibrant wedding that matched their personalities, incorporating their love of Abba, all things retro and mixing in a dash of boho for good measure. They couldn’t be without their trusty dogs so there was a few lovely nods to them along the way as well. I just love the playfulness of this wedding, it is fun, full of love and has some gorgeous styling ideas. I am a big fan of the disco balls and retro touches and Minda’s wedding dress is just gorgeous. Big thanks to Red Eye Collection for capturing the day for us.

How they met
Tom and I met as neighbours in the Richmond district of San Francisco. One evening after work, I was out at a local bar with some co-workers and, as it tends to happen in the vet world—we had a cute pup with us. Tom spotted the dog and came over to say hello. I figured he was just another guy trying to hit on girls at the bar, but I quickly realized he was genuinely more interested in the dog. That earned him instant bonus points! We ended up talking well into the night and discovered we had so much in common. From there, Tom went above and beyond to win me over—bringing me breakfast most mornings and joining me on countless walks with my dog Ronnie. It became clear pretty quickly that we were kindred spirits, and even when life threw us a few challenges, our bond only grew stronger. Tom proposed during a trip to Thailand at a cat sanctuary—truly the purrfect place, since we’re both huge animal lovers (I’m a veterinarian, after all!). He was so nervous he knocked over the champagne glasses right after popping the question, which only made it more endearing. It was a proposal that perfectly combined our love for animals, nature, and travel—and I couldn’t have imagined anything better.

Outfits
I really wanted something different for my wedding look, and honestly, the dress found me. It was the very first one I tried on, and even after trying so many others, I kept coming back to it. The unique embroidered florals felt so aligned with the eclectic, hippie feel I was going for—it just felt right. For the bridal party, we leaned into a seasonal palette. The groomsmen wore dark green, which felt rich and timeless, while the bridesmaids wore a beautiful amber tone that gave a warm, fall-inspired glow. One of my favourite things was that each bridesmaid chose a different style of dress. It let everyone’s personality shine through and ensured they felt amazing in what they were wearing. As for our guests—we invited them to show up in their best disco attire, and they delivered! It was so much fun seeing everyone embrace the theme with sparkle, bold colours, and vintage flair. It brought so much energy to the day

Theme of wedding
Our wedding was a true celebration of love, fun, and everything that makes us happy! The inspiration behind our day came from a mix of some of our favourite things: ABBA, disco, the carefree hippie vibe of the 1970s, and, of course, a big, lively party atmosphere. We wanted our wedding to feel like a love-fuelled celebration that was vibrant, full of energy, and totally unforgettable. For the theme and style, we embraced bold, bright colours and florals, bringing in natural elements to create a fun, yet organic feel. Disco balls were scattered around the venue, adding that perfect sparkle and bringing that retro vibe to life. We wanted the decor to reflect our personalities and the joy of the day. We also made sure to include sweet touches, like a special nod to our family pets, who were an important part of the celebration.While we didn’t incorporate any religious traditions, the day felt deeply meaningful because of the love, the laughter, and the wonderful people who surrounded us. It was a day that truly celebrated who we are as a couple, and we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way!

Decoration
We had so much fun getting creative with our wedding decor! A good amount of it was DIY, which made everything feel that much more personal. One of our favourites was a custom bar sign featuring our pets—it was such a cute and unique way to include them in the day. We also made DIY disco ball table numbers that added a fun, funky touch to the reception tables. For the overall vibe, we combined fresh florals with earthy tones and pops of colour, which blended beautifully with the funky, retro elements we love. One of the standout pieces was a vintage orange phone we used as our audio guest book—it was such a fun detail and a total hit with our guests. All those little touches made the day feel so us.

Flowers
Our florals were such an important part of the overall vibe of the day. We went with a mix of earthy tones, natural dried grasses, and bright pops of colour to bring in both warmth and personality. Since my dress was colourful and floral, we kept my bridal bouquet a bit more neutral and earthy to let the dress really shine. As a nod to fall and our favourite holiday—Halloween—we incorporated bold pops of orange throughout, which tied everything together in such a fun, seasonal way. Our ceremony arch was one of my favourite design moments; it featured a beautiful blend of florals and unique elements that paired perfectly with our macramé backdrop. The florals really brought everything to life and helped set the tone for the day.

Personal touches
We personalized the day in a bunch of fun and meaningful ways! One of our favourite elements was the little nods to our pets—we had DIY stickers of them, and even had their faces on sticks for the photo booth. It was such a fun way to include our favourite critters in the celebration, and it honestly brought us so much joy. Another standout moment was having Silvi Alcivar from The Poetry Store at our wedding. She brought her vintage typewriter and created custom poems for our guests on the spot, as well as a beautiful poem that captured the essence of our day. It was such a unique and heartfelt experience, and our guests absolutely loved it.

Special moments
The most special moment of the day was definitely our first look. Funny enough, I was originally hesitant to do one, but I’m so glad I listened to Oscar—it ended up being one of the most cherished parts of our wedding. Sharing that quiet, intimate moment together before all the excitement began gave us a chance to really take each other in and soak up the fact that this was our day. It felt grounding and emotional in the best way, and it’s a memory we’ll treasure forever.

Advice for other couples
Our biggest piece of wedding advice is to slow down and savour every moment. The day flies by faster than you can imagine, and every little moment is so special. Looking back, we wish we had carved out more time to pause and reflect instead of getting caught up in the tiny details. As for marriage advice—laugh often and don’t take yourselves too seriously. Life will throw its curveballs, but being able to find joy, humour, and lightness together makes all the difference.