Destination Wedding Big Bear: Thais & Tom

After being on a dating website for only a week, Thais Pacci, 30, thought her date with Tom Huntington, 36, would be the first of many on her search to find Mr. Right. But one dinner in Encinitas in September 2011 was all it took for Thais to realize she had found the one. Less than two years after their first date, Tom and Thais tied the knot in a beautiful, “semi-destination” wedding in the mountain town of Big Bear, California. —Katelyn Montero

August 24, 2013

Favorite Moment

Thais thought that Tom had finished his vows, but then he started reciting them in Portuguese! He had been secretly practicing with her sister to surprise her and her family on the big day.

The Venue

“Our families had never met, so we wanted a place where we could spend the whole weekend together,” says Thais.

Mixing Traditions

“Bridesmaids in Brazil usually don’t wear all the same outfit,” says Brazilian native Thais. “So having my girls wear the same style in different tones of peach and cream was a good blend of traditions.” Thais found the lace skirts at Etc. Etc. Etc. Boutique on Balboa Island and paired them with peplum tops.

Homemade Wedding Bands

Talk about taking DIY to the next level! As a metalsmith and jewelry designer, Thais designed her own earrings, bracelet, hair piece, and even both wedding bands.

A Mother’s Touch

Thais’s mother, Sueli, arranged all of the flowers (including the bouquet) herself. The owner of an online DIY magazine in Brazil, Sueli also made the ring pillow using lace from her old wedding dress. Thais, her mom, and her sister also spray-painted bottles gold, made paper flowers from coffee filters (and dyed them with tea), and made the giant papers flowers for the aisle.