Real Weddings Wednesday: Alyssa + Trystan's Beautiful Mansion Wedding

Happy Real Weddings Wednesdays everyone! We are celebrating the gorgeous ceremony of Alyssa and Trystan, taking place at a gorgeous mansion with tons of elegant and regal touches. With a gorgeous gown courtesy of Sparkle Bridal Couture, amazing hair and makeup done by the talented Personify Bridal, and so much more, you’re going to want to keep scrolling to learn more about the couple, and see more photos. Happy reading!

Tell us a little about you and your beloved.

We met online through a dating app! On our second date, we saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Colonial. Three years later, on Halloween, as we drove home, Trystan played a playlist of some songs that had been a huge part of our relationship. When we arrived at our apartment, he led me out of the car, played “Dammit Janet”, got down on one knee, and proposed! We knew from the start we wanted a two-year engagement to have plenty of time to plan the wedding of our dreams, and it worked perfectly for us, as all of our preferred vendors were available (and thankful for the advanced notice!)

What was the best part of your day?

Seeing our family and friends talk, laugh, eat really good food, and have fun with each other was beautiful to watch. When else would my godfather meet his cousin, or my brother meeting his aunt and uncle from the East Coast? Family members that hadn’t gathered since before 2020 got to see each other again. It was wonderful to see people gathering for a joyous occasion. Watching it all from our sweetheart table, after having had a beautiful ceremony officiated by my brother, was a really exciting experience.

What else would you like to share about your big day?

This wedding really allowed us to be creative and let our personalities show. We both love movies, and we used the seating chart as an opportunity to show our favorite movies. Trystan created a short film with pictures of us and images of cinematic couples to be shown in a theater at our venue. We used a song from one of our favorite animes as our grand entrance. The music in general was a reflection of not only our tastes, but how we feel about each other. There was Bob Marley and the Beatles, there was Etta James and Elvis. Our guests left knowing so much about us!

Advice from the couple:

If you can have a longer engagement, do it! The extra time was so helpful and lessened our stress. If you can afford a coordinator, it was a great to have a professional dedicated to our needs than asking someone close to us to coordinate. If you’re not into a lot of DIY or starting from a blank canvas, all inclusive venues are awesome! Cherish the quiet moments and small victories with your partner, like dropping off your invitations, getting your first RSVP, or planning your gift registry. There will be arguments and tough times but the important thing is that you get married at the end of it all!

Anything you would have done differently?

Take the time to think of ALL the photos you’d like taken. Our photographer and coordinator were great at getting us to write down the most important photos we needed, but we still missed a few we kick ourselves for missing. And don’t forget your guest signature book if you’re doing that!