Liana Wearing The Rio Dress

December 22, 2020

How did you meet the love of your life?

We actually met on Tinder. I was new to Denver, and I liked that he had been there a while and could show me around the city. I'm from Hawaii and he's from New York; we found each other in the middle.

When did you know that this person had stolen your heart?

About 8 months after we met, Jason was diagnosed with Leukemia. It was really sudden and scary, and I honestly didn't know whether or not I would be able to (or even wanted to) stay by his side through it. But he was so strong, and so confident, and so funny throughout the entire process—and we learned that together, we make a pretty amazing team. I realized that if we could get through that, we could get through anything. I had found my person. (And yes, he beat it and is now completely cancer-free!)

Tell us the story of the proposal.

It was a few days after my birthday, and my mom said she wanted to take my sister and me out to dinner for a belated celebration. When I got home from our girls' night, the house was dark and our dog was running around the backyard with something around her neck. When I got closer, I saw that it was a lei—and when I walked into the house, I found it full of lit candles and fresh plumeria flowers (which are very sentimental and personal for me) that Jason had specially ordered from Hawaii. He got down on one knee and, in shock, I said, "What are you doing?" But of course I knew what he was doing, and I said yes.

How did you find Wear Your Love?

I think I first found Wear Your Love via Etsy. I had spent hours and hours searching for the right dress, and was becoming really frustrated. I couldn't find anything in the local shops that felt just right, and was beginning to lose hope. Then I stumbled across Wear Your Love.

When did you know you had found your perfect dress?

I knew from the start that, on my wedding day, I didn't want to feel like a princess; I wanted to feel like the coolest girl at the party. I wanted to feel comfortable and like myself, but also like a bride. I wanted flowy but fitted, lace but not old-fashioned; I wanted sleeves, because it was going to be a fall wedding, and I wanted to wear booties. I had this list of specifications in my head, but I couldn't actually picture what my "dream dress" looked like. I just thought, "I'll know it when I see it." When I saw the Rio dress, I knew.

 

What went through your mind when the Wear Your Love box arrived at your doorstep, and you pulled out your dress for the first time?

I was giddy! I was so excited and nervous. The dress had arrived so quickly, and I had never had something custom made before. I was afraid I would need to have alterations made, but I didn't. The dress fit me perfectly. When I first put it on, I almost cried.

What was your wedding theme or style?

The theme was one I totally made up, and it was kind of insane: A modern, boho dinner party with moody, tropical elements (and a live band.) We wanted it to feel like Denver in the fall, but to also bring in details that represented where we both came from—and the food had to be amazing (and it was!)

Let's show your wedding venue some love! What is the name of the wedding venue you chose and why did you choose it for your special day?
     
We got married at The St Vrain in Longmont, CO. It was the first venue we toured, and we both immediately fell in love with it—but we forced ourselves to see a few other places before making a decision. We loved the vibe of The St Vrain (it's urban and industrial, but still super elegant) and how it was so turn-key; it's already so beautiful, that it doesn't need much in the way of decoration (but we still brought in a bunch of decor elements to make the place feel like "us.")
What was on your wedding soundtrack playlist, aisle, reception, and first dance?
   
Jason entered to "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim. My dad walked me down the aisle to "Only You" by Makana (a friend of his.) We entered our reception to a Phish song played live by our band, and our first dance was to "May I Have This Dance" by Francis and the Lights featuring Chance the Rapper. Jason and I have very different tastes in music, and I think we did a good job creating a playlist that represented both of us.
What was your favorite moment of the day?
   
Toward the end of our first dance, Jason started to act weird and fidgety. As soon as it ended, he said, "Okay, now go sit down" and then he joined the band to surprise me (and everyone else) with a performance. He serenaded me with Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" and then he sang "Let's Dance" by Bowie to open up the dance floor. He's a very good singer, and he killed it.
Who was involved in your special day? We'd love to shout out to all your favorite vendors! Add all social media information, so each person gets the credit they deserve.
   
Photographer: @jaicee.morgan
Venue: @thestvrain Coordinator: Kristen Leite of @brindleandoak Catering: @sugarpinecatering Desserts: Ya Ya Farm and Orchard Hair and makeup: @thetinyrendezvous Groom's outfit: @suitsupply Flowers: @heliosfloral (but we also had traditional lei flown in from Hawaii, and the reception centerpieces were made of potted plants that I grew myself.) Videography: @tribe83_media_productions Invitations and stationery: my dear friend Megan Vasquez of @copperwillowps Our band was custom, but included members of Tiger Party and Pretty Lights. And the officiant was my sister!
Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for anyone planning a wedding?
   
Definitely hire a day-of coordinator, if you can. And if someone offers to help you with something, say yes. I started the planning process wanting to DIY as much as possible—but as we got closer to the big day, I began to feel overwhelmed. I'm so lucky to have talented, thoughtful friends and family members who volunteered to take items off my to-do list. I tend to be stubbornly independent and nitpicky, and it can be hard for me to let go and trust others to get things done—but in the end, I did and the results were better than I could have imagined. Everything came together perfectly.
Liana is wearing the Rio dress with white lining.
Alisha Franco

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