The marriage of Mindy Burbano and Glenn Stearns can be described as a modern-day fairy tale.  The story begins not in a palace in a faraway land, but in Las Vegas, which some may argue is today’s “Camelot”.  Seated at the same blackjack table, Mindy was first intrigued by Glenn because he was wearing sunglasses, though he was indoors and it was the middle of the night.  The two bonded over jokes and cards, and though a fortress of close friends and coworkers surrounded Mindy, Glenn pursued the challenge.   After a romantic courtship, the pair purchased their dream home in Pelican Hill Estates, which would ultimately become the site for their wedding. 

With only six months to plan the event, it was fortunate that the couple was two of a kind when it came to their wedding visions.  Because their home is architecturally inspired by the rustic elegance of Tuscan design, the bride and groom agreed on a Tuscan garden theme.  The couple’s estate would be transformed into a fairy tale vignette, with rich colors and décor adding an element of royalty to the already storybook-worthy setting.

Though the planning went smoothly, thanks to lots of help from the wedding coordinator and from the bride’s mom, Joyce Burbano, the couple still experienced the normal pressures of creating a grand-scale event.  Most brides suffer the stress of creating the guest list, and Mindy was no exception.  The process of finalizing the 400 guests put Mindy in the emergency room not just once, but on two different occasions! 

The date was chosen because it offered a full moon (and didn’t conflict with TV ratings season!) and lent itself to a vibrant autumnal palette.  An earthy, Tuscan color combination was achieved with burnt amber calla lilies, olive-green hydrangeas and deep reds.  The buffet-style dinner reception featured six different food stations serving authentic Tuscan fare.  Even the wedding cake was reminiscent of Tuscan décor, with wrought iron cake stands separating the five grand tiers of white cake embellished with French vanilla and chocolate ganache. 

The ceremony was straight out of a fairy tale, complete with trumpeteers and a picture-perfect sunset just as the ceremony began.  Following tradition, Glenn was insistent on not seeing his bride-to-be until she began her momentous walk down the aisle.  The moment was worth the wait, as all of the guests witnessed Glenn’s beaming joy at the sight of Mindy in her stunning wedding gown.

Making the event a true family affair was the inclusion of Glenn’s children in the ceremony:  Glenn’s daughter, Charlene, was one of the bridesmaids while his eldest son, Skyler was one of the best men, Colby was a groomsman, and youngest son Trevor was the ring bearer!  Additionally, the memory of Glenn’s beloved mother was honored with a single rose laid on a chair in the front row of the ceremony.

From beginning to end, unique fairy-tale elements were woven through the details, including the whimsical “singing heart chimes.”  These chimes were hearts on stems, wrapped in natural fiber brown paper, and guests waved them in the air as Glenn and Mindy made their exit in a horse-drawn carriage.  The perfect ending to a love story that will be told for generations to come!