Set against the golden light and relaxed beauty of Santa Barbara, Josie and Nick's celebration was anything but traditional. It was a bold mix of cultures, colors and creativity that told their story not through words, but through every carefully chosen detail. From the architectural installation of chartreuse mesh to the lush grazing tables, this was a wedding where personal style met thoughtful design. Western flair collided with Brazilian vibes and the result was nothing short of stunning. The couple's fashion choices were equally memorable. Both dressed in bespoke suits, they brought an effortlessly cool energy to the day. Every moment of the weekend was a reflection of who they are – from the open flow of the reception to the deliberately unscripted energy on the dance floor. Here, discover more exciting details about their wedding planning, style and choice of vendors.
Our Love Story
The Day We Met
Josie and I maintain different stories of the day we met. I believe it was at a party we were both attending at my best friend’s apartment, and she thinks it was when she was at work and I walked through the gallery she was managing. Regardless, we had many mutual friends and met organically. We were very good friends for a couple of years before we decided to give our relationship a go.
She was living in LA and came to NYC shortly after I had ankle surgery. I showed her around the city on my little knee scooter for a week, and we had the best (and longest) first date either of us had ever had. The best moment was when we got caught in a summer shower in the evening—without umbrellas or rain jackets. It was the perfect way to cool off anyway. We stumbled upon a kids’ playground in Chelsea and decided to get on the swings and just play. It’s still one of our favorite memories from that time.
The Proposal
During COVID, Josie and I spent a lot of time in Santa Barbara. There was almost no one around, so we could go outside without fear and enjoy the sunshine. We were very lucky. It was where we were stuck alone for months on end, and ultimately, where our relationship flourished. It was the most natural place for me to plan a proposal. I planned to have a photographer at the beach where we often went for walks. However, there’s very little cell service in that area, so when the photographer arrived, I had no idea (poor guy was sitting in the sun for two hours). I also snuck a bottle of champagne into the car, but it was clanking around, so I blared the music as loud as I could. I proposed on the beach, and after we took some pictures and the adrenaline wore off, we went to Hendry’s Boathouse so Josie could get her favorite meal: a corn dog. She insists they have one of the best corn dogs she’s ever had. The next day, some of our LA-based siblings came up, and we had a fun beach day.
The Engagement Ring
Josie really wanted a signet ring as an engagement ring. She wanted us to develop our own new “family crest.” One of our good friends, Elizabeth—an incredible jeweler The Moonstoned—helped bring the vision to life. Josie wanted a snake to represent her—a symbol of rebirth, wisdom, and duality. I’m a Leo, and the lion was most fitting. The lion has a small diamond in its mouth, and the snake, a small diamond in its eye. Josie insisted she didn’t want anything very shiny, but we’ll see if she changes her mind over the years. She then designed an engagement ring with The Moonstoned for Nick—a traditional squared-off gold band with a snake wrapped around the edge.
Our Wedding
The Vision
Nick was born in Venezuela, grew up in Brazil, and bringing the Brazilian and Latin culture to the wedding was a must. We did this by creating long, luscious buffet tables to graze from whenever you wanted, mixing in Brazilian music, and naming our guest tables after our favorite foods. Nick’s table names were Farofa, Pão de Queijo, and Arepa. Mine were Hot Wing, Schooner (a massive beer glass from my hometown, Sun Valley, Idaho), and Fudge.
I knew I wanted to blend both of our cultures. Growing up in Idaho, I wanted a western flair with unexpected vibrant colors. Nick, being from Brazil, wanted something jungle-inspired, almost tropical, mixed with classy and traditional. You might be wondering how in the world we blended all those styles—but we just did! All those styles represent who we are, and somehow it all felt cohesive. You don’t have to choose just one aesthetic. Choosing our vendors was very important to us—they all had to understand the cultural blend we were going for. Our wedding venue was truly a blank canvas, which allowed me to play with flow and design. The structure built with the big chartreuse mesh fabric was actually a custom formation we came up with. Draping shaded the guests' tables, while we kept the center—where the dance floor was—open for stargazing.
Our Team of Vendors
Nina was amazing at connecting us with the right vendors. Since we wanted to bring in so much of Brazil, some things were harder to align—but the vendors we went with understood the vision almost instantly. I was pleasantly surprised that at our cocktail tasting, they knew exactly how to make a proper Caipirinha (it’s not as simple as you’d think!). With any wedding, the photographer becomes a huge part of the team. We could not say enough amazing things about Dennis. He became part of our family that weekend—we still speak at least once a month. He respected our creative vision and melded it beautifully with his own.
The Location
Just like with our engagement, Santa Barbara was the only place that felt right for our wedding. I loved the venue because it was a home—it felt more like a big party at someone’s house than a traditional wedding. The views didn’t hurt, either.
The Ceremony
We both don’t remember much from the ceremony—we were so nervous! Puni made some beautiful arrangements at the end of the aisle that looked like whimsical creatures growing from the ground. There was also a tree near us. As a kid, I always imagined getting married under a big old tree at my house. It didn’t quite turn out that way, but I loved incorporating that element.
For an officiant, we wanted someone who had been married for a long time and who was close to us. While many of our friends are married, the only people with long, loving marriages who truly knew and loved us were our parents. So, instead of having them “give us away,” we had our dads marry us. It was a really special, non-traditional way to involve them.
The Cocktail Hour
The cocktail hour was just steps away from the ceremony, around a circular bar. Our goal was to make it all the way around the bar, spending a moment with each guest before dinner. We each had a cocktail in hand and braved the crowd—it was wonderful to connect with everyone before the big party. We made it just in time for dinner!
The Reception
Josie worked very closely with the vendors to create a stunning structure for the dinner and dance floor. It was a huge amount of work for her to coordinate all the details—she had such a clear vision. After a few short but meaningful speeches, we opened up the dance floor and dinner buffet. We specifically didn’t want a rigid wedding timeline.
Dance when you want, eat when you want, drink when you want. We chose a DJ over a band so we could blend Latin music with some wedding classics. Our DJ was a hit. For the last couple of hours, a live band joined the DJ and improvised with his mixes. It was such a cool, unexpected blend.
The Special Touches
The most special touches to me (Josie) were the oversized boutonnieres—a fun way to get the drama of a bouquet without having to hold anything! Dennis also coordinated the reveal of my wedding vest, which didn’t have a back. Nick’s reaction was priceless—there should be a picture in there somewhere!
Our Favorite Moment
After the ceremony, we took some time alone—no guests, no photographer, no planner. It was the first time we had been alone all day, and we were full of adrenaline and excitement. It gave us a moment to process and prepare for everything ahead. It was really special.
Our Style
The Bridal Looks
We both knew we wanted to wear suits, and Josie did a ton of research to find someone in NYC who could pull off our wild ideas. She found Watson Ellis, and they made our dreams come true. I wanted a traditional white tuxedo, like Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca. After some persuasion, Kat and Melissa at Watson Ellis convinced me to modernize it with dark navy pants and a white crushed silk jacket. The fabric gave the jacket an understated shimmer—much more interesting than a flat white.
For Josie’s suit, she wanted western influences. We added subtle nods to western wear: deep-V shoulder piping, side buckle straps on the trousers, and an absurd number of buttons. Melissa also cleverly piped tulle around the vest and coat edges, adding beautiful dimension.
Our Wedding Party Looks
The concept was simple: everyone wears a suit. We gave them a color palette and some guidance but let them choose styles they might wear again. My sister wore a suit with feathers. Josie’s brother wore velvet. We were flexible—tie, bolo, bow tie, or no neckpiece at all!
Our Advice
For the Planning Process
Pick the handful of things that really matter to you. Nothing will look exactly as you envisioned if you're focused on everything. I was really focused on the F&B and music; Josie focused on design and flow. Those things turned out perfectly, in our opinion.
For On The Day
Don’t rush. Your planner will keep things on track. Take a moment after the ceremony—just the two of you—to breathe and take it all in. Also, a pre-ceremony shot with your family helps!
For Post-Wedding
Do not fly out to your honeymoon the next day. We went about a month later (you don’t have to wait that long), but it gave us something else to look forward to once the wedding adrenaline wore off. Even a couple of days to recharge helps. And—handwritten vows. You’ll treasure them. Smudged ink tells the best stories.
Vendors
Photography: Dennis Roy Coronel
Wedding Planner: Nina Moore
Florist: Puni Petals
Stationery: Josie Fergie-Bunce
Catering: Whoa Nelly Catering
Music: Dart Collective, Jason Sulkin Music
Hair: Jordan Paige
Makeup: Marla & Co
Style
Bridal Suits: Watson Ellis
Bridal Jewelry, Wedding & Engagement Ring: The Moonstoned
