Influencer Jade Mitchell-Clyde's Chic Black-Tie Wedding in California's Gold Country

There are weddings that follow a vision, and then there are weddings that are built entirely from memory. For influencer Jade Mitchell-Clyde and Niko Cueva, every choice traced back to the people, places, and traditions that shaped them, transforming Jade's grandparents' private estate in Sonora, California, into a deeply personal celebration. Rather than centering the day around a trend or color palette, they let the landscape lead: towering oak trees, winding creeks, lush greenery, and abundant white lilies created a setting that felt effortless yet incredibly intentional. Guests gathered in a circular ceremony, with Jade and Niko standing at the center, surrounded by nature and their loved ones, before moving through the property to a reception where long curved tables dressed in textured white linens followed the creek's natural path. Jade's wardrobe reflected the same thoughtful balance of modernity and timelessness, with a Cinq gown paired with iconic Maison Margiela Tabi ballet heels before changing into a hand-beaded vintage-inspired reception dress. Warm, joyful, and unmistakably their own, every moment celebrated family, heritage, and the beauty of creating a wedding that felt completely personal.

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

We met while working at a restaurant called Tony P’s in Marina del Rey. When I first moved to LA from Idaho, I started working there, and Niko was already bartending. He had worked there on and off through high school and college.

^{The Proposal}

Niko faked an influencer trip with my agent. They had been sending me Photoshopped emails for months, making me think I was going on a free trip to Valle de Guadalupe. When we arrived, all of our friends and family were there to surprise me for the proposal.

^{The Engagement Ring}

The ring was custom-made by our family jeweler, BOUDOV Designs. It’s a toi et moi ring with a tilted emerald, a round diamond, and a half-bezel setting.

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

The vision was really just to look hot, have fun, and make choices that tied back to our childhoods and cultures. We didn’t have a specific trend, aesthetic, or color scheme in mind.

^{The Location}

Our venue was a five-acre private family estate in Sonora, Northern California surrounded by 500-year-old oak trees, a creek, and farmland. Once I realized we could completely transform it into something that felt fully our own, it became a no-brainer. The aesthetic feels very sweet and whimsical while still elevated, especially since the entire wedding is outdoors. 

^{The Ceremony}

The ceremony was held in the upper field of my grandparents' property in a circular setting, with us standing on a stage surrounded by 500-year-old oak trees. Niko and I didn't have a wedding party—it was just us. I was the only one who walked down the aisle, and Niko's brother officiated the ceremony. Mariachi played our aisle songs, and then, as a surprise after the ceremony, more members of the mariachi band joined in.

^{The Cocktail Hour}

For cocktail hour, the rest of Mariachis Bonitas escorted guests across the property and over a bridge spanning the creek to a little island where cocktail hour was held. The band serenaded everyone the entire walk across the creek. We also had a tequila tasting paired with different salts for guests to try. Afterward, everyone walked back across the creek to a lower patio, where our escort card display was set inside a large fountain.

^{The Reception}

Our reception dinner was served family-style. We served grilled chicken, brisket, and lots of abundant fruits and vegetables. The dinner was set in a serpentine layout along the creek that runs through the property. Niko and I made our grand entrance from the back deck overlooking the tables. We gave speeches alongside our families, and the entire house was draped in green and ivory linens, all done by my mom.

^{The Special Touches}

I feel like our whole wedding was a special touch because every decision was so personal. Some of my favorite moments were cutting the cake on an eight-foot-tall cake-shaped stage, having a piñata moment late on the dance floor, and changing twice after my ceremony dress.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

My favorite moments were the ceremony and cutting the cake.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

For the welcome party, I wore the Cinq gown "The Ethel" with Jeffrey Campbell Coin Purse heels and a YSL Mini Cone purse. For the ceremony, I wore a semi-custom gown and custom veil from Cinq. I tried on hundreds of dresses and always kept falling back on Cinq and the girls there. It truly just felt like these are my dresses. I've paired it with white Maison Margiela Tabi ballet heels that were reworked by Sara Rothan.

For the reception, I changed into a hand-beaded '90s/2000s gown from Happy Isles that was reworked and altered by Sara Rothan, paired with yellow René Caovilla crystal chandelier heels. For the piñata and late-night dancing, I wore a mini fringe dress from The Dolls House Fashion with the same René Caovilla heels I wore for the reception.

^{The Groom Looks}

For the welcome party, Niko wore white denim trousers and a button-down from COS—he loves COS—paired with Tecovas ostrich cowboy boots. For the ceremony, he wore a Bode suit with black crocodile cowboy boots, vintage horse-drawn carriage Celine cuff links, and vintage lily pins. For the reception, he changed into a custom embroidered shirt from NES Club.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

We took two years to plan our wedding. It made every aspect of the day feel incredibly intentional and purposeful. That said, I wouldn't recommend focusing on a project like this for two years.

Looking back, I wish I had enjoyed being engaged for a year and then planned the wedding for a year instead. My other piece of advice would be to go to your appointments alone at first. It gave me the space to make my own decisions before hearing everyone else's opinions.