A Southern California Dream Wedding: Kiletta + Gilbert

I was at a networking event when I met another planner who began telling me about a program named ‘Wish Upon A Wedding’. It is a non-profit organization that grants dream wedding wishes to couples facing serious illness or life altering health circumstances. I was selected to make this Southern California Dream wedding come true and it was the experience of a lifetime.

Funny enough- A few weeks after my conversation with this planner, I had the opportunity to be a part of Kiletta and Gilbert’s California Dream wedding and I knew it would be a life altering experience. However, I don’t think I truly realized how close I would hold this wedding to my heart. I was given a very short timeline to plan their wedding but I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.

The Story

Gilbert was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that had spread to is liver when him and Kiletta were in the midst of planning their wedding. Due to his health they had put their wedding plans on hold until Wish Upon A Wedding came along to grant their wedding wish.

From my very first phone call to discuss their dream wedding I took a ton of notes and really wanted to make sure it represented them both. After the phone call I got to work and planned the entire wedding in six weeks. This may not sound like a short period of time, however for a wedding its fast!

After discussing how Gilbert and Kiletta met for their first date at a local coffee shop. We discussed Gilbert’s love for the Raiders (which I loved b/c I’m a huge football fan) and I knew that I had to incorporate the Raider colors into their wedding and maybe even a touch of Raider love throughout.

The Wedding Design

I chose Black, Silver and White as their wedding colors and used them to design a Classic yet Modern wedding day. A modern font, clean lines, and classic details tied the entire theme together. Gilbert was perfectly in theme with his own personal touches of his favorite NFL team.

The Ceremony

Kiletta had expressed to me how much she loved greenery and candles. When thinking of the design for their ceremony I gave her just that! Bloom Theory Design adorned the entire altar with draping greens and lined the entire aisle with candles. It truly warmed up this clean modern space creating a classic ceremony look.

At the ceremony we created a special memory for Kiletta’s mom in the front row and John Garcia painted all of it.

After ceremony when it came to cocktail hour, we had Gilbert’s favorite foods served which included delicious sliders by 24 Carrots. Above all, from small details to large I wanted the guests to feel Gilbert and Kiletta throughout the entire wedding. Type J Creative helped me bring this idea to life with the “Touch Down at Your Seat” escort display that showed guests to their seats.

The reception details consisted of the perfect black plates from la pinata rentals, a textured grey linen and napkin topped with a beautifully designed menu. For instance, I decided to do a mix of tall and low centerpieces to add dimension to the space especially with only 5 dinner tables.

The Reception

Just a typical wedding evening wouldn’t have been enough. Therefore we incorporated special vendors like a coffee station to represent Gilbert & Kiletta’s first date, a popsicle stand for a late night treat and all the guests got to take home homemade pie made by With Love Made From Scratch.

To top of the perfect evening, we surprised Gilbert with a Raider cake made by KH Desserts and his reaction was absolutely priceless. I will never forget him screaming “RAIIIDERS” and his smile from ear to ear with pure joy. In conclusion, it was truly a night to remember.

Gilbert passed in January 2020 and is remembered everyday by his strong and beautiful bride Kiletta. I feel so honored to have been able to plan their wedding day and be a part of their story.

In Loving Memory Of Gilbert Quesada.

You can watch their full wedding film by Storytime Motions HERE

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