A Surprise New Year's Eve Wedding | December 31, 2025

Every wedding we host is special, but this one, we got to help plan from the inside — because the bride is one of us.

When Kim casually mentioned she was thinking about hosting an end-of-year brunch, Danielle and Serena were the only two who knew the truth: it wasn't a brunch at all. It was a surprise wedding for Kim and Charlie. For a couple of months, we quietly helped Kim plan her own New Year's Eve wedding under everyone else's nose — thinking through the best excuses for why the happy couple wouldn't be around when guests arrived, how to block off rooms without raising suspicion during setup, and how to keep straight faces while planning our own Stacy Mansion New Year's Eve celebration at the same time.

‍The Setup

The holiday decor was still up from the season, so there wasn't much left to do — the mansion was already gorgeous, exactly as it was. Danielle worked with Kim and Charlie on the specifics of their ceremony script, since she'd be serving as their officiant. Serena worked with Kim on the decor and, just as importantly, the cover story for why the two of them would be missing when guests started to arrive: they'd had to run out for something last-minute and were running late. Not exactly an unbelievable excuse around the holidays.

Kim and Charlie got ready in the Merlot Room and the library — just a few feet from their own guests the entire time, and no one had any idea.‍ ‍

The Reveal

When the last guest arrived, Serena ushered the immediate family into the parlor, which until that moment had been curtained off from view, and had them take their seats. Once they were settled, the rest of the family and friends were invited to join. When everyone was seated, Danielle made the announcement: today wasn't just a brunch. It was a wedding.

Kim and Charlie walked in, and the tears started immediately. The surprise landed exactly as planned, and the rest of the morning unfolded the way every wedding here does — full of food, family, and love.

For us, this one was personal in a way none of our other weddings have been. It's also a good reminder of something we believe about every couple who celebrates with us: your wedding doesn't have to look like anyone else's. Elopement, surprise brunch-turned-wedding, or a fully tented affair for 150 — we'll help you build the day that's actually yours.