Meet Caila! Caila is a New York-based Lifestyle, Fashion, and Travel Blogger- not to mention, her Filipino heritage makes her a true mestiza at heart. This Wedding Wednesday features Caila in our lovely Georgiana gown and our exclusive interview! 

When did you get engaged?

"January 2, 2020 in Sarasota, Florida at a romantic waterside dinner at the Ritz Carlton!"

Location and date of your wedding?

"We are having two weddings: one in Lake Como, Italy on May 29th, 2021, and a ceremony close to home on July 17th, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio! See why we made this decision with more details here: https://withlovecaila.com/blog/10-reasons-were-having-two-weddings!" 

What are some sources of inspiration when planning your wedding?

"Our Italy wedding will be a rustic romantic adventure for our guests with a champagne toast boat ride to kick off the festivities earlier in the week!" 

Who are some of your favorite vendors you've come across when planning your wedding?

 "Our International Wedding Planners at SposiamoVi have made planning a destination wedding a breeze and true joy! From helping us scout a venue, building out our wedding website, to coordinating guest accommodations- they really do it all. Our other favorite vendor to work with is Balani Custom Suits for designing Nick's look for our engagement photos and wedding day. We designed a bright blue linen men's suit for Nick to wear for this shoot and the personable team at Balani brought our vision to life! It was the perfect suit to match my Mestiza gown and together, it made us feel even more like a pair running off to get married!" 

What draws you to Mestiza New York? Why did you choose the Georgiana Ball Gown for your Engagement Shoot?

"When planning our engagement photoshoot, I wanted a dramatic yet timeless gown for our pictures that would make it feel like we were in Italy already! Mestiza New York feels like it was made for sophisticated women who love to travel and pack a gown- just in case an occasion would call for it. As soon as I saw the Georgiana, I knew it would be the perfect dress to match our International-themed nuptials. I loved the intricate blue pattern of the fabric and feminine high-low hemline to show off my sparkly shoes! And as soon as we picked the dress, we custom-ordered my fiance a Balani blue linen suit to compliment it...and with our white Vespa, everything fell into place perfectly."

What are your favorite Mestiza products for brides, wedding guests, and bridesmaids? 

"Mestiza gowns have a festive life of their own- truly! I have three in my closet and I love that they can be dressed up for a wedding or down for a bridal shower. They fit like a glove and make you want to dance the night away! The Brianna Tiered Gown or the Cleo Ballgown are a few of my favorites for both the New York City girl in me and the traveler off to a barefoot wedding in Tulum."

What is your advice to brides who have had to postpone or cancel their weddings until further notice? 

"My heart goes out to brides who need to postpone or cancel their wedding. I know how much thought goes into that selfless decision, but you're protecting loved ones which is truly incredible. For those postponing, my advice would be to lock down a new date and book quickly as all vendors' schedules in 2021 are filling up fast. I think The Knot Magazine said 800,000 weddings were canceled due to COVID, so next year we'll be squeezing two years of weddings into one. And for those brides-to-be that canceled their wedding, I am so sorry. I hope maybe you can find a small way to celebrate your original wedding date together and maybe have a celebration in the future. There are no rules when it comes to weddings, so what works for you as a couple is all that matters."