Elegant Park Château Wedding with Alpaca Guests

Tina Chang (30 and a travel influencer, blogger and event planner) and John Hsih (38 and a physician) adopted a motto during the wedding planning process: “We went with whatever made us happy,” Tina says. “Beyond that, we didn’t stick to a style or theme.” The couple kept that mantra in mind when choosing the Park Château, close enough to Tina’s home state of New York for loved ones to travel, but ornate enough to provide a European destination feel. A pair of surprise guests also fit Tina and John’s laissez-faire planning guidelines. “As soon as I saw the alpacas, I knew this was the best day ever,” Tina says.
Tina and John raised toasts at a table topped with pastel Juliet roses and greenery, all cozily framed by the château’s fireplace. The pair served a semi-naked vanilla cake with refreshing layers of raspberry and lemon custard fillings. Tina and John crowned the dessert with a pair of animated-style figurines dear to them. “John loves Totoro, and I love Garfield,” Tina says. “When I saw an Etsy shop offering both of them, I had to have them. They’re hilarious.”