Meet Bryce Gaston | Wedding Planner & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bryce Gaston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bryce, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve been planning events for over eight years, and during that time, I naturally became the go-to resource for friends and acquaintances as they started getting married. What struck me early on was how many foundational aspects of wedding planning were completely unfamiliar to them, not because they weren’t smart or capable, but simply because they’d never done it before. I saw how easy it was for even well-intentioned decisions to snowball into costly mistakes without expert guidance.

One moment that really stuck with me was when a friend asked for a second opinion on her rental order. She had no idea how many chairs could realistically fit around a 6’x30″ table and had only rented half the number of tables she actually needed. Had she not asked me, it would have been a logistical nightmare on the wedding day. And really, how would someone outside of the events industry know that?

Experiences like that made me realize there was a significant gap in the market between couples who could afford a full-service wedding planner and those who were navigating the process on their own, often overwhelmed by conflicting advice online from non-professional sources. That’s what inspired me to create accessible, expert-level resources for couples who don’t have a wedding planner.

While I specialize in full-service planning for luxury weddings, it’s equally important to me to empower couples with more conservative budgets to plan with clarity and confidence. I believe every couple deserves a flawless wedding day, regardless of their budget, so I set out to create tools that are not only affordable and easy to use but also rooted in professional knowledge and a genuine desire to help.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart is my ability to combine the meticulous, behind-the-scenes logistics of wedding planning with a deeply personal, design-forward approach. I don’t just plan weddings, I curate experiences that feel intentional, meaningful, and truly reflective of each couple. Whether it’s a luxury estate wedding or an ocean-front resort wedding, my goal is always the same: to create a day that feels seamless, timeless, and unforgettable.

I’m most proud of how my business has grown into something that not only serves high-end clientele but also empowers couples who are planning their weddings on their own. When I started, it was just me saying yes to helping friends navigate the overwhelming world of wedding planning. Over time, that evolved into a full-fledged business, rooted in both expertise and genuine care.

Getting here hasn’t been easy. Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve had moments of doubt, burnout, and uncertainty. But I pushed through by staying grounded in my “why”: I genuinely care about people having the best day of their lives, and I know that thoughtful planning makes all the difference. I want the world to know that my brand isn’t just about beautiful weddings, it’s about creating clarity in chaos, turning stress into confidence, and making every couple feel seen, celebrated, and taken care of.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Anytime I have friends visiting San Diego, here are my favorite places to take them.

Dinners at:
Marine Room – there’s nothing better than an extraordinary meal while watching the waves crash on the sand.

Javier’s – great atmosphere, great margaritas, and great Mexican food.

Born and Raised – extravagant food overlooking the San Diego skyline is always a vibe

Breakfast at:
La Valencia Hotel – they never disappoint with their eggs benedict, ocean view, and sometimes you can catch the set up of a wedding.

Caroline’s Seaside Cafe – also a notorious wedding venue below at Scripps Seaside Forum, this casual breakfast spot has one of the best views in San Diego

Stratford Court – a Del Mar favorite, this is the perfect spot to be on a summer’s day

Activities:
Pick up poke bowls at the Market HFS and enjoy them overlooking the ocean at Glider Port in La Jolla

Take an entire day to visit the San Diego Zoo. You can grab cocktails while you’re touring and get your steps in at the same time.

Game days at Petco Park are always a hit. Watch the Padres play at the best stadium in the country and enjoy many local eats from within the stadium.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
One book that had a major impact on me is Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes. It really shifted my mindset and encouraged me to embrace opportunities, even the ones I initially felt unsure or hesitant about. The message that stuck with me was this: you never know what incredible things might unfold if you’re just willing to say yes. So many of life’s most rewarding experiences are hidden behind a bit of uncertainty, and unless you lean into that, you may never discover them.

That philosophy of saying yes, of being open to the unknown, is a huge part of how my business began. When I first started helping friends with their weddings, I didn’t set out with a formal business plan or a roadmap. I just said yes when someone needed help. I said yes when it came down to starting my own business or staying within the safety of corporate America. And each of those yeses led me to where I am now: running a business I love, serving couples with care, and building tools that help people plan the most meaningful day of their lives. Saying yes created a path I couldn’t have predicted, but it’s one I’m so grateful I followed.

Website: https://www.brycegaston.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brycegaston.events/

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brycegaston.events?_t=8i8DsZDBpgU&_r=1

Email: events@brycegaston.com

Image Credits
My headshot: Mirelle Carmichael

All other photos: Lianna Marie Photography