Celebrity vegan chef Mary Mattern and professional musician Neil Westfall met in musical mayhem while the two were touring with pop-punk band Blink-182—Mary as chef for the headliner’s vegan drummer, Travis Barker, and Neil as guitarist for opening act A Day To Remember. Engaged one year later, the duo got to work planning their fun, quirky, and food-centric wedding.
Staying true to their down-home style, they went with an all-American barbecue-style celebration, made spectacular with elaborate plant-based charcuterie, gourmet vegan burgers, Coors Light cocktails, and a show-stopping wedding gown—purchased on the internet.
“We just wanted to have a big backyard barbecue for all of our friends and family,” says Mary. “So we basically did that. Just scaled it up a bit!”
The venue
Orlando’s The Acre—a lush, one-acre urban sanctuary boasting a quaint tiny house for gathering, towering camphor trees, and whimsical fountains.
The décor
For a glammed-up backyard vibe, Mary and Neil took full advantage of the venue’s rustic feel, where they were surrounded by charming buildings, ivy-covered walls, and outdoor areas strung with delicate white lights.
The music
The newlyweds had their first dance to the soulful “I Will Be There” by Odessa.
The cake
A vanilla bean cake with notes of almond and citrus, filled with a rich coconut cream dotted with freeze-dried raspberries
The proposal
Neil proposed to Mary when they returned to the serene Somerset, WI campgrounds where they’d met, asking her to be his wife one year after their first encounter.
The gifts
As her wedding gift to Neil, Mary enlisted the Orlando Magic basketball team’s fuzzy green mascot, Stuff the Magic Dragon, to surprise her new husband—a massive sports fan—with an in-person appearance at their celebration.
The menu
Charcuterie
Miyoko’s Smoked Farmhouse, Kite Hill Ricotta, pastrami beet tartare, vegetable crudité, dried fruit, housemade pickles, and assorted jams
Taquitos
Wonton wrapper, sautéed vegetables, and chili sauce
Duo of Empanadas
Soy chorizo and cheese; sweet guava and cheese
Korean Barbecue Tacos
Soy steak, red cabbage slaw, Asian carrot slaw, jicama, sriracha aioli, and crunchy fried noodles
Soy Chorizo Tacos
Soy chorizo, vegan ground beef, lettuce, black bean-corn salsa, tomato, cilantro-garlic crema, and tortilla strips
Tostone Slider with Street Corn
Fried plantains, habanero-guava barbecued jackfruit, sweet corn, mayonnaise, chili-lime seasoning, parmesan, and cilantro cream
Burger Bar
Impossible Burgers, barbecue jackfruit, eggplant bacon, fried maitake mushrooms, onion jam, cashew mac and cheese, and Nashville-spiced cauliflower wings
The honeymoon
The happy couple hopped aboard a train from Los Angeles to Portland, soaking up stunning views of the Pacific shoreline, massive mountains, and expansive forests—all while indulging in the dining car’s vegan offerings along the way.
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