Plot twist: Myranda & Justin’s surprise wedding celebration

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By Miranda Bigham / Photography by Scott Bui Co. and Myranda Figler

Ever shown up to a dinner only to find out you’re actually attending a wedding celebration? As of June 8, Myranda and Justin’s friends and family can say they have.

The couple chose to go the unconventional route of keeping their nuptials under wraps and inviting 50 of their loved ones to celebrate their “engagement” at DiTondo in downtown Buffalo. The big reveal happened when guests first arrived and were greeted by video footage of Myranda and Justin getting married on the steps of City Hall earlier that week.

“Honestly, I think most people were confused at first,” Myranda says (A welcome sign reading “Got marriage? We do” helped clear things up).

Nearly a decade into their relationship, Justin proposed to Myranda during a trip to Skaneateles in November 2025. Myranda describes their relationship as private and close-knit and says growing up, she wasn’t someone who dreamed about the wedding dress she would wear one day.

They considered eloping then decided against it, knowing they wanted to have their parents and siblings present. The surprise dinner plan started as a series of hypotheticals:

What if we just got married at City Hall?

What if we forgo the big wedding in favor of an intimate dinner?

What if we rent out a restaurant?

The couple ultimately chose DiTondo to host, which Myranda calls “a godwink.” It wasn’t just that they had previously lived at 500 Seneca (just down the street), or that the pasta tagliatelle Myranda had ordered for past birthday celebrations became the first course at her wedding dinner.

There were also details like a heaping charcuterie spread displayed atop wine crates and the restaurant’s wooden, rattan-backed chairs—both items never discussed but perfectly aligned with the bride’s vision.

In her free time, Myranda is a successful content creator (@meatupfordinner), using social media as a creative outlet to showcase her love of cooking. It should come as no surprise that her lifelong appreciation for a good meal’s ability to bring people together was embodied on her wedding day.

A simple yet impactful non-negotiable: Family-style dinner, with plates of lasagna, steak and grilled swordfish being passed amongst tables.

“Sharing dinner really forces people to sit down and talk,” she says. “Without a meal, what would it have been?”

Designing a day with purpose

This was a bespoke wedding with no short supply of intentionality. Get a glimpse into some of the personal touches Myranda and Justin used to infuse the day with meaning:

Parental support: For the ceremony on the steps of City Hall, Myranda’s mom supplied the flowers, and Justin’s mom officiated.

Guest of honor: The couple’s beloved pup, Calvin, was etched onto the dinner’s cocktail napkins and had a signature drink named after him. At the ceremony, he and the groom wore matching ties.

Planning and design: Myranda said the day simply wouldn’t have been possible without the help of her mom and sister, both of whom were in on the secret.

Finishing touches: Custom matchbooks from The Lounge Shop and embroidered gift bags from GMarie Co—two of Myranda’s favorite local shops.