The Christine Selling Sunset Wedding: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes

If you’ve spent any time on Netflix, you know the vibe. Huge houses, tiny dogs, and enough drama to make a soap opera writer sweat. But honestly, nothing in the history of Selling Sunset quite touches the absolute fever dream that was Christine Quinn’s wedding. It was December 2019, but for those of us watching the Season 3 finale, it felt like a portal into a gothic, snow-covered dimension.

Most weddings are about the couple. This one? It was about a $1 million budget, two black dresses, and a side of bitter workplace resentment.

The Christine Selling Sunset Wedding: Wicked Wonderland Explained

Let’s be real for a second. Calling it a "wedding" feels like an understatement. It was a full-on production. Christine and her now-ex-husband Christian Richard took over Vibiana, a stunning former cathedral in Downtown Los Angeles, and basically told event planner Lisa Lafferty to make it look like a "Wicked Wonderland."

There was no white lace or rustic barn wood here. Instead, guests walked through a twinkling light tunnel surrounded by real icicles. Yes, real icicles in Los Angeles. The ceremony space featured massive LED screens showing a snowy forest, and the aisle was lined with ponds containing actual live black swans.

She didn't walk down the aisle to a classic hymn. She entered on a Victorian carriage pulled by a black stallion while a string quartet played a slowed-down version of "Sweet but Psycho" by Ava Max. It’s the kind of detail you can’t make up.

That Famous Black Dress (and the One You Didn't See)

The most talked-about part of the christine selling sunset wedding was undoubtedly the dress. Actually, it was dresses. Christine worked with legendary designer Galia Lahav to create two custom black gowns.

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The first one, the ceremony dress, was a massive ballgown with a sheer corset and what seemed like miles of black tulle. According to reports from the time, it cost roughly $50,000. Galia Lahav had never actually made a black wedding dress before Christine requested it, which just adds to the "first-ever" energy Quinn loves to cultivate.

The reception dress was a bit more mobile—a fitted silhouette with ostrich feathers on the train. She paired the whole look with ruby-red Christian Louboutins that the designer himself had signed on the bottom. It was edgy, it was expensive, and it was 100% "Villain Era" before that was even a TikTok trend.

The Secret Illness Nobody Knew About

One thing that the cameras didn't fully capture was how miserable Christine actually felt. Years later, she revealed that she was battling a severe illness during the ceremony. In several interviews, she claimed she actually had COVID-19, which would have made her one of the earliest cases in the U.S. since the wedding happened in mid-December 2019.

She told Newsweek she was "really, really sick" and was basically running on adrenaline.

Her wedding planner later mentioned that she also got sick immediately after the event. Whether it was the flu or the early waves of the pandemic, Christine was allegedly struggling to even stand up while filming those iconic walk-down-the-aisle shots.

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Why the Drama Almost Ruined the Day

If you watch the episode, the wedding feels less like a celebration of love and more like a high-stakes confrontation. This was the peak of the Chrishell Stause and Justin Hartley divorce news.

Chrishell was there. She was hurting. She was trying to be a good sport. But Davina Potratz—in a move that fans still haven't forgiven—decided that the middle of a wedding reception was the perfect time to play devil's advocate.

Davina’s "there are two sides to every story" comment sparked a massive blow-up. It ended with Chrishell literally walking out of the wedding. Christine was reportedly furious that her million-dollar "big day" was edited to focus almost entirely on Chrishell’s exit and Davina’s interrogation.

"The swans had more air time than the actual vows," one fan joked on Reddit, and honestly, they aren't wrong.

The Logistics of a Million-Dollar Party

How do you even spend $1 million on one night?

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• Special Effects: The "fake snow" that fell as she walked down the aisle was actually a sophisticated theatrical effect that cost a fortune to rig up in the cathedral.
• The Cake: It wasn't just a cake; it was a four-tiered black masterpiece that "bled" red sauce when cut.
• The Food: Guests sipped on charcoal-activated "smoking" cocktails to keep with the gothic theme.
• The Attendance: Despite how big it looked on TV, there were only about 75 guests. It was an intimate but incredibly high-budget affair.

Was it Real or Just for TV?

People always ask if the christine selling sunset wedding was "staged." The marriage was legally real (though they have since filed for divorce as of 2024), but the timeline was definitely "produced."

Christine later admitted on This Morning that she had actually met Christian months before they "met" on camera. The show made it look like a whirlwind romance with a client, but they were already living together and dating long before the cameras started rolling for Season 2.

The wedding itself was a hybrid—a real life milestone that was heavily subsidized or at least incentivized by the production needs of Netflix.

Actionable Insights for Fans

If you're looking back at this iconic TV moment, here is how to separate the reality from the "reality":

1. Check the Timeline: The wedding happened in 2019, but aired in 2020. This explains why the "COVID" claims seemed so shocking when the episode first dropped.
2. Follow the Fashion: If you love the look, Galia Lahav now sees a much higher demand for black bridal wear. It's a legitimate trend now.
3. The Location: You can actually visit Vibiana in LA. It’s a popular event space and restaurant (Redbird is right next door).
4. The Aftermath: Keep in mind that as of 2024/2025, the couple has legally separated following some very public and serious legal disputes, which puts a much darker shadow over the "fairytale" episode.

The christine selling sunset wedding remains the high-water mark for reality TV excess. It was a moment where the "villain" of the show got her way, wore her black dress, and made sure everyone—including the live swans—knew exactly who was in charge.