Real Weddings: Lauren + David

Sonoma Valley weddings are one of the few guarantees in life: always breathtaking! Kristy and Charles chose B.R. Cohn Winery & Olive Oil Company in Glen Ellen for their festivities, and they got a picture-perfect day, which shows clearly in the images from photographer Julie Mikos. The short, salmon-colored lace bridesmaids dresses—custom made by Eileen West—are sweet and romantic paired with small bouquets of dahlias, parrot tulips and small succulents from PoppyStone Floral Couture. Olive topiaries placed at the ceremony site and on reception tables gave a nod to the vineyard locale. Kristy’s simple but fabulous Romona Keveza Collection gown complemented the surroundings as well, a timeless but statement-making strapless dress topped with a Swarovski Crystal necklace that’s fit for Cinderella! Meritage Catering took care of all the delicious details, including a small cake topped with the most adorable bride, groom and dog we’ve ever seen—the perfect ending to a fairy tale day!

Laura and Brian let the chic vibes of the city drive their LA wedding, held at the modern Skirball Cultural Center. Soft, clustered floral arrangements—including hydrangeas, dahlias, and roses—from Yamaguchi’s Flowers dotted the outdoor reception tables, with everything meticulously planned by Master Plans Events & Designs. Laura’s flowy Vera Wang gown literally made us gasp, and we have no doubt she twirled the full ruffled skirt while dancing to tunes from Elegant Event Entertainment. At the end of their perfect night, Brian announced he wanted to do it all again! Luckily he—and we—have these breathtaking photos from Hazelnut Photography to remember the day.

Lauren and Adam wanted something unique and special for the guests traveling to their Santa Monica wedding, and the only venue they ever considered was Shutters on the Beach. A white flower-covered chuppah paired with Lauren’s Monique Lhuillier gown were magical against the backdrop of sparkling water, giving guests a glimpse of true California style. Charcoal-colored bridesmaids dresses from Nordstrom picked up the slightest hint of stormy gray in the Pacific and paired well with pink ombre-inspired bouquets from The Floral Lab for a soothing color palette that gave way to a bold reception indoors: shades of pink blooms, from bubblegum to fuchsia, adorning tables covered in deep gray linens. Artist Agnes Csiszar painted the scene as Lauren and Adam took to the dance floor with guests, a keepsake idea we adore! As always, Hazelnut Photography perfectly captured this amazing soiree!

File Kelly and Trevor’s Sonoma, California, wedding under “Exactly What to Do,” because it doesn’t get much better than this! A sophisticated celebration at Cline Cellars captured the essence of what the couple envisioned—one big, fun party for their friends and family. Understated Champagne-colored bridesmaids dresses allowed Kelly’s Ines Di Santo gown to take center stage beneath a canopy of trees at the outdoor ceremony. Pale peach, pink, and ivory bouquets and centerpieces by Violetta sit pretty against a rustic setting that included plenty of vineyard greenery and wine barrels. We can never get enough of creative, personalized details, like monogrammed Mr. and Mrs. chair covers, a whimsical bride-and-groom bird topper on the confection from Forget-Me-Not-Cakes, and—oh!—that fabulous vintage getaway car. Thanks to Troy Grover Photographers for making us feel like we were actually there!

Warm and elegant, Euri and John’s wedding at Pasadena’s The Athenaeum is pure romance!  Euri chose one of our favorite color palettes – soft ivory and peach, dusty pink, and pale gray -  and mixed in beautiful mercury glass containers and luxe gold linens on the gorgeous tabletops created by Lindy at Commerce Flowers.  Euri is a positively stunning bride in her custom lace gown from Monaco Bridal (that floaty skirt, I die!), and we are head-over-heels in love with the fabulous images from one of our favorites, Erin Hearts Court!

Inspired by the colorful Mediterranean seaside, Stephanie and Niels created a romantic and vibrant soirée at a private estate nestled in the hills of Santa Barbara.  Stephanie’s vision was brought to life with poolside cocktails, colorful centerpieces in terracotta pots, and a Spanish-inspired dinner of paella and sangria.  Soigne Productions made sure that the day went off without a hitch, and we are utterly captivated by all of the gorgeous images from Michael + Anna Costa!

I’m absolutely swooning over Debbie and Robert’s classic and modern wedding! There are so many details that are just so gorgeous – Debbie’s beautiful gown and shoes, flowers by the always incredible JL Designs, but I have to admit that my favorite part of their big day is the actual venue itself, Serra Plaza in San Juan Capistrano, California. The couple wanted their celebration outside, but at the same time, their religion is very important to them. So, what to do? Bring in antique church pews and suspend chandeliers from mid-air over the venue’s courtyard, of course! After the ceremony, the courtyard was flipped into a banquet-style outdoor reception so that everyone could celebrate under the stars. Love love love this wedding and all the gorgeous photos by Sarah K Chen!

Belinda and Jim’s wedding is not only about as sophisticated and elegant as it gets, but it’s got an utterly fantastic pop of bold color throughout too! Bridesmaids in bright pink BCBG dresses, vibrant pink and red florals dripping with crystals by City of Commerce Flower, and glittering pink favors at each place setting, all set against their stunning venue Athenaeum at Caltech. The venue by itself is amazing, but then add in all these incredible details? I’m 100% smitten. Oh and add in the perfection that is Belinda’s Valentino heels? Make that 110%. Bravo to the whole team responsible for this gorgeous wedding and to Marvin Tsai for the beautiful photos!

Jenni wanted to be married under giant trees so when she and Steve came across Orcutt Ranch in West Hills, California, they decided it was their ideal location! It was a classic wedding in shades of purple with rustic touches of burlap and natural twine. A fun detail that Jenni included throughout their wedding was buttons! Buttons were used everywhere from their escort cards, to their custom cake stand, to centerpieces, bouquets, and all the paper goods. I adore the richly gorgeous florals by Jenny B Floral Design. All the photos by APictureLife Photography are beautiful and the ones of Jenni and Steve under all the trees are simply divine!

Diane and Jack’s Los Angeles soirée has every ingredient for an amazing wedding: luscious food, fabulous flowers, family, and friends!  Diane and Jack planned their wedding in a mere two months (!), and the end result is glorious, colorful perfection.  Brown Paper Design created lush centerpieces of cabbage roses, dahlias, and hydrangea in milk glass and a beautiful hanging ceremony backdrop amongst the trees at Maguire Gardens.  Everyone was decked out in their finest, even Cooper, the best dog, in a striped bow tie and leash from Silly Buddy.  Sit back and enjoy the beautiful images from Christine Farah Photography!

Katie and Yuval had a classically elegant yet relaxed wedding at Meadowood Napa Valley. While all the details were beautiful, it was REALLY hard to refrain from creating a post entirely filled with photos of their flowers! I love the color palette and adore the variety of flowers that Friday Flowers used. No wedding goes off without a hitch but Katie and Yuval had a big one 3 weeks before their wedding: their photographer double-booked and had to cancel! Luckily, Emily Takes Photos came to the rescue and gave us these beautiful photos!

Let’s all take a moment (or two) out of our day to check out this bliss-inducing Janita Mestre wedding. It’s delightfully in the desert, so of course you’re going to spot a few cacti at Galway Downs, but you’re going to see such a dreamy color palette too. Being so close to Valentine’s Day, Stephanie and Alex wanted to evoke love all throughout, so they picked pink as their go-to hue. Big and bright blush and ivory florals by Events by Floral Sensations complemented the eye-catching David’s Bridal mauve bridesmaids’ dresses, and we loved this idea, too. Instead of continuing the soft tones everywhere, shake up the colors like Stephanie and Alex and throw a deep hue in the same color family somewhere that will be seen. Adding it to the bridesmaids’ dresses was a clever touch without overwhelming the couple’s desire to have an airy feel to their wedding day.

Dominique and Blake’s vision for their Scottsdale wedding was pure romance, and working alongside Jennifer Ellis of White House Design Studio, their ideas transformed into reality. The couple, dating since their sophomore year of college, were joined at the Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia by family and friends who had watched their love blossom over the years. A vivid color palette of berry, wine, and ivory was selected to enhance the beauty of their desert setting, and White House Design Studio created arrangements overflowing with orchid, hydrangea, and magnolia leaves to festoon the ceremony arch and adorn the luxurious reception tables. In lieu of traditional place cards, guests received hand-calligraphed notes in ivory ribbon-wrapped boxes, the notes serving as a warm thank you from the couple for joining them to celebrate their special day. As always, Melissa Jill Photography captured each moment perfectly!

Lauren and Cheyne were married on a picture-perfect Arizona day at the gorgeous Encanterra Golf and Country Club. Their classic outdoor wedding was inspired by the architecture and beautiful surroundings of the venue. A neutral color palette of ivory, champagne, and gold was accented by accents of pale pink and peach, and Jenny Yoo ‘Annabelle’ gowns in a lovely shade of eggplant provided a vibrant pop of color! We adore the beautiful marigold calligraphy escort cards and menus from The Pretty Paperie Shop. Modern centerpieces from Designer Venues dressed the tables, and hand-painted wine bottle table numbers added a personal touch. Each image from Rachel Solomon is breathtaking!

There’s something so genuinely lovely about Courtney and Greg’s New York-area wedding. Timeless but unfussy, elegant but relaxed, theirs is an event that radiates love and happiness. The Tuxedo Club—a gorgeous mansion set beside a sparkling lake—was the setting for a springtime wedding, and a perfect 70-degree day was a welcome respite from the endless Northeastern cold weather! Courtney is genuinely radiant in her Vera Wang gown and shoes, both with custom alterations by Fidencia Dressmaking. The ballroom at The Tuxedo Club is decorated with many paintings and antiques, and Dramatic Innovation worked with the couple to create florals that complemented the historic setting. We are smitten with each and every image from the wonderful Michele M. Waite!

Romantic and vintage with a pop of color is what Kate and Anthony were looking to accomplish through their Boca Raton wedding, and these sweet images from Mi Amore Foto show us they did just that! The stunning Italian-esque venue of The Addison provided the romance the couple desired for the day, while roses in shades of cream, pink, and red and vintage-style details from Daniel Events took care of the flowers and pretty styling; Grace Eurglunes of The Addison helped finalize all the lovely details. Punchy coral and blush pink bridesmaids dresses from Nordstrom brought in the pops of color, which were perfect against the outdoor Mediterranean backdrop and also alongside Kate’s lace Jim Hjelm gown from Blue Sky Bridal. She accented her gown with a blue hairpiece and Tiffany blue Cole Haan shoes, a detail we adore! Whimsical stationery by Minted and a sparkling cake from The Addison were just two more of the gorgeous details of this day. “It was absolutely perfect,” says Kate. “From the festival lights strung across the giant banyan trees, to people getting down on the dance floor to the great music.” Most of all, Kate and Anthony agree it ended exactly as they wanted it: by being married to their best friend!

Natives of Los Angeles, Michelle and Miguel wanted a spot for their wedding that didn’t feel like typical LA. The Legendary Park Plaza Hotel was the perfect venue for that, with its dramatic staircases, ceilings, and windows. The Dainty Lion helped Michelle and Miguel plan a celebration that was uniquely theirs, which included lush peony bouquets, baby’s breath topiaries, and pretty blooms in glass vases along tables peppered with gold sequin linens. Bridesmaids in taupe dresses were elegant, especially standing next to Michelle in a lace and tulle Pronovias gown from Bellasposa. We love Michelle’s blue Badgley Mischka shoes with sparkling brooches! Romantic touches such as floral stationery from Wedding Paper Divas and feather accents on place settings matches the drama of the location! A dessert table at the reception featured macaroons from Sweet and Saucy Shop, topped off with a cake designed by Hotcakes Bakes. We’re swooning over every detail in these photos from Love, Janet Photography!

Sara and Chris’s romantic garden wedding at Hartley Botanica simply has us swooning! For starters, Sara’s White by Vera Wang gown–in a soft and sweet shade of pink–is nothing short of amazing! And with a backdrop like that, pastel roses in more shades of pink and lavender are a must; we adore the lush bouquet by Belle of the Ball Designs that Sara carried! Whimsical floral stationery from Minted further grounded the theme of this affair, where Sara and Chris took their vows beneath a canopy of curly branches, twinkling lights, and a jaw-dropping chandelier covered in lush blooms. Don’t miss a single detail in these stunning images by Valentina Glidden Fine Art Photography–we can’t stop staring!

We are smitten with Karen and Michael’s classic wine country wedding! With the help of Covenant Coordinating, their vision of an intimate gathering at Mayacama fell into place. A seasonal color palette of burgundy, eggplant, taupe, and olive echoed the gorgeous surroundings, and lovely florals by Maria Philbin Floral Design dressed gorgeous tabletops set amongst the votive-lit trees. Karen is radiant in her Amy Kuschel gown and Kate Spade heels, which are perfectly complemented by her ladies’ J. Crew dresses. We love each and every image from Julie Mikos | Photographer!

Liz and Jason’s elegant wedding completely eschews a modernist LA vibe for pretty pastels and soft touches that shine in these images from Christine Farah Photography! We’re enamored with the airy layers of Liz’s bridal gown, paired with delicate pearl jewelry and a romantic updo. Soft pink bridesmaids dresses set the tone for flowers in the same color family by Milieu Florals. With CCL Weddings and Events onboard to lead the planning and design, Liz and Jason created the perfect day for them and their friends and family. Following the ceremony at Los Angeles Full Gospel Church, the lovely Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at The Music Center played host to the reception. There, the couple took part in a tea ceremony to pay homage to their heritage. Pink chevron and vintage touches created a fairytale space for dinner, dancing, and a luscious dessert from Cakery Bakery. This affair couldn’t be more gorgeous. See it all right here!