Real Weddings: Jeshica + Brian

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!

Beachside weddings in Santa Monica simply guarantee gorgeousness, and Pauline and Richard’s wedding at Shutters on the Beach doesn’t disappoint. We’re loving the juxtaposition of sophisticated ceremony images with casual beach portraits from Connie Lyu Photography. Pauline is a glowing bride in a lace mermaid-style gown, and we love the crispness of the water blue bridesmaids dresses. Touches of lace and pastel pink accent this entire dreamy affair. We wouldn’t change a thing, see it all in the gallery!

Gina and John’s Florida wedding brought the Tuscan coast to the Emerald coast. Gina comes from an Italian family so it was important to them to have their big day filled with friends, family, dancing and great food! It was an intimate, al fresco celebration of only about 70 guests with lots of Tuscan-inspired details to transport guests across the globe. I love the warm shades of orange and yellow that Nouveau Flowers used for the florals, the amazing pergola that stood over the head table at the reception, and all the grape leaf vines and lanterns used to decorate the space. Such a warm and marvelous celebration that honored two very beautiful places and two very beautiful people! Thanks to Rae Leytham Photography for these lovely images!

Claire and Will’s breathtaking St. Helena wedding is such a fresh and classic affair to start the new year! Lush rose, hydrangea and orchid blooms in shades of cream and white from Paul Stokey of Tesoro set the stage for an elegant outdoor ceremony at Meadowood Napa Valley. Soft, one-shoulder bridesmaids dresses by Joanna August from Bella Bridesmaid are subtle but gorgeous, especially next to Claire’s lace cap-sleeve Romona Keveza Collection gown! We adore the sweet silver sparkle of her Jimmy Choo heels as well. These stunning images from Megan Clouse catch all the highlights, from timeless stationery by Write Selection to the filmy elegance of Claire’s veil from Neiman Marcus and the simple cake by Perfect Endings, festooned with fresh floral garlands. We’re swooning over all of these romantic details!

We love the mix of Dallas style in Rachael and Cam’s Santa Barbara destination wedding! The entire affair is equal parts California mod and Southern sophisticated, starting with Rachael’s contemporary column-style Amsale gown. But to offset the crisp lines, she chose soft white peonies and hydrangeas for florals by Juniper Designs. We also really like the look of black-and-white striped ribbon around bridesmaids bouquets, paired with their taupe Bari Jay dresses. The outdoor ceremony was held at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore, Santa Barbara, before guests entered the hotel’s Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club for an indoor/outdoor reception. Events by Philippe ensured the details were perfect, like gold sequined linens atop cocktail tables, dramatic flower topiary centerpieces, and tailored striped chair cushions on Chiavari chairs to mimic the wedding details. The gold cake prepared by the resort is the perfect send-off for this elegant bash! We adore all of these spectacular images from the amazing Hazelnut Photography!

The Old Florida setting of Ponte Vedra Inn & Club was the ideal spot for Elisha and Palmer’s wedding guests to come together for a fun, get-to-know-you weekend. The couple chose to hold their ceremony on a Friday, so everyone could enjoy laid-back time on the beach after the festivities. After Elisha walked down the aisle in an Ann Taylor gown—attended by bridesmaids in gray, halter-style J.Crew dresses and flanked by lush peach and yellow spring arrangements by Liz Stewart Floral Design—the intimate group headed to the club, where they danced to the music of Diggin’ Rhythm N’ Brass and feasted on a gorgeous cake from Beaches Pastry. The photos from Brooke Images are breathtaking—we can only imagine how fabulous this wedding was in person!

Kelly and Jim’s wedding was a day that their guests will no doubt never forget! Although their Laguna Beach wedding at Montage was breathtakingly gorgeous with the most perfect details imaginable, what truly makes this wedding beautiful is how much thought they put into creating a day that was special for their family and friends. The event was filled with family traditions and special touches like an “I love you” chant at the ceremony and men’s and women’s poppers at each place setting! It’s sentiments like these that make a wedding special and truly memorable! But we’d be remiss if we didn’t also discuss the gorgeous floral arrangements by Tic Tock Couture Florals. We can’t get enough of those draping orchids flowing from both the the ceremony and reception arrangements and all of the stunning photos from Leigh Miller Photography!

When she pictured her wedding with Eric, Jodi envisioned rustic elegance—a blend of wood, lace and a touch of sparkle that would make a lasting impression on their guests. With Southern California’s elegant Walnut Grove ranch as their backdrop, the couple took on a multitude of do-it-yourself endeavors, as well as spent hours scouring Etsy for the perfect invitations, programs and favors. “I poured my heart into every little detail, and it ended up just how I had imagined it.,” the bride says. We’re head-over-heels for every detail ourselves, from the wooden centerpiece boxes etched with the couple’s initials to the pastel blooms that florist Regina Robertson arranged in each box. And those cakes! This couple had not one but three incredible, delectable whipped creations from Cindy Harber. We can only imagine they were as delicious as they look!

There is something so effortlessly elegant about Laurie and Michael’s sun-washed wedding on the grounds of the gorgeous The Villa of San Juan Capistrano. Could that be because the bride is a Newport Beach, California interior designer?! Laurie put her skills to work for her wedding, envisioning a vibrant, French-inspired affair complete with the happiest floral arrangements by Floral Occasions. From casually color-coordinated bridesmaids dresses to burlap-wrapped water bottles, we’re in love with every single detail that Troy Grover Photographers captured!

Kelsey and Jonathan’s dreamy beach wedding is so lovely we can hardly take our eyes off these photos! Overlooking the water at Seagrove Park in Del Mar, California, this couple said their “I dos,” then headed to L’Auberge Del Mar’s ballroom for an evening of dinner and dancing to the Tijuana Dogs. Kelsey looked stunning in her Monique Lhullier skirt and top, and we love the flowy taupe bridesmaids dresses from Swoon paired with strappy gold heels! Hello luscious elegance! White, ivory and green orchid variations assembled by Botanica SD brought modern sophistication to the tabletops and served as perfect accents on their banana chocolate truffle wedding cake. Enjoy soaking up these seaside moments captured by Erin Hearts Court!

Nicole and Ryan’s dream was to have a Florida beach wedding that was a mini-vacation for everyone who attended, and it seems they succeeded! The couple used a clean and fresh color palette of blue and yellow, and Blooming Flowers made sure to mix Nicole’s favorite flower, tulips, into the cheery arrangements. The entire day was laid-back, effortlessly elegant and personal. The couple even included their pup in the ceremony — a detail we can’t help but adore! A big thank you to Shipra Panosian for these beautiful images!

Meghan and Andrew’s wedding is so perfectly beach chic!  With a color palette ranging from pale aqua to sand, and the gorgeous setting of the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort as the backdrop, the couple worked with Jeannie Savage of Details, Details to create a wedding that was clean and modern, and also incorporated sweet personal touches that paid homage to their families and shared history as a couple.  As a nod to Meghan’s Indian heritage, the signature drink was the “Indian Summer” and ladies received pashmina favors, and to celebrate with friends, they brought in their favorite law school band, The Spazmatics, and created an after-party menu inspired by late night eateries in Austin, where they met.  Prepare to fall in love with their stunning wedding, full of lush orchids, hydrangea, tulips, and calla lilies, and all of the gorgeous images from Caroline Tran!

An elegant, intimate, natural, and absolutely perfect event, Erica and Brian travelled from Kansas to Napa for their wedding with only eight guests. I’m blown away by the effortless style and sophistication of their entire event at Meadowood from the gorgeous scenery to Erica’s J. Crew gown to the natural dogwood and hydrangea centerpieces by Kate Stanley. Members of the intimate guest list dined together at one table, sharing delicious wine and food from the venue. Every single detail of this wedding is absolute perfection and I’m in love with these photos by Megan Holly Clouse!

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!

Holly and Mike’s wedding was simple and classic, just like the love they have for each other. Their venue, the Malibou Lake Club, is already gorgeous, so they chose clean and fresh white florals by Happy Flowers for the day. Check out her stunning bouquet cascading with roses, orchids, and vintage brooches! So fantastic. The two of them traveled for 6 months before the wedding so they incorporated lots of vintage travel details into the day by using luggage tags as escort cards and mixing in globes and postcards into the decor. I love how fresh and classic their wedding is and of course all these beautiful photos from Hazelnut Photography!

Christine and Eugene held a classic, fresh and modern wedding at the San Francisco Ferry Building, using the same beautiful space for their ceremony and reception. The couple used one of our favorite ideas – seating in the round – for the ceremony, and as guests enjoyed cocktails the space was completely transformed for the gorgeous reception featuring stunning orchid and tulip centerpieces by Poppy’s Petalworks. Christine is just gorgeous in her mother’s lace wedding gloves and Vera Wang Luxe gown, and I’m in love with the beautiful images from Julie Mikos!

Christine and George were married in an intimate celebration in Santa Barbara. Close friends and family surrounded the couple as they tied the knot on the beach and then all moved inside the Santa Barbara Beach Club for a beautiful dinner party. I love all the touches of gold they used from the chargers to the wine glasses and all the wonderful seashell details (check out that chandelier!) throughout the event. These photos from Jessica Lewis are cozy and warm and show off the gorgeous florals by Nico Designs! Such a stunning backdrop for a gorgeous wedding!

What does a Texas native transplanted to the Bay Area do to honor her home state in her wedding?  Incorporate the “yellow rose of Texas” of course!  Brooke and Christopher’s classic, elegant soiree at San Francisco’s Julia Morgan Ballroom has the most refreshing yellow, white, and gray color palette, such a gorgeous contrast to the rich, deep colors of the ballroom! Nancy Liu Chin Designs did an incredible job with the event creating big soft bouquets and lush arrangements featuring roses, ranunculus, and hydrangea and JBD Events made sure the day ran without a hitch. Such a pretty wedding with pretty details and pretty photos by Mulberry Photography!

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!

Yelena and Michael were married at Malibou Lake Mountain Club in the rolling hills outside Los Angeles. They dubbed their wedding a “Jewkrainian” wedding – a blend of Jewish and Ukrainian traditions, the prettiest of these traditions in my opinion being their colorful chuppah, hand-painted by Michael’s mother. The beautiful florals by Mr. B’s included lisianthus, yellow spray roses, and lots of mixed greens in a color palette of yellows, greens, and white. A cute spin on the thumbprint guestbook, they let guests choose between leaving a fingerprint or using a tree-inspired stamp, adding variety to the print and sparing guests’ thumbs! Kaysha Weiner’s beautiful photos captured all the details from Yelena and Michael’s big day!