Ed and Picca’s wedding at Franciscan Gardens is full of fun details, gorgeous color, and a romantic setting that set the tone for an “epic” day! Photographer Jeremy Chou captured their incredibly beautiful images and we are so dang excited to share them with you! Get ready for detail overload!
What made the wedding special and unique?
If Ed and I could describe August 23, 2014 in one word, it would be EPic. Sharing this day with our family and friends made it that much more special for us. We love the fact that we personalized our wedding from our vows, to our first dance, to the theme, the decor and desserts, to a mini-film which told our love-story involving our family and friends. We also loved that it was an intimate setting… “Big” but small wedding.
Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!
My bridesmaids are all from out of town. So last year during the Christmas holiday season, everyone was home visiting family. I scheduled a few trips for us in one day and it was our last stop; a trunk sale at Mariposa Boutique in Orange County. My only criteria was that I didn’t want lace and I didn’t want beading, otherwise, I tried to go in with an open mind. To be honest when I tried it on, it didn’t feel like it was IT. All of my bridesmaids loved it though! It wasn’t until I face-timed with my mom and saw her reaction. After that, I knew it was the one. An off-white lace overlay made of tulle and hints of beading by Pronovias. It was simply perfect, and funny how I walked out of there and fell in love with what I originally didn’t want. The best part about it!? The price tag–waaaaay under budget.
What were some touches added to make it personal?
We wanted to share our love-story with our guests from the get-go. From there, I “ran-away” with a love-story theme and DIY’d the decor: Escort library cards filed in card catalog boxes I purchased from Marshall’s, hand-made bookmark place cards, book centerpieces spray painted in gold, tables numbered by chapters, chalk board signs (with the help of another DIY bride, Alyssa) and a dessert library with all home-made treats/desserts (including our cake and cake topper) made by friends and family! We had one of Edward’s friend since 7th grade perform an acoustic version of one of our favorite songs of 2014, “Latch,” by Sam Smith and our cousins Ricky and Christine of The Yodsukars also produced a mini-film of our love-story of how we met. When I asked my little nieces and nephew what their favorite part of the wedding was, they said “When we watched the movie.” For the bridesmaids, I wanted each of them to be different to show their individuality but at the same time I wanted them to be comfortable in the dress that they were wearing. I gave them a color palette and allowed them to choose their own dresses. All different styles but complimentary in color.
What was the most memorable part of the day?
Can I say ALL OF IT!?! Since then, we can’t stop thinking about our wedding day. We’ve watched the videos and looked through photos taken by guests over and over!! We miss it so so much!! But if we were to choose, it was our ceremony. For me particularly, it was the part where Edward said his vows.
Tell us how you met and became engaged.
We met at The Bonaventure Hotel in DTLA at a New Year’s Eve party through mutual friends. He was the first person I met shortly after the stroke of midnight. That evening, we sat in the hotel lobby in front of a water fountain away from the noise and had a great conversation. I got cold and Ed gave me his sweater which I ended up “stealing” that night in hopes that I would see him again. It was returned on our first date and the rest was history… On our 3rd-year anniversary, he took me back to the same exact spot where we met/talked on that one New Year’s night and that’s where he asked me to be his wife. He read a letter that he wrote prior to getting down on one knee, this letter was also featured in our mini love-story film.
Vendors: Photography: Jeremy Chou Photography // Associate Photographer & Assistant: Alyssa Marie & Michelle Lam // Wedding Venue: Franciscan Gardens // Portrait Venue: San Juan Capistrano Mission // Wedding Coordinator: Viv Milne, 221 By Viv // Catering: 24 Carrots Catering // Linen Rental: La Tavola // Furniture: Archive Rentals // Videographer: Boffo Video // Floral: Green Leaf Designs // Officiant: A Moment to Cherish, Daniel Deghi // DJ: A. Waller Entertainment // Hair & Makeup: Sharleen Carlos