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Real Weddings:

Maggie and Doug’s wedding at Southpark Center

featuring Christine Farah Photography

Downtown Los Angeles’ Southpark Center was Maggie’s dream venue and she had this to say about it “Flanked by the skyline of downtown Los Angeles, standing together high above the city, and basking in the warm sun, Doug and I were married.” With the help of CCL Weddings & Events, the couple incorporated personal details into the space like graphic stationery by Small Paper Co. , a modern floral arch by Art With Nature and nods to the couple’s Pomeranian all in the bride’s favorite color—purple. Additional details like the ADORABLE donut wall and interactive games throughout the space added the lighthearted mood that Maggie and Doug desired. Christine Farah Photography was on had to capture all the lilac-hued details (and there are lots!) to share with us today!

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from the bride: Flanked by the skyline of downtown Los Angeles, standing together high above the city, and basking in the warm sun, Doug and I were married. What felt like a dream was made even more surreal by the fact that the South Park center was my “dream” venue. We were looking for a venue with an urban, modern feel, yet provided us with natural light and gave us the opportunity to put our mark on the space. We also loved how the venue view was first dominated by the vast expanse of LA in the light, to the sparkling skyline of the night.

Our goal for the wedding was to create an elegant yet simple space that celebrated us both individually and as a couple, down to the smallest detail which wouldn’t have been possible without CCL Weddings helping us. I decided to incorporate geometric shapes throughout the wedding, on our escort board, menus, and vases to reflect both the shape of my emerald cut diamond ring, and the architecture of the downtown buildings. These shapes were meant to compliment the large windows and canvas of our venue. My favorite color is purple, which we placed throughout the design, interspersed with the blue and gold of UCLA, where Doug works. We also wanted to have Bebe, our Pomeranian, join us in spirit, if not in person with her princess-like personality. We had her silhouette turned into an image which made its way onto cocktail stirrers, the cake topper, paper goods, and our Snapchat filter.

One thing that Doug and I realized about each other is that we bring out our competitive side with games, especially with each other. We wanted to bring the feel of our game nights into the wedding, so we developed an interactive experience for our guests. Doug loves quoting movies and I love group games, so we decided to have a movie quote game. We placed quotes around the venue in strategic locations throughout the night, such as at the entrance, and the bar, and guests were to write down which movie the quote was from to win a prize.

Doug and I both love to enjoy good food and drink, and wanted our guests to never be wanting for either at our wedding. I love boba milk tea- I used to work at a boba shop. We set up a station with my all-time favorite drinks as part of the dessert. Doug can be found sometimes eating ramen late at night after enjoying his Scotch, and what a better pairing with our drinks than a DIY ramen bar. We provided a bounty for our guests with spicy kimchi, seafood, and chicken pho flavored ramen. Another surprise we had for our guests was a lady in a “champagne dress,” adorned with full glasses of champagne and provided by A-max Entertainment. In addition to attracting attention, she ensured that our guests had easy access to their drinks.

In the end, all the details came together in a way we could not have imagined. Against the backdrop of the setting sun, not only were our design pieces glow, but also all of our guests on this night to remember.

Maggie + Douglas \\ Interview & Same-Day Edit from Komotion Pictures on Vimeo.

Wedding Planning & Design: CCL Weddings & Events // Photography: Christine Farah Photography // Florist: Art With Nature // Invitation and Stationery Design: Small Paper Co. // Venue: Southpark Center  // Gown: Carolina Herrera / Boutique: Glamour Closet // Catering: Patina Catering // Cake: M Cakes Sweets // Rentals: Chiavari Chair Rentals // Specialty Rentals: Borrowed and Blu / Modest Peach // Hair and Makeup: Angie Hair and Makeup // Backdrop Installation: Modest Peach // Videography: Komotion Pictures // Cake Topper: Letters To You // Linens: La Tavola Linens // DJ: VOX DJ // Alterations: Stitch in Time

 

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Real Weddings:

Camille and Dennis’ wedding at Megunticook Golf Club

featuring Emily Delamater Photography

Camille and Dennis were married at Megunticook Golf Club in Rockport, Maine and the day is absolutely STUNNING. The elegant couple (think modern-day John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Jeanne Bessette-Kennedy) filled their day with dear family and friends, a lovely rustic outdoor ceremony and tented reception and beautiful wild blooms by One and Supp and Ragged Mt Flowers. Their favorite moment? When they looked up the hill and saw all their loved ones under the twinkly lights and realized they were married and all was as it should be. We couldn’t love this one more and are so glad that mega-talented Emily Delamater Photography was on hand to capture all the beautiful moments.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

One of my sisters had an insanely gorgeous August wedding the summer before at the same club, so Dennis and I had actually put a lot of thought into trying to make sure we didn’t take their ideas! We thought a lot about trying to make our wedding a reflection of us, just as theirs was perfectly theirs. After all that (as cheesy as it sounds), it was the people there to celebrate with us that really made our day feel unique. It was the most incredibly special feeling to look around and see so many important people from all different parts of our lives in the same place to watch us say “I do”!

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

I went looking in Boston with my mom and one of my best friends. The first gown at the first boutique we stopped at was the dress to beat all day long. Our very last stop was Ceremony Boston where Alexandra Grecco was having a trunk show that day. The first dress of hers that I tried on I did not want to take off. I loved that it felt simple and modern but also elegant and timeless. Choosing that dress was one of the easiest decisions of the whole wedding!

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Despite our idea of an “effortlessly elegant” event, there was a lot of teamwork involved in making the wedding look and feel like we envisioned. Knowing that a lot of our friends and family had helped with making and hanging decorations, arranging flowers, and cooking blueberry jam (thanks, mom!) gave the celebration the feel that it was made with a lot of love!

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Besides the burrata and cake? There was a moment during cocktail hour when Dennis and I were away from the party, taking pictures. We both looked up the hill and saw everyone under the twinkly lights. We heard laughter and the saxophone and clinking glasses, and it was this wonderful moment of realization that we were married and that it all was happening just as we had been dreaming and planning for so long!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

I don’t know how I didn’t notice Dennis pull a ring box out of his pocket to put in the bin at airport security, but lucky for both of us, he was able to keep the whole proposal a surprise until the lovely moment in St Barth. We were down in the Caribbean for a sailing regatta, and after dinner on our first night there we decided to take a beach walk before turning in for the night. I was completely surprised when he popped the question, and so excited to say yes! It was pitch black when he got down on one knee, so it was a very pleasant surprise to see my sparkly ring in the sun the next morning!

Photography: Emily Delamater Photography // Flowers (bouquets and ceremony urns) : One and Supp // Loose Blooms: Ragged Mt Flowers // Paper Goods: ByBrydon and the Bride // Venue: Megunticook Golf Club, Rockport Maine // Bride’s Dress: Alexandra Grecco from Ceremony Boston // Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo // Groom: JCrew // Makeup: Beauty Mark Salon // Hair: Green with Envy // Catering: Trillium

 

Real Weddings:

Stephie and Aki’s Carnival-themed wedding

photos by MacKensey Alexander

In honor of the Fourth of July holiday, we’re sharing Stephie and Aki’s spectacular celebration. The couple enlisted the creative team at RTTO Events to help them plan their carnival-theme wedding. Set at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, the event began with a lovely outdoor ceremony under weeping tree branches, cafe lights and a beautiful ombre pink petal isle runner and was followed by, literally, a carnival reception. Complete with a big ferris wheel, clowns on stilts, retro carnival games, balloons and cool floral installations, it’s truly a sight to be seen and all the details are captured beautifully by the talented MacKensey Alexander.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

FROM RTTO: The bride and groom came to us with the idea of a carnival theme. We were excited because the space they’d chosen speaks to that — Calamigos in Malibu has this amazing ferris wheel, for starters. So we ran with the idea. The bride and groom had specific, creative elements they wanted to incorporate such as carnival games which made the event so fun and we loved accenting that with really unique installations that hung from the ceiling, bright colors and balloons, and interesting florals. It was carnival taken up a notch and turned out really fun and elegant which we believe also describes the couple pretty perfectly.

Tell us about the gown and how/where you found it.

From the Bride: My gown was the Teresa Gown by Hayley Paige which I got at the JLM Couture Boutique in West Hollywood. It was actually a dress that my bridal party chose for me and I decided to try it on first, just to please them. However, as soon as I tried it on I was amazed and quite shocked at how much I liked it that anything else I wore afterwards just didn’t compare. The details were absolutely gorgeous with just the right amount of sparkle and simplicity to it. And it was so perfect for our carnival theme too!

From RTTO: We couldn’t have hoped for a better dress on this gorgeous bride. She chose it with her bridal party and we were taken aback by how perfectly it fit her theme, but more importantly how perfectly it fit her.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

From the Bride: We unfortunately lost Aki’s mom the year prior to cancer and it was very hard for all of us. We decided to commemorate her by handing out poppy pins for all the guests to wear because their family used to go on annual poppy field trips and it was something that his mother loved to do. Almost everything about our wedding was personal to us. It essentially encapsulated our relationship in its entirety because Aki and I are essentially big kids who just want to have fun. Our goal was to make it as less wedding-like as possible. One of our top priorities was to make sure our guests walked away happy and just as giddy as we were that night. I was very involved in the planning process to make sure that the right details were showcased and it all came through wonderfully in the end.

RTTO: While we enjoy bringing RTTO’s style to every wedding we design, what we really liked about this one was how much the couple brought to the table as well. For example, the bride had her friends help create a dessert table and it was stunning – so perfectly detailed to match everything else within the aesthetic. Plus, we can’t express how emotional we got when it came time to walk them down the aisle – between the flower girls holding these impactful, oversized balloons and the couple’s sweet baby boy who went down the aisle in a wagon – perfection.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

From the Bride: For me the most memorable part of the day was walking into our cocktail hour with our son. Aki and I also had our first dance in front of the ferris wheel surrounded by our loved ones and that was such a special moment for us!

From Heather at RTTO: The couple’s son was sleeping right before the ceremony. Grandpa handed him over to me so that everyone could take their places. I was literally directing the ceremony processional while holding this sleeping baby. Then I placed him into his wagon at the last moment. I get emotional as it is, but this all unfolding so beautifully really got me at the core.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

From the Bride: Aki and I first crossed paths on Mother’s day of 2006 where we were both eating at my parents’ restaurant in LA. I saw him sitting at the sushi bar and thought he was cute but thought I’d never see him again so I didn’t think much of it. Little did I know that was very far from the truth. I had just graduated high school and was helping out for the summer as a waitress, and lo and behold there’s Aki in the kitchen working as a chef. For the next 3 months we continued our friendship even though I had started to attend college, coincidentally not too far from where he was living at the time, and we went on what many people would consider “dates” but was just hanging out for us. Eventually he mustered up the courage to tell me he liked me and from there it was history. Fast forward 8 years with the many trials and errors in between of any real relationship, we decided to take time off of work and travel the world. Quite literally. We traveled through Europe, Middle East, Africa and South East Asia for 3 months before making our way to Australia.

Our engagement happened on New Year’s Eve of 2014 before we headed to Australia. I had been telling Aki throughout our relationship that I didn’t want him to publicly propose because for me it was such a private moment. He really took this to heart and the poor guy already had a mountain to climb since it’s really hard to surprise me. We were planning on taking a picnic to Disneyland to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks; while he was working on that, there was a book delivery for him from Shutterfly and I nonchalantly handed it to him because it had his name on it. Knowing me so well, he assumed that I had already thought about the possibility that whatever was in there could be linked to a potential proposal (which he was right about!). I tried to dismiss the idea so I didn’t ruin anything for myself. I noticed he was gone for a hot minute (by the way, during this time he was actually trying to figure out what to do because the book actually wasn’t supposed to arrive until after the New Year) and when he came back he handed me the book and told me to open it, which really made me think that maybe he had made a book about our travels. I was right. It was a really sweet book of all the places we had traveled to and the highlights of our trip but at the very end of the book, he had placed a picture that was taken at Disneyland probably 4 years prior where Chip and Dale forced him to go on his knees and pretend to propose to me. As soon as I saw that, I knew what was coming. I essentially shut down (of happiness) because we had talked about it for so long it was weird to actually be in that moment. He talked to me about our entire relationship and how much it had changed him for the better and what it meant to him and that he was looking forward to spending the rest of his life with me. In the end, although he had made this really nice picnic for us, we just went and did an In N Out burger run and sat on our couch and enjoyed each other’s company. :)

 

Event Planning, Design & Florals: RTTO Events // Photographer:  MacKensey Alexander // Venue: Calamigos Ranch, Malibu California // Dress: JLM Couture // Event Lighting: Malibu Event Lighting

 

Real Weddings:

Debby and Laurence’s wedding at willows Lodge

featuring Miranda Hattie Photography

Bride Debby knew exactly what she wanted for her wedding to Laurence, who knew that he should definitely just hand her the reigns (smart man!) The result, is a lovely garden celebration at Seattle’s Willows Lodge filled with deep, rich jewel tones and beautiful nature. We’re loving the florals by The London Plane—organic, wild and romantic and you guys have to check out the super-personal cat-cookie favors. Laurence in the owner of the FIRST cat cafe in Seattle so naturally, they ad to tie that one in See all the details and beautiful scenery captured in Miranda Hattie Photography‘s images below.

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From the bride: We wanted our wedding to be a big celebration and a destination for our friends and family around the globe to visit and create the memories they will cherish as much as we would. Laurence didn’t really have any preferences and since he knew I always love planning, he let me take the control and gladly, I am that type of girl who always knows what she wants. I have always wanted to have an elegant wedding with lots of flowers and nature. It would be perfect to have the wedding in a beautiful garden. The first venue we visited was the Willows Lodge and we immediately fell in love the beautiful garden and decided on the spot. It’s organic, and it has the greenery I was looking for and gorgeous flowers everywhere.

We did not only want to have our wedding to be full of life and rich in color but also possess the classy elements. I love the color of fall so right after we got engaged (on 10/1), we decided to have our wedding on the same date a year later. I was able to incorporate my favorite color, burgundy, in bridesmaid’s dresses and my flower arrangements. The wedding style was rustic yet elegant and romantic.

The whole day was magical and it really was the perfect wedding I had been dreaming of. I wasn’t nervous at all and I was happy to see our friends having fun too. I was also glad that before we exchanged our vows, Laurence and I read letters to our parents, who flew in from Taiwan to attend our wedding. Growing up, our parents have sacrificed a lot to give us the best. We have been living abroad for years and we don’t get to see our parents very often. Showing them our appreciation and our love for them is the least we could do. It’s a day about love and we made sure to celebrate it fully. It will be a memory we keep with us forever.

All my friends know I am crazy about flowers and before I got engaged I already set my mind on The London Plane; they would be the flower shop to design and arrange my flowers for my wedding day. My office is right next to The London Plane and every time I walk by, I am fascinated by the designs and the flowers in the shop. We settled on a jewel tone, creamy blush palette and using protea as the center flower for my bouquet. I wanted my bouquet to be unique and speaks my personality. The style was organic, wild and romantic at the same time.

Laurence is one of the owners of the first cat café in Seattle, Seattle Meowtropolitan, so our favors were the “meow-carons” from the café. They were designed by the Fuji bakery and I asked them to add a bow on the female cat. We also custom-made wooden coasters with the Seattle skyline that our guests can bring back with them. Most of our guests were from out of town so we wanted to give them a souvenir that they would find useful.

Advice for brides: Try to focus on what’s important and what you love the most and go with it during the planning process. Don’t stress out about it because nothing is more important than the love you have for each other. Friends and family gather together to celebrate your big day and they will have a great time while you are also having a fabulous time.

Debby & Laurence || Wedding Highlight Video from Shutter And Sound Films on Vimeo.

Photography: Miranda Hattie Photography // Florist: The London Plane // Invitations/Programs/Signage: Minted  // Venue: Willows Lodge // Wax Seal: Written Word Calligraphy // Bridal Gown & Accessories: Monique Lhuillier from Marcella’s // Accessories: Maria Elena, Marcella’s // Bridesmaid Attire: Amsale  from BHLDN // Cake/Desserts: Morfey’s Cake // Favors: Fuji Bakery // Groom’s Attire & Accessories: Tie: Saint Laurent; Groom’s suit: Awareness Kenneth Cole, Men’s Wearhouse // Groom’s shoes: Ecco // Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse, Ties: The Tie Bar // Hair & Makeup: Nicole Wang Makeup and Hair // Videographer: Shutter and Sound

 

Real Weddings:

Brianna and Chris’s Chicago wedding

photography by Kina Wicks

Brianna and Chris’ Chicago wedding planned by Estera Events is a lovely blend of historic elegance and modern sensibilities. Playing with a mix of historic Chicago architecture and new modern and sleek design, a ceremony at the Grainger Ballroom at the CSO set the tone for a Grand urban affair, while the celebration following at Modern Wing at the Art Institute was totally contemporary.  Beautiful rich hues and stunning florals by HMR Designs shine against the urban setting and photographer Kina Wicks was on hand to capture it all.

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Elise & James – Highlight from Amari Productions on Vimeo.

Planning: Estera Events // Photographer: Kina Wicks // Floral & Design: HMR Designs // Paper: Sarah Drake Design // Ceremony Location: Grainger Ballroom at the CSO // Reception Location: Modern Wing at the Art Institute // Bridal Gown: Amsale // Cake: Elysia Root Cakes // Hair & Makeup: Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists // Catering: Bon Apetit Catering via the Art Institute // Band: Becca Kaufman Orchestra // Linens: BBJ Linen