The Donnelly Residence from Ayla ChristmanWhenever a wedding truly reflects not only the couple but the venue surrounding that happy celebration, it makes the wedding festivities all the more beautiful. Taking the feel and essence of Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse and infusing the details with that same natural, rustic beauty is exactly what Kelly Oshiro did and the result is pure perfection. That perfection includes eclectic conversation spots out in the field, a layer of the prettiest pastel blooms and imagery by Aaron Delesie that we could stare at all live long day. Do all the staring your heart desires right here in the full gallery as well as with the film by Living Cinema below.
Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse Wedding Film from Living Cinema on Vimeo.
From Kelly Oshiro: When I met with Kristen she knew she wanted things to feel appropriately rustic for the site. At the same time, she wanted her more elegant style incorporated as well. There would be a focus on contrasting textures like rustic antlers mixed in with blooms like peonies and garden roses, leather cord with fine letterpress menus, nailhead trim over burlap…For the ceremony, Tim, the groom, built their amazing arbor and rustic wood boxes which we filled with blooms. A custom walkway was built and stained so that the bride and bridesmaids could get safely down the aisle. For the reception, I did 5 different table looks, variations on the theme of an elegant Colorado lodge. Blooms in cream, bloom, peach and green were arranged in mercury glass containers, mixed with stone and glass. Layers of tree stumps added height to the arrangements and added a rustic touch. My favorite thing we did was the rather elaborate lounge using a mix of Found Furniture and Tricia Fountaine’s props. I wanted the lounge to feel like a series of rooms, from the dining room (where the cheese “cake” was setup and an china cabinet was filled with Kristen’s family’s heirloom cowboy china), and then the living room, with a “fireplace” and antler chandelier and finally, the parlor, for late night apertifs. Scattered throughout were family photos and photos of Tim & Kristen during their courtship. Finally, I used Town & Country’s candle walls to define the end of the “rooms” while still keeping the spectacular view of the rollings hills.
From: Laura Gresham…To achieve the ‘rustic elegance’ that Kristen and Tim wanted for their wedding and reception, we first set the tone with a suite of custom letterpressed ‘Save the Date’ cards, invitations, menu cards and seating cards, utilizing their initials within a faux bois, adding authentic wood veneer as liner for the invitation envelopes (a nod to Tim, a general contractor.) Each one of the pieces featured a blind embossed motif of the Farmhouse – gable, lantern, or barn. With the Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse positioned majestically in the center, we created four distinct areas around it flowing into one another for the ceremony, reception, dinner, and dancing/after party. The mountains (and ocean in the distance) provided a natural backdrop for the ceremony, which took place under an arbor built by Tim. He hand carved their initials and date into the arbor, which they now enjoy as a focal point in their back yard at home. Following the ceremony, specialty cocktails and hors d’oeuvres created by Duo Events (in collaboration with Kristen and Tim, accomplished cooks who love to entertain) were served on the bluff overlooking the sunset. Pashminas and comfy slippers were offered in antique carts. Then as the moon rose, the glow of crystal chandeliers strung above the candle-laden, farmhouse-style dinner tables beckoned guests to dinner, where Duo served multiple courses of exceptional cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients.
Close inspection revealed that their wedding ‘cake’ was created for these cheese connoisseurs using rounds of their favorite cheeses. Dancing and the after party featured comfortable lounge vignettes, an antler chandelier hung over a ‘fireplace’, and expansive bar seating by the dance floor, along with a dessert buffet including fruit, chocolates, and fresh, hot donuts. Breathtaking and distinctive floral designs by Kelly Oshiro, family photos, candles, antiques, and personal mementos of the bride and groom were abundant throughout. Kristen and Tim were a dream to work with! They had a clear, unified vision from the start and shared all the decisions. Their goals were for the day to be fun, the details to be very personal, and for the experience to be reflective of what they value most – family, friends, exceptional food and wine, and an appreciation of handcrafted items. Their lovely wedding and reception mirrored their generous and joyful personalities!
Photography: Aaron Delesie | Event Planner: Laura Gresham Events (562.756.7500, laura@gresham.com) | Floral + Event Design: Kelly Oshiro Design | Ceremony + Reception Location: Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse | Catering: Duo Events | Lighting and Sound: Bella Vista Designs | Rentals: Town and Country Event Rentals + {found} vintage rentals + Tricia Fountaine Prop Rentals | Cinematography: Living Cinema | Invitations + Menu Cards: Copper Willow | Linens: La Tavola | Plant Rentals: Gazebo Plant Rentals | Ceremony + Reception String Quartet: West Coast Music | Dinner + Dancing Music: Music by Bonnie | Shuttle Service: Roadrunner Shuttle | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang
