When Chicago-based Lauren and Josh decided on a destination wedding in Southern California, it meant that their adorable pup Jackson would miss out on their big day. But to make up for his absence, Lauren surprised Josh with a life-size cutout of Jackson so could celebrate with them! See this and so many other heartfelt details from Lady Liberty Events, courtesy of onelove photography, in The Vault!
| Share this gorgeous gallery on | |
From Lady Liberty Events…When Lauren and Josh contacted us from Chicago to help them with their Los Angeles wedding, we instantly connected and helped put them at ease. I can’t imagine the difficulty in planning a wedding from a far…but let me tell ya, they were a dream to work with! They mostly expressed how important it was for them that the overall vibe didn’t feel stuffy, or restricted. They wanted their closest friends and family to have fun from the minute they walked inside the doors.
With the existing eclectic setting at Carondelet House and the rich colors surrounding, Lauren wanted to play with berry hues with accents of blush and gold. The exposed brick walls, rustic wood beams, and romantic vintage accents perfectly strewn throughout the venue provided us with a moody aesthetic to build off of.
The bridesmaids all held bundles of wild foliage wrapped with velvet ribbon which perfectly complimented the lush and vibrant bouquet that Lauren held. The fully bloomed peonies, fragrant garden roses, parrot tulips, pepper leaves and various breeds of fern that Crystal, from Heirloom Design House, created for Lauren was absolutely breathtaking.
The ceremony space was draped with white fabric and accented with loose foliage, and flickering candlelight. A simple yet stunning installation that could then be used to frame the sweetheart table during the reception. As a surprise to Josh, Jackson (their 80lb Lab/Boxer) made a special appearance! Knowing how important it was to feel like Jackson was a part of their day, Lauren had asked us to have a life size cut out of Jackson made so he could be there in spirit. Knowing how important it was to feel like Jackson was a part of their day, he was a huge success and was one of the most popular guests all night!
Lauren’s father (a talented musician), pre recorded his version of “Black Bird” of which he proudly walked his daughter down the aisle to. Lauren’s cousin, officiated the ceremony, creating a very personal and loving union that was so heartfelt and real. Jackson proudly stood next to both of them, as they tied the knot and kissed to seal the deal!
The cocktail hour consisted of a custom brew that Josh created for the wedding day, appropriately titled “Wedding Day IPA”. For the non-lager lovers, vintage coupes filled with bubbly, elderflower and fresh blackberries made for a pretty and tasty sip. As a special nod to Lauren’s mother, her favorite wine was available and titled “The Sami”. Josh also had custom etched pint glasses made as a take away for guests…they were a huge hit!
Cocktail tables were draped in blush linens styled with smilex garland and topped with petite posies in our berry hues. Guests visited the guest book area where they snapped polaroid photos to include in a book for Lauren and Josh. The set up was so much fun and enticed guests to leave their mark. It’s always a shame when the guest book gets overlooked…not the case here!
Once the dinner tables were set, the lights were dimmed, and the candles were flickering…guests were ready to come feast! A combination of rustic wood family style tables and linen draped rounds, filled the once before ceremony area…transforming the space into an intimate dinner setting. The sweetheart table was set with a chic rose gold sparkle linen and highlighted with vibrant berry hued blooms with lush greenery. Framed with the draped fabric swag and foliage, their table was simply glistening.
The guests tables were dressed with blush linens and runners, which helped lighten up the palate a tad, allowing our magnetic color palate to shine! Napkins, romantically tied with raw silk ribbon & custom name cards, were accented with pepper leaves tying each setting into the overall tablescape. Forged greens, interlaced with markets best blooms, provided a stunning yet non invasive garland down the center of the tables. One of my favorite details was the oversized hanging menu, adorned with greenery and surrounded by candlelight, which outlined the delicious fare for the evening.
Assorted sweets were displayed alongside the petite (fun-fetti + red velvet) wedding cake. At a very private together, Lauren and Josh cut the cake, smooched each other, snuck a bite…and went back to dance the night away with their closest and mostest! It was an evening filled with love and laughter from start to finish.
From The Bride…When we started planning, we didn’t know in what city we would be living by the time of the wedding. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and it will always be “home” to me. We thought it would be the perfect place to have a fall wedding that our guests would enjoy. There were certainly times that it was nerve wracking planning from afar, but Liberty and her team made everything a breeze! Basically, we wanted to have a fun party that didn’t feel too “wedding-y.” Most Importantly, we wanted our guests to be comfortable and to have a good time.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t take our 80 lb lab/boxer mix, Jackson, with us to California. Jackson is our baby and I couldn’t imagine not having him be incorporated in our wedding in some way. I had the idea of surprising Josh with a life-sized cardboard cutout of Jackson to stand with his groomsmen. It turned out amazing – guests loved taking pictures with him and it felt like he was still with us…without the incessant drooling and jumping on people.
One of they ways we wanted to show our personal style was with our specialty “cocktails. Josh has been brewing his own beer for several years so it was a no-brainer that he would create a special brew for our wedding, Wedding Day IPA. After crafting the recipe in Chicago, my cousin executed the final brew in California. We also wanted to include a fun cocktail that was simple and elegant. I love prosecco and Liberty designed the perfect combination by adding a splash of elderflower liqueur and a fresh blackberry . Not only did it taste delicious but it looked gorgeous! Finally, it was important to us to make an homage to my mom who passed away several years ago. She was known to love a glass of Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, so this was the clear choice for our final “cocktail”.
Photography: onelove photography | Event Planning + Design: Lady Liberty Events | Floral Design: Heirloom Design House | Wedding Dress: Anne Barge | Invitations: Minted | Stationery: Prim & Pixie | Rings: Blue Nile | Rings: Steve Quick Jeweler | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Badgley Mischka | Catering: Tres L.A. Catering | Makeup: Emily Dawn Artistry | Hair: Capella Salon | Groom's Attire: Kenneth Cole Reaction | Venue: Carondelet House | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola
Join The Conversation
favorite (0) share share (0) pin (0)
