Anything Ojai is alright with me. So when this backyard gem from The Melideos floated into our inbox, it was not a question of if, but how we would showcase the perfectly-lit and thoughtfully crafted stunner of a wedding. With the help of family, friends, a handful of incredible vendors + the amazing Firefly Events, this bride and groom became Mr. and Mrs. in one of the lovelies fêtes I’ve seen in some time. Head over to the full gallery to see it all for yourself!
From the Bride & Groom… We were so blessed by the beauty and happiness of our entire wedding day, but besides the gorgeous setting and lovely food and flowers, our wedding was really about the wonderful people who surrounded us. The first decision we made about our wedding was who would officiate our ceremony. We wanted our marriage to signify our taking on new roles within our communities and building a life together. We wanted whoever facilitated that to be someone we admire and respect and who represents the values that are most important to us – kindness, intellectual curiosity, and a sense of joy in the world. Our minds immediately went to the professor in whose class in college we first met, and we were positively thrilled when he agreed to marry us.
The wedding was held in Lily’s home town of Ojai, California, and dear family friends offered to host the wedding at their home. We had a great time putting together the invitations and paper products using images from Ojai — for example, the save-the-date card was designed by a good friend from a vintage orange crate label! In fact, our amazing family and friends were the real heart and soul of the whole event. From Scott’s childhood friend who played guitar during the ceremony, to Lily’s bridesmaids making their own jewelry, and Lily and her mother working to collect family and vintage linens for the tables, it was really a community effort.
In addition to friends we already knew, we had the great luck to find kind, smart, talented folks to work with throughout the wedding process. We met our wonderful coordinator Teissia just after she moved her business from LA to New York, so we were able to work with her where we live, and she was able to be on hand in Ojai. We also found the amazing Tim and Merrill of The Melideos, who were living in New York and moving to California — they took our engagement photos just before their move and then shot the big day in their new home state! Everyone we worked with brought a wonderful sense of calm and happy energy to the day, and that made everything all the more enjoyable for our guests and ourselves.
There were countless inspiring moments for us on our wedding day, many that a photograph cannot capture. At the end of the evening, after the toasts, pie and an epic dance party, while the last song was playing, we were surrounded by everyone we loved in a giant group hug. That moment of togetherness, joy, and love was the perfect way for us to start our lives together.
Wedding Photography: The Melideos / Wedding Venue: The Home of Family Friends in Ojai, California / Wedding Planning: Firefly Events / Floral Design: Fleuretica / Catering: Seasons Catering / Pies + Homemade Ice Cream: Simply Pies / Wedding Invitations: The Bride, A Friend of the Bride + Lilah Paper / DJ: DJ Mister Bill / Rentals: Ventura Rental Party Center / Wedding Dress: David Fielden / Bride’s Veil: Sew Elegant / Bride’s Shoes: Diane von Furstenberg / Hair + Makeup: Laila Keller / Groom’s Suit: Brooklyn Tailors