From the charming “First Look” to the fantastic last dance, this California wedding was simply perfect in every way! There are too many fabulous details to list them all, but some of my favorites include…signature “bride” & “groom” drinks (and the adorable display for them), their gorgeous, towering, tiered wedding cake, and the homemade bottled vanilla guests took home as favors. Theses adorable gifts were six-months in the making and inscribed with the phrase “Love gets sweeter with time.” Love that!
Katy + Matt | May 19th, 2012 | Bel Air Bay Club, Pacific Palisades, California
Ceremony
Our ceremony was held on the lawn of the Bel Air Bay Club overlooking the beautiful beaches of Malibu. We involved many of our family and friends in our ceremony which gave it a very personal feel. During our ceremony our judge, a good family friend, accidentally stumbled over our names and “Mathryn” our new Brad-gelena name was born! After our ceremony ended we had our band hidden within our guests and a trumpet player on the balcony behind us, and they re-enacted the end of the movie “Love Actually.” It was absolutely perfect.
The reception
We decorated the beautiful Bel Air Bay Club with ivory, white and champagne flowers and linens for a look of candlelit timeless elegance. We covered the chandeliers in dripping flowers and crystals. A photo booth, chocolate covered strawberries, and a cappuccino bar were some of the guest favorites. Instead of a guest book we had wine bottles the guests signed which we will drink on our anniversaries. The father of the bride gave a speech that made everyone cry. Guests went home with bottles of homemade vanilla extract that took us 6 months to make. The night ended with a sparkler send off and we drove off to live happily ever after in a white Rolls Royce.
How Katy found her dream wedding dress
When I started planning my wedding I imagined myself in a fitted trumpet or lace dress, but after trying on hundreds of fitted dresses I realized that none of them felt special or dramatic enough. From the minute I put on this Monique Lhuillier A-line ballgown, I knew that it was the one. It was timeless, dramatic, and classy all at the same time. This dress more than other full dresses I tried on was amazingly figure flattering. I had it custom made without the straps the sample had, and when the dress came into the store all the sales associates commented on how they wished they had ordered their floor sample in the strapless sweetheart neckline style. The only thing it needed was a touch of bling, which was accomplished with a beautiful handmade Erin Cole belt.
The way Katy felt in her wedding dress
Timeless, Elegant, Beautiful
Why she decided to sell her wedding dress
I never thought I would find the perfect wedding dress, and this dress was more perfect than anything I could have ever imagined. It is such a beautiful dress I can’t imagine having it gather dust in the closet. I hope someone else can find as much happiness in it as I have.
