Laguna Beach Wedding by Elizabeth Messina

We’ve been celebrating the genius of Elizabeth Messina all day in honor of her stunning new book that hit the shelves today (with a giveaway right here on SMP) and we’re capping off the day with a gorgeous bang. A stunning Laguna Beach wedding that Elizabeth captured with fine art status. And a couple that literally can’t stop kissing. It’s the sweetest, prettiest, make-you-fall-in-love-all-over-again wedding we’ve seen in a while and we’re thrilled to blog all of the lovely right here. Oh and there are many more show-stoppers in the gallery! Don’t forget to enter Elizabeth’s Book Giveaway or just run out and buy it as an I’m getting married treat! Be sure to visit the gallery for even much more wedding loveliness!





























Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride…My now husband and I grew up together, however after high school went our separate ways as often happens. We went off to our respective colleges, but our families remained friends. As fate would have it, 10 years after high school our families were both at the beach in Orange County and something clicked between Rick and I. We started dating and then two years later got engaged at the same Orange County beach where our dating story began. So when it came to choosing a venue for our wedding, the Montage felt like a very natural fit. It’s an obviously gorgeous, and now very special, place to us, and the backdrop couldn’t be more stunning for a wedding. We were so inspired by the colors of the hotel and the ocean – the pretty blues and greys married with the whites and blues –  and we wanted the look of the wedding to blend into that natural landscape and beauty of the hotel. Although it was a beach wedding, we wanted it to be a more formal event. So the groomsmen all wore tuxedos, and the bridesmaids wore long gowns. I personally picked out each gown for my bridesmaids – I wanted to make sure their personal dress reflected who they were, and made them feel beautiful and comfortable. 

As a person who adores and appreciates details, the personal touches at our wedding were important to me. The paper was particularly important to me, and collaborating with Abbie at Passing Notes was a dream come true. We worked together on everything from the invitations to the tables numbers etched on walnut wood to the walnut cards by the bars to the letterpressed cigar labels to the letterpressed Father of the Bride mix CD my Dad put together – my love for letterpress and the personal touches was reflected around every corner. We also wanted to make sure our guests were a focus so they enjoyed a cigar roller and a midnight snack of In and Out Burgers that were custom made just for them. 

Words can’t describe how thankful I was to have Elizabeth Messina as my photographer. She is obviously a master of her art, but her character is just as wonderful. Two days before our wedding, the weather forecast for our outdoor, Orange County beach wedding called for rain. I was devastated and called Elizabeth in a tizzy. She then said something that I will never forget and put me at ease – she said, “how beautiful if it rains! Because then anytime it rains again, you’ll always think of your wedding day!” She was so right. Three years later, after our first child was born and it rained the next day – I couldn’t help but think of her sweet words. It’s truly a testament of how precious she truly is not only as a photographer, but as a person.

Wedding Photography: Elizabeth Messina / Wedding Venue: Montage Laguna Beach in Laguna Beach, California / Florist: Square Root Design / Band: West Coast Music / Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Dress Style: Grace / Wedding Planner: Kelly Meyer from Kelly Michelle Weddings / Wedding Coordinator: Jaime Puffer at the Montage Laguna Beach / Invitations: Gigi Press (Bride) in collaboration with Abbie at Passing Notes / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Lingerie: La Pearla / Hair: Shelia Stone / Make up: Lynn Switzky / Mother of the Bride: Monique Lhuillier / Bridesmaids: All different designers, MOH wore Marchesa / Veil: Monique Lhuillier / Hairpiece:Monique Lhuillier