This may be the cutest “first look” I’ve ever seen. These two didn’t want to break tradition, but needed just a little squeeze before walking down the aisle, so they held hands one last time before saying “I do.” And the look on the grooms face… the glowing happiness brought on by enormous amounts of love… had me in tears instantly. Thank goodness Kim Le Photography was on hand to capture that magical moment. There is so much more magic in the gallery, so don’t forget to click here!
studio205films sent over a film that is going to make you tear up at the ridiculously cute love.
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Thanks to movies like Father of the Bride and The Little Mermaid, my love for all things wedding started at a young age. As a child, I’d frequently create wedding gowns out of my parents’ bed sheets, walking down a makeshift aisle of stuffed animals. In my teens, I had an impressive collection of magazine tear-outs, color swatches that I had furtively acquired from Lowe’s, and an extensive list of love songs through the decades. Thankfully, I was blessed with the most kindhearted, supportive, patient and understanding boyfriend ever. Patrick never once shuddered when he caught me perusing SMP even before we were engaged, and after he proposed, he gave me his blessing to create the wedding I had always dreamed of, unfailingly holding my hand tightly all throughout the 11-month planning process.
Selecting our vendors consisted of hundreds of emails and over 30 meetings. A perfect combination of exceptional talent and striking personalities, such as Claudia’s (wedding coordinator) optimism, Peter’s (videographer) sense of humor, Lu’s (florist) zeal, and Kim’s (photographer) sweetness, we couldn’t have found a more incredible team of individuals to entrust our “once in a lifetime” event to.
Our hunt for the perfect venue started in Orange County, as we contemplated a small, beachside wedding, but the old souls in us envisioned something more traditional. A hidden gem in the foothills, we were captivated by the Langham Huntington Hotel’s 23-acres property and hundred-year-old history. Formerly the Ritz-Carlton, the hotel exudes timeless elegance. One look at the ballroom’s gold-gild arched ceilings, stained-glass windows, and chandeliers and we knew our search was over.
I indulged my creative side and insisted on personalizing every little detail. With my devoted bridesmaids and family, we spent countless days arduously knotting ribbon, cutting cardstock, and adjusting colors in Adobe, which resulted in the most stunning wedding stationary suite I’ve ever seen that even Martha Stewart herself would be so proud.
The use of lace was an important element of our wedding, which was incorporated in practically everything, from the belly bands on our invitations, to the intricate piping on our cake. Another equally essential component was flowers. An array of white and varying shades of pink of soft textures on crystal candelabras and gold urns, harmonized with votives and amber lighting created a truly romantic ambience. We embraced the vintage beauty of the hotel and included ornate baroque frames, English bone china tea cups, and pearls in our décor. Most importantly, photographs of our grandparents and parents on their wedding day were displayed; a simple reminder to us that true love does exist.
Sometimes I still find myself daydreaming about our wedding and replaying every detail from that remarkable day. I can recollect my parents’ loving embrace before the ceremony, our dog, Bandit, in his tuxedo, the teary eyes of 130 of our dearest friends and families, the angelic voices of the children’s choir singing to Canon in D Major, and the fluttery feeling in my stomach as I slowly approached the man of my dreams. To merely say it was perfect would be an understatement. It was a day we’ll never forget, a story we’ll share with our grandchildren, like pages straight out of a fairytale. I guess it’s true what they say… dreams do come true.
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Photography: Kim Le Photography | Ceremony Venue: St. Robert Bellarmine Church | Reception Venue: The Langham Huntington | Cinematography: studio205films | Coordination: Claudia Garcia of Stacy Porras Wedding Consulting | Floral Design: Flower Allie | Lighting and Chairs: TMMPro | Rentals: White Night Design | Cake: A Sweet Design | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas and Cards & Pockets | Misc. Stationary: Jason Alvarez (cousin of the bride) | Photo Booth: Flash Life Photo Booth Inc. | Favors: Martino’s Bakery | Ceremony Music: Immaculate Heart of Mary Children’s Choir | Harpist: Deidre Moore | DJ: Steven Wong of KEY Production Group | Emcee: Eljay Andal | Hair + Make-up: Ailien of Kelly Zhang | Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston | Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Bridesmaid Dresses: Impression Bridal