Today is quite possibly the best day because we have the most gorgeous Bel Air wedding from La Boheme Events captured both in a beautiful gallery from Alders Photography AND a sweet highlight film from Vantage Point Productions. It’s better than a double feature, because that dessert table? To die for.
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From the stunning bride… Win and I live in New York, and every year we visit his family in New Zealand. On one of our last trips, we took a mini-vacation to a beautiful, remote part of the North Island, where Win proposed on the Tokomaru Bay beach at sunset. When we arrived at his parents’ house a few days later, we were surprised to find my parents and siblings there too! It was the most amazing way to celebrate.
Win worked as a beach lifeguard growing up in Christchurch, New Zealand, and I grew up on the beach in Pacific Palisades, California. So it was only natural we would get married at my parents’ beach club, overlooking the Pacific Ocean!
We agreed with our wedding planner Hallie on a “beach chic” theme—something simple, elegant, and a reflection of the beautiful oceanfront location. That led us to choose blush pink and sea foam green as key colors, use driftwood as table décor, and have a custom wave pattern on all the paper goods.
To honor Win’s New Zealand heritage, we included fiddlehead ferns (a Maori symbol of new beginnings) in the bouquets/boutonnières. And instead of a guest book, we asked guests to write messages on vintage California and New Zealand postcards. Every week since the wedding, my mom has mailed us one.
One of my favorite memories was after dinner, when Win and I snuck into the next room to prepare for the cake-cutting. When the band saw us, they started playing quietly, and we had our first dance as husband and wife before any guests came in. It was a private moment I’ll treasure forever.
Photography: Jenny Smith & Co | Videography: Vantage Point | Coordination: La Boheme Events | Floral Design: Stella Bloom Designs | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Bakery: MJB Cakes | Ceremony Venue: Bel Air Bay Club | Reception Venue: Bel Air Bay Club | Brides Shoes: Monique Lhuillier | Bridesmaids Dresses: Ann Taylor | Hair & Makeup: Girl Meets Bongga | Lighting: A Rental Connection | Band: Rembrandt Fine Artists Entertainment | Officiant: Betsy Anderson | Ceremony Music: Rembrandt Fine Artists Entertainment | Caterer & Bar: Bel Air Bay Club | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Paper Goods: Prim & Pixie | Rentals: A Rental Connection | Specialty Glassware: Casa de Perrin