From her gorgeous champagne gown to the delicate hair sparkle, this California bride hit the style nail on the head. And the whimsical-meets-rustic aesthetic extends throughout the whole celebration, orchestrated by XOXO Bride Events. Marianne Wilson joined the fun and caught every happy tear, smile and shimmy, and as we prep to enter the new year, these are the sort of photos that I hope never end.
From The Bride… Planning our wedding was actually a really fun process! We were fortunate enough to work with a fabulous wedding planner (XOXOBride.com) who was invaluable in helping us to clarify our vision and hire the right vendors to help us fulfill our dream! We knew that great music, amazing photography and delicious food were our top priorities, so we focused on making those aspects of the wedding unforgettable! We also loved having the wedding at a resort where our guests could make a mini-vacation out of our wedding weekend, and we were able to see friends and family over multiple days instead of just the wedding reception. It might sound cliché, but my biggest advice would be “don’t sweat the small stuff!” There are a billion decisions that need to be made, so identify and prioritize the things that are non-negotiable for you. Once you know where you want to focus your time and energy, the little decisions become much more manageable!
From Sonia Hopkins… I was so honored to work with Jess, Drew and their parents on this beautiful wedding. We had a strong sense of design from very the beginning. It was important that both a West Coast and East Coast aesthetics were represented throughout the design. They wanted their event to feel elegant but in an understated and cool manner. They really liked the idea of infusing the relaxed with the formal and what better way to do that but to host an open air tent wedding at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Herb Garden Lawn. We chose to give the tent a open and breezy feeling by providing a partially draped setting with large crystal chandeliers. The feeling of crystal chandeliers in a garden is kind of amazing! A mix of wood feasting tables and beautiful Dupionique linen rounds gave shape to the space. Jess’s dress was a soft champagne color breaking her out of the mold of the white bridal look. She choose to have her bridesmaids in all-white creating this breath of fresh air in attire. Drew’s sense of style shine bright with the groomsmen in funky colored socks adding their personality and sense of humor.
Camilla Floral Designs expertly transformed our thoughts of wood elements and soft blooms into a reality. The Hacienda Courtyard was the perfection location for their ceremony. We built a wood Huppah under the sprawling oak tree to create a warm space for the vows. With a large wedding party it’s important to have a creative way for them to stand by their bride and groom without it looking like a long line of people, so we used wood benches to serve as the front row with attendants standing in the back. We choose wrought iron gates and wooden slated doors to display our tags and tented escort cards for guests seating.
Guests enjoyed a family style dinner and danced into the wee hours of the morning with a nightclub style after party complete with chicken and waffle bites!
Photography: Marianne Wilson Photography | Videographer: Joel VanZ | Coordinator: XOXO BRIDE Events | Florist: Camellia Floral Design | Bakery: Ojai Valley Inn | Hair: 10.11 Makeup | Lighting: Images By Lighting | Officiant: Rabbi Amy Bernstein | Ceremony/Reception: Ojai Valley Inn | Draping: BAM Draping | Grrom's Attire: Klein Epstein & Parker | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Music: West Coast Music | Rental Co.: Town And Country