As one of the most talented photographers in the industry, Rylee Hitchner knows how to capture a wedding. And this latest pretty? It’s got all the bits and pieces for a celebration we’ll all want to recreate for ourselves. Park & Grove Event Studio came alongside the couple to bring their quintessential So Cal vision to life – chic poufs and tribal rugs included. Peek through the gallery and scroll below for the gorgeous film by Robert Nachman.
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From Park & Grove Event Studio... Lauren and Matt were two of our absolute most favorite clients, we couldn’t have adored them more if we tried! Their wedding was just like them – warm, effortlessly laid back and a touch whimsical. When searching for a venue, they had three requirements; first, they met and fell in love in Los Angeles, so they wanted to getting married near LA at a place that looked and felt like quintessential Southern California. Secondly, they liked the idea of a property where all their guests could stay and enjoy a full weekend of celebrating together. Lastly, their wedding ceremony and reception had to be able to take place outside.
We immediately knew Ojai Valley Inn & Spa was the perfection location for them. They chose the beautiful Artist’s Cottage Lawn for their ceremony and for the reception/dancing they chose the Red Barn so their 90 guests could have dinner outside and dance the night away inside.
For décor, they loved anything and everything colorful! When we first started discussing their décor vision, they kept referencing their favorite beachside bar in Santa Monica called the Bungalow. The bar is as So Cal as you can get with bright and colorful printed fabrics, retro furniture and quirky décor pieces. It became the main inspiration for their design and we integrated elements of it into everything from their paper to their after party décor.
Copper Willow designed all the paper goods and for the invitation, we wanted to mix the textures and colors they loved, but still make it feel elegant. They adored wood taxidermy, so Copper Willow created a custom emblem with their initials surrounded by antlers which was used on the invite and throughout the suite. To add a little formailty – the main invitation was lettered with gold foil. To line their kraft envelopes, Lauren found a tribal print she loved which Copper Willow re-created in their color palette of bright blue, fuchsia, peach and white. The entire invitation was bound with a knotted fuchsia leather band.
For their ceremony, Matt and Lauren wanted the beauty of the oak tree to speak for itself, but they wanted something to make the site feel unique to their story. Instead of traditional altar structure, Brown Paper Design created a vibrant floral carpet with fuchsia, blush, peach, white and ivory flowers and petals for them to stand on. Lauren didn’t want a traditional white bouquet, so Brown Paper incorporated beautiful melon and fuchsia tones into hers. The bridesmaids wore chiffon dresses in varying shades of pale blue, blush and ivory, so to compliment them, the girls’ bouquets were lightened versions of Lauren’s with white, ivory and blush florals accented with trailing white and ivory ribbons. Parasols in varying hues of peach and pink were given to each guest along with tribal printed programs and colorful silk wrapped linen petal toss bags.
For cocktails in the barn courtyard, Lauren & Matt wanted to be a bit playful. The residential seating vignettes from Yeah Rentals were styled with mismatched furniture pieces, patterned rugs and pillows and bright leather ottomans. The couple wanted the guests to feel like they were hanging out at their house so the vignettes were detailed with personal items like table art and books they sourced themselves, some from flee markets, others from their own living room and all were accented with childhood photos of them, their families and their beautiful engagement photos from their incredible photographer, Rylee Hitchner. Their escort card table featured simple calligraphed cards in different shades of pink and peach ink, which created a beautiful watercolor inspired display. Instead of a traditional guestbook, guests signed a record by Beach House, which was fitting because Lauren walked down to aisle to their song “Take Care.”
Their dinner took place in the paddock of the barn and Lauren and Matt really wanted it to feel elegant despite the fact there were woodchips at their feet! We brought in long wood feasting tables with natural linen runners and strung bistro lights overhead. Brown Paper created beautiful traditional white, ivory, soft blush and peach centerpieces with amaryllis, ranunculus and garden roses with overflowing greens. Gold foiled menus and votive holders offset the more organic elements of the dinner and the front door of the barn was draped with a beautiful oatmeal entry swag. Our favorite detail was their homage to their surroundings – metallic gold farm animals that held each guests blue calligraphed placecard.
After dinner, guests headed inside the barn for dancing. The barn was transformed into Lauren and Matt’s own little “Bungalow” complete with a light up “L + M” letters above the DJ, a gold taxidermy deer over the entrance and more Yeah! Rentals seating vignettes. We styled the barn with more pieces from Lauren & Matt’s personal collection including Edison bulb lamps, vintage decanters and an old school record player, filled with all their favorite albums. The whole wedding was just magical – so fun, so beautiful and most importantly, so Lauren & Matt.
Photography: Rylee Hitchner Photography | Videography: Robert Nachman | Florist: Brown Paper Design | Wedding Dress: Matthew Christopher | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Hair And Makeup: Emma Wellis | Calligraphy: jill velez calligraphy | Grooms Attire: Hugo Boss | Groomsmen's Attire: The Black Tux | Transportation: Limo Link | Venue: Ojai Valley Inn | Catering & Cake: Ojai Valley Inn | Lighting & Drapery: Bella Vista Designs, Inc | Music: Unite Entertainment | Planner & Designer: Park & Grove | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Specialty Signage & Place Card Holders: Spilled Garbage