This Bride + Groom Said "I Do" in the Most Unique Location
The next best thing to getting married underwater? Getting married in an aquarium! And for this Southern California Bride and Groom who "wanted to do something that was out of the ordinary," deciding on an aquarium wedding was as easy as saying, "I do." From the gorgeous white bouquets to the whimsical ocean-themed candy bar, this wedding definitely has the "wow" factor. See it all from Ryon:Lockhart Photography in The Vault!
From The Bride...The story of how Alex and I met is a simple yet sweet one. Our best friends set us up on a double date and as they had suspected, we hit it off immediately. It didn't take long to realize that there was a special connection between us and from that day on, it was impossible to find the two of us apart. We survived the trials of a long distance relationship and after almost 4 years of dating, it was time to take our relationship to the next level!
After asking my father for his blessing, it was off to the island of romance Catalina! Upon arrival we were escorted to a private ocean front bungalow which was ready with champagne and decorated with roses petals. After a glass of liquid courage, Alex got down on a knee and asked me if I’d spend the rest of my life with him. I was ecstatic and obviously said YES and the rest of the weekend was a celebration of our love as we started making plans for the big day.
When it came to finding a venue the only thing we were certain about was that we wanted to do something that was out of the ordinary. Knowing that we had a year filled with weddings to look forward to, we aimed to provide a unique experience for our guest. With a spectacular waterside location, the world class Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California offered the beautifully unique atmosphere that we had been looking for!! It also happened to be where Alex took me on our second dates which made the location extra special!!
After booking the space for our June 27th, 2015 wedding we hired Emma Seitz of First Pick Planning to help us plan every detail, asked Lotus and Lily to design our beautiful flower arrangements and brought in Ryon:Lockhart photography to capture it all. With this dream team we were able to take our visions of a classic, timeless and nautically inspired event and make it a reality.
After months of planning the big day had finally arrived. As guests arrived they were greeted with beautiful harbor views and sounds of steel drums before being escorted to into the venue through a special underwater tunnel/entrance which cut directly through the Sea Lion exhibit. Rose petals and candles led the way for our friends and family as they experienced their first animal encounter of the night. The ceremony itself was short and sweet and it took place in front of the breathtaking three-story Blue Cavern exhibit. Guests then move upstairs for cocktail hours and enjoyed refreshments and yummy appetizers while getting a close-up look at their favorite animals and exhibits. We also had animal experts stationed throughout the venue who performed demonstrations with the animals, shared interesting facts and gave behind-the-scenes perspectives of working with the animals.
As it came time to move back downstairs to the reception space for dinner, escort cards sent guests to their tables which were named after sea creatures found within the aquarium. The playful affair featured navy and white stripes, all white flowers, gold accent pieces and the blue lighting created a feeling of warmth, making the huge space feel cozy and welcoming. After dinner our 250 guests danced the night away and indulged in our ‘ocean’ themed candy bar!
To say our wedding day was a dream come true would be an understatement. Alex and I couldn’t have asked for anything more and will treasure the memories from that day for the rest of our lives.
After asking my father for his blessing, it was off to the island of romance Catalina! Upon arrival we were escorted to a private ocean front bungalow which was ready with champagne and decorated with roses petals. After a glass of liquid courage, Alex got down on a knee and asked me if I’d spend the rest of my life with him. I was ecstatic and obviously said YES and the rest of the weekend was a celebration of our love as we started making plans for the big day.
When it came to finding a venue the only thing we were certain about was that we wanted to do something that was out of the ordinary. Knowing that we had a year filled with weddings to look forward to, we aimed to provide a unique experience for our guest. With a spectacular waterside location, the world class Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California offered the beautifully unique atmosphere that we had been looking for!! It also happened to be where Alex took me on our second dates which made the location extra special!!
After booking the space for our June 27th, 2015 wedding we hired Emma Seitz of First Pick Planning to help us plan every detail, asked Lotus and Lily to design our beautiful flower arrangements and brought in Ryon:Lockhart photography to capture it all. With this dream team we were able to take our visions of a classic, timeless and nautically inspired event and make it a reality.
After months of planning the big day had finally arrived. As guests arrived they were greeted with beautiful harbor views and sounds of steel drums before being escorted to into the venue through a special underwater tunnel/entrance which cut directly through the Sea Lion exhibit. Rose petals and candles led the way for our friends and family as they experienced their first animal encounter of the night. The ceremony itself was short and sweet and it took place in front of the breathtaking three-story Blue Cavern exhibit. Guests then move upstairs for cocktail hours and enjoyed refreshments and yummy appetizers while getting a close-up look at their favorite animals and exhibits. We also had animal experts stationed throughout the venue who performed demonstrations with the animals, shared interesting facts and gave behind-the-scenes perspectives of working with the animals.
As it came time to move back downstairs to the reception space for dinner, escort cards sent guests to their tables which were named after sea creatures found within the aquarium. The playful affair featured navy and white stripes, all white flowers, gold accent pieces and the blue lighting created a feeling of warmth, making the huge space feel cozy and welcoming. After dinner our 250 guests danced the night away and indulged in our ‘ocean’ themed candy bar!
To say our wedding day was a dream come true would be an understatement. Alex and I couldn’t have asked for anything more and will treasure the memories from that day for the rest of our lives.