Whimsical Floral-Filled Wedding at Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point

Melissa Baran
March 24, 2019
Categories: Real Weddings, The Blog, Whimsical

You don’t typically see couples welcoming a baby together in the delivery room before they’ve even started dating – but today’s duo, Princeton and Michelle, did exactly that. You’ll have to read the full story below for yourself and then dive into their utterly beautiful and whimsical wedding planned by Couture Events (and filled to the brim with florals from Blush Botanicals!). There’s a stunner film from Elysium Productions to set the day in motion for you and a full gallery of gorgeous from Leila Brewster.

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How the Bride & Groom met…

Princeton and Michelle met on the very first day of his clinical rotations at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine – Obstetrics and Gynecology. She was his chief resident and was instantly impressed by his enthusiasm and work ethic. Then they delivered a baby together… well ultimately they would be delivering multiple babies together but Princetons first delivery was with Michelle – Although Princeton loved working with kids, he had been dreading delivering a baby; getting put on the spot to catch a slippery, squirming baby was something Princeton hoped to not have to do during his entire obstetrics and gynecology rotation. One afternoon, a pregnant patient, huffing and puffing, came up to Labor and Delivery. Michelle took one look at her face and knew there was a baby coming, and fast! The patient was placed on a wheelchair and quickly wheeled off to the delivery room, Michelle following behind them. “Princeton, I don’t think you’ve delivered a baby yet, please come with me!” Princeton and Michelle quickly followed the patient into the delivery room, where the baby soon began to crown. “Princeton, quick, throw some gloves on!” And there in a delivery room in Honolulu, Hawaii, Princeton delivered his first baby with Michelle’s hands over his, and together they welcomed a new life into the world. They quickly discovered they were both from Los Angeles and bonded over their mutual love for good food, arts, and music. Princeton eventually escaped the rotation unscathed, and through a mutual love of classical music, ono Hawaiian food, and epic travels, a true love was born.

What did you like about your venue?

Monarch Beach was a magical venue. Steps away from the Pacific Ocean, it was a perfect blend of luxury and Southern Californian ease. Both Princeton and I have a reputation for being foodies, so having the perfect meal at our reception was a must! Everyone raved about the delicious food! We’re already dreaming about our one-year anniversary get-away here!

What did you like about your wedding planner?

Couture Events is incredibly creative. From the very beginning, they did an amazing job incorporating our vision and her expertise! From the many text messages and panicked late-night emails, they were my voice of reason throughout the whole planning process. The Big Day could not have turned out more beautiful! It was truly a vision from my dreams!

Describe your vision/inspiration for your wedding day. Did you have a specific theme?

Right from the beginning, we wanted our Big Day to really focus on our beloved friends and family. We wanted the day to be a big celebration that was elegant and sophisticated but not too fussy. Also, we wanted everything to reflect who we are as individuals and as a couple! We aimed for beautiful florals that filled the venue and lots of quirky, unique details that made the celebration whimsical and fun.

What was your favorite part of your wedding day?

Everything! Turning down the aisle after we got married and seeing all our friends and family beaming at us just took our breath away! From the open-air cocktail hour on the terrace to our gorgeous dessert buffet to the late-night sparklers that led to our In-N-Out truck, everything was sheer perfection!

What was your color scheme?

Greenery, rose quartz, rose gold. Were there any new trends that you incorporated, or did you decide to go more traditional? We are a very untraditional couple so we went in a unique direction! We wanted lots of florals, details that incorporated our beloved ring bearer Schnauzer pup Sadie, and tons of delicious eats and drinks to indulge in! Our ceremony altar design incorporated lots of florals but also fully-functional chandeliers that took everyone’s breath away!

How would you describe your wedding style and fashion?

Princeton’s style is classic and timeless, and Michelle’s style is elegant with clean lines but with a fun and stylish twist. Princeton chose a navy blue tux and Michelle chose a classic Vera Wang mermaid gown with beautiful tulle rosettes.

What kind of flowers did you pick for your centerpieces and bouquet?

We chose peonies and greenery which reflected both our luxurious and down-to-earth sides. We wanted the flowers to just be overflowing in our celebration! We also had a beautiful flower wall that was done with the same flowers in an ombre style.

What kind of food did you serve?

We served classics with a twist: Asian-inspired cod with a beautiful mushroom wild rice; ribeye steak with wasabi mashed potatoes; a dessert buffet with macaroons, cupcakes, cake shots, and schnauzer cookies inspired by our beloved Sadie; and burgers and fountain drinks from our In-N-Out truck at the end of the night!

What flavor(s) did you pick for your cake?

We chose coconut cream as a nod to our meeting in Hawaii.

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

We went on our honeymoon a month after we got married, to Italy! We went for two glorious weeks in Cinque Terre, Rome, Florence, and even went up north to Alba for the annual Truffle Festival!

What was the most memorable moment of your reception?

The reception was absolutely perfect, but if I absolutely had to choose one moment I’d have to choose the sparklers lighting the way to our In-N-Out truck – it was the best burger I’ve ever had in my life! Having all our loved ones out with us, enjoying burgers and fountain drinks, was an incredible experience! The In-N-Out caps were also on point!

Any other details we left out, special considerations, or something you want to share that made your day unique?

As a tribute to their time in Hawaii, Michelle planned a surprise ukelele performance for Princeton during the cocktail hour. She sang Colbie Caillat’s “I Do” and the look of surprise and love on Princeton’s face was priceless!