Sometimes the best advice given is to ‘just get married!’….and I have to say that may be my favorite piece of advice that I have heard from a COVID bride! For this couple, their elaborate dream venue wedding quickly changed once the pandemic hit and their vendors changed gears to an intimate, backyard wedding at the groom’s family home! With a beautiful table and multiple lounge areas overlooking the water, Intertwined Events transformed this backyard into the couples perfect wedding day. Full of overflowing floral installations by Lily Roden Floral Studio, and an adorable flower girl (pup,) Christine Skari had no shortage of photo op’s! Check it out below and remember….just get married.
From Lily Roden Floral Studio…Annmarie and Mike were great friends in high school… They even attended prom together. After college, they ran 5 marathons together, including the New York Marathon, and started traveling together, but they didn’t start dating until their late 20s. Mike relocated to Dallas after they started dating. Mike made it official when he popped the question in Carmel by the Sea, California.
With two very busy work schedules, Mike and Annmarie quickly set a wedding date with the help of Intertwined Events and chose their dream venue, Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel.
As preparations progressed the couple rode the ups and downs of planning a wedding during Covid-19. As numbers in California worsened, they made the difficult decision to downsize their lavish Ritz Carlton affair and instead tie the knot in an intimate church ceremony and celebrate at Mike’s family home.
All vendors quickly changed gears and began to design an epic backyard reception, which included multiple lounges overlooking the ocean and a show-stopping floral installation adorning the front door for all guests to enjoy. Annmarie and Mike didn’t want to sacrifice a single detail if they didn’t have to. Annmarie’s advice to any Covid bride is “just get married”… an intimate elopement can be just as romantic as a lavish bash!
On their wedding day, Southern California graced us with the most beautiful sunshiny day. Annmarie started the day by running 6 miles at sunrise while Mike relaxed at home with his groomsmen. The couple recalls one of their favorite things was actually getting to see and talk to their small group of wedding guests, which included their dog, flower girl Henley (who has since gone viral in her flower leash and collar on TikTok).
In the end, Annmarie and Mike wouldn’t have it any other day. The ceremony was intimate, private, and romantic! It included their original design and their closest family and friends… not a single detail was sacrificed!
Photography: Christine Skari Photographer | Event Planning: Intertwined Events | Floral Design: Lily Roden | Cake: Grace and Honey Cakes | Ceremony Venue: St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Parish | Reception Venue: Family Home | Catering: 24 Carrots Catering and Events | Brides Dress: Stanley Korshak Bridal Salon | Brides dress: Anne Barge | Furniture & Tabletop: Signature Party Rentals | Furniture & Tabletop: Edge Design & Decor | Furniture & Tabletop: Theoni Collection | HMU: KG Hair & Make Up | Invitations / Signage / Paper: Darla Marie Designs | Linens: Latavola Linen | Napkin Ribbon: Tono and Co | Video Streaming: Honored Occasions | Vintage Bentley: White Rose Limo