A Navy Pilot’s Summer Wedding Featuring Tradition, Elegance, and a Scene From Top Gun

Lauren Megerdichian
February 24, 2023
Categories: Real Weddings, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

A blush pink color palette, a man in uniform, and a Top Gun-worthy serenade – what’s not to love about this sunny California affair planned by Brooke Nicole Events?! When it came to the design.. elegance and tradition remained at the center of Ashley and Kevin’s vision. From lush, peony-infused floral by ADORNMENTS flowers + finery to an escort display that’ll … the full gallery by Ashley Rae Studio is soaring with beautiful inspiration for the classic bride at heart.

From Ashley Rae Studio…Ashley and Kevin’s wedding on the Central Coast of California boasts a scene out of a Top Gun movie alongside pure elegance and obvious attention to detail. The bride wore a beautiful Justin Alexander signature gown with custom-made sleeves and embellishments, while the groom looked sharp in his US Navy dress whites alongside his fellow colleagues. It’s worth noting that Tom Cruise played the department head of Kevin’s squadron (VX-31) in the most recent Top Gun movie.

Ashley’s parents were married at the San Luis Obispo Mission de Tolosa 45 years before Ashley and Kevin, so it was important for them to continue the tradition and have their own wedding there as well. The invitations, designed by Heidi Davidson, featured a custom illustration of the Mission and were wrapped in vellum paper with the lyrics to the couple’s favorite love song, “Bones.” One guest was so inspired by the invitation that they even recreated the illustration on a bottle of bubbles.

After their first kiss as a married couple, there was a sword ceremony on the steps of the Mission. Guests then made their way to the Rava Winery in Paso Robles for cocktails, dinner, and dancing. The cocktails were named after nicknames that had been given to the couple – “Buttercup” for Ashley, given to her by her grandmother, and “Moonburn” for Kevin, given to him by his fellow airmen. The couple’s German shepherd dog, “Blitz,” was the inspiration for the third cocktail.

The cake cutting was done with a sword, wielded by one of Kevin’s fellow swordsmen, and guests enjoyed the lounging spaces inside and outside as the night came to a close. As is traditional for Navy officers at weddings, the iconic Top Gun serenade was performed for Ashley, who thoroughly enjoyed her moment as the bride. In the original Top Gun movie, this serenade is performed when the main character meets the woman who will eventually become his instructor at the Officer’s Club. The groomsmen and swordsmen, who are usually in uniform, sing the serenade to the bride as a sign of respect and celebration.

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