Weddings and Events
It had been one year since Mike set his eyes on Katie in the backyard of their mutual friends’ home. Whether it was by fate or by their friends secretly setting up this perfect match, one thing is for sure — Mike knew Katie was the one. The proposal was casual and organic, just like how their relationship began. The couple took a romantic stroll through Laguna Beach, admiring the art in gallery windows and enjoying the slivers of the ocean view that peeked out in between buildings on Pacific Coast Highway. Just as the sun was setting, Mike got on one knee and proposed!
After their engagement, the happy couple moved fast — they planned their wedding in just 6 months! Katie says “Just like our relationship, we knew right away what we wanted and went for it!” At first, they couldn’t seem to find a venue that felt like the perfect fit. Then, Katie’s aunt mentioned Casa Romantica. It was the first venue Mike and Katie were able to tour together, and also the last, because the couple and Katie’s family were smitten with the oceanfront estate’s beauty and versatility.
Katie also found in it a different kind of beauty: she believed that it was the place that her mother, who had passed away, would have wanted for her daughter to be married in.
Mike and Katie dreamed of a rustic and intimate “vintage garden” design that mirrored Katie’s Pinterest Pins “to a T.” The mixture of towering Monterey Fir trees and eucalyptus trees with Casa Romantica’s Spanish Colonial Revival architecture made for a picture-perfect setting. To add glamour, florists at The Bloom of Time provided bold splashes of burgundy flowers. The bridal party followed suit with burgundy ties and shoes for the groomsmen, and burgundy dresses for the bridesmaids. The groomsmen also donned navy slacks and suspenders with crisp white shirts (opposite Mike’s navy suit and burgundy dress shirt with a white bowtie) to match Katie’s snowy white dress.
The couple chose vintage-style Parisian-inspired glassware from Signature Party Rentals to enliven their table settings.
Katie recalls that one of her absolute favorite memories from the big day was when Katherine, her wedding planner, took her out to see the final setup. “Seeing everything that I had imagined in my head come to life was amazing!” Events By Katherine handled everything to make sure the happy couple was making as many memories as possible.
Not only was the setting a dream come true, but the incorporation of a special family tradition made for a heartwarming moment. One of the most sentimental moments for the bride was being able to have her family’s heirloom bracelet sewn into her wedding gown. The bracelet had been made when her late mother was a bride-to-be. Katie’s mother had brought Katie’s aunt and cousin with her to a bridal dress shop. The aunt and cousin were both young children at the time, and as they played at the shop, they picked up stray beads and sequins that had fallen from different dresses throughout the store. With all the little ‘treasures’ they had accumulated, the two girls made a bracelet. That special bracelet was then pinned to the inside of Katie’s mother’s wedding dress.
Katie’s aunt wore the bracelet inside of her own wedding gown when she was married. Now, it was Katie’s turn. Katie was thrilled that she was able to have her mother’s family history with her while she was making history of her own.
Iva Lee’s Catering provided a delicious and unforgettable meal. Mike and Katie told us that their friends and family still talk about the food to this day!
Mike and Katie worked with Simply Sweet Cakery to design the wedding cake of their dreams. The “naked cake” was delicately adorned with flowers which perfectly tied into their rustic/nature theme. It was not only beautiful — it was “the most delicious cake” they have ever had.
The reception portion of the evening was very important to the bride and groom.
They enlisted the help of Katie’s father to book the entertainment. Dad delivered on his promise and found an incredible live band to perform. Jump Interactive kept the guests on their feet and made sure it was a night to remember — complete with a cameo from the father of the bride himself!
The Casa Romantica Private Events Team has had the privilege of being a part of so many exquisite weddings this year, and we are excited for the many more weddings to come in the new year. Happy Holidays to all, and please let our team know how we can help you create the event of your dreams in 2019 and beyond!
Vendors:
Coordination: Events By Katherine
Florist: The Bloom of Time
Band: Jump Interactive
Photographer: Full Spectrum Photography
Rentals: Signature Party Rentals
Bakery: Simply Sweet Cakery
Caterer: Iva Lee’s Catering
