Dreamy Oceanside Wedding With A Feathery Pampas Grass Arc
Unsurprisingly, we’re in the mood for warm fuzzies today, and this dreamy oceanside wedding in the Pacific Northwest is chock full of it. We were struck by Cupid’s arrow when we first laid eyes on Allie + Pat’s feathery pampas grass ceremony backdrop designed by California florist Best Day Ever. There was truly nothing cliche about their wedding, and we love all the ways they incorporated their passion for travel into their guests’ experience. Like seriously how amazing is their mariachi band cocktail hour entertainment? Earthy tones, rich textures and natural elements stole the show in this delightfully nonfiction love story. So grab some chocolate, sip some bubbly and prepare to audibly “awww.”
What style and feel did you envision for your wedding?
Our venue had the most amazing panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Mountains. Our goal was to take full advantage of the breathtaking ocean backdrop without going full-on themed ‘beach wedding’. No pastels. No sailboat prints. We wanted our guests to to enjoy the smell of the ocean breeze and sunset over the Pacific’s horizon without needing to take off their stilettos to walk through sand. We leaned into the rich 1920s architectural features of our venue – exposed wood, high rafter ceilings, bronze candle chalendiers and open fire place – to create an inviting romantically vintage vibe.
What are some adjectives that best describe the look of your wedding? Did you have a theme or color scheme?
The goal was to achieve a sense of natural intimacy. So, we deliberately did not identify a set color scheme. Instead, we leveraged as much organic material and earth tones as possible. Integrating candles everywhere for natural glow was very important to me. Distressed wood and lush greenery were our other primary elements for color & texture throughout.
What flowers were used for your bouquet and/or floral arrangements??
Cappuccino Roses and Pampas Grass were my favorite floral elements. Annie created an amazing semi circle structure that enveloped Pat & I during the ceremony. The Pampas Grass created an ethereal featherlike visual that drew everyone’s eyes to us, without obstructing the impressive ocean view behind us.
Any advice for couples planning their weddings now?
Make the entire experience a reflection of who you two are together. Know that the personality and unique love of your relationship can be reflected in every planning decision. Venue, music, colors, vows. The more you make decisions that reflect your personalities, the more memorable the overall event will be for you and your guests.
What songs did you play at your wedding?
Processional: River (Leon Bridges), The Day That Never Comes (Metallica), Peace Train (Cat Stevens), Just Breathe (Pearl Jam), I Won’t Give Up (Jason Mraz), I Could Die For You (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Cosmic Love (Florence + The Machine)
Recessional: Free (Graffiti6)
First Dance: Lullabies (Yuna)
Wedding Vendors:
Photography: Isaiah & Taylor
Videography: Sharkpig
Event Planning: Liz of Wink! Weddings
Floral Design: Best Day Ever
Venue: Bel Air Bay Club
Lighting: White Night Design
Photo Booth: MirMir
Entertainment: DJ IG of RedShoe LA
Rehearsal Dinner: Rose Cafe, Venice
Hotel Block: Loews Hotel, Santa Monica
Thanks for sharing this information. your blog is good for wedding related ideas.
What a spectacular dress! And the pampas grass arc is stunning!