This Franciscan Gardens Wedding is Filled with All Things Fall

This romantic Franciscan Gardens wedding is the epitome of personalization, overflowing with nods to the couple’s unique story, passions and individuality through such thoughtful details as a live silhouette artist, a gorgeous sweetheart table backdrop and the bride’s Scottish professor from University flying all the way to California to officiate their special day! Pretty sweet, right? Explore the gallery from Anya Kernes Photography, and your heart will surely smile with every image kissed with jewel tones that passes you by. A beautiful palette combined with clever design details from Confetti Skies and rich florals from Little Hill Floral Designs make Ann-Margaret and Shawn’s lush, elegant and vintage-inspired wedding one we’ll never forget!

Ann-Margaret and Shawn dreamt of wedding that was dreamy, romantic, ethereal, and “Old World” with vintage touches. They always desired for their wedding to express the beauty and tenderness of their love in a way that is authentic and moving (but not cheesy or saccharine). Ann-Margaret’s modified A-line Temperley London wedding dress was inspired by 1920s-’30s styles and was ivory with beadwork on the torso. She also wore a vintage-inspired headpiece in lieu of a veil. Shawn wore a dark grey suit, a peach bow tie, and a black/multicolored floral pocket square.

Their wedding colors were rose pink and deep red with hints of orange and amber. Their metals were copper, for the flatware and decor, and platinum, mostly for jewelry. Florals included pink garden roses, burgundy dahlias, marigolds, and thistle. Their Scottish officiant is one of Ann-Margaret’s former English professors from St Andrews who flew in from Scotland to officiate their wedding. Theri reception plates and water goblets were pink and amber crystal. The sweetheart table had a bluish chinoiserie backdrop with exotic birds. And taking place during the ceremony, an artist completed an oil painting of the view with blue hues and birds.

Franciscan Gardens Wedding ceremony space

Guest wedding favors were purchased by Ann-Margaret in London and included notepads with a copper feather motif for men and custom pink and ivory hair pins for women. A string quartet played during the ceremony and cocktail hour, and a solo pianist performed during the three-hour reception.

Instead of the traditional moment for guests to sign a guestbook, Ann- Margaret and Shawn’s guests signed a large, printed engagement photo of the two love birds. Valentina, their beautiful 8-month old flower girl was delicately pulled in a decorated wagon by her brother.

Ann-Margaret and Shawn opted out of having their guests dance during their reception- instead, plenty of engaging activities were available for guests to partake in, including: a regular cake in addition to a cake of cheese; a liquid nitrogen frozen dessert station for ice cream and gelato; a display with an Asian ball-jointed doll wearing a miniature replica of Ann-Margaret’s wedding dress and their two cats in miniature made of wool; an oil painting with exotic birds; an artist who cut silhouettes; and haiku poets with typewriters that took requests for poems.

See also: Hydrangea and Rose-Filled Garden Wedding

Unique, one of a kind, special- all words describing the abundance of effort and skill that went in planning this lively wedding. Ann-Margaret and Shawn strived to make this wedding one to remember with lots of small, thoughtful, personalized touches. They love the freedom they had been given to create the wedding of their dreams. It meant a lot to them that they had the freedom to incorporate more unconventional elements that speak to their interests and personalities.

The newlyweds share an appreciation for art, creativity, and visual aesthetics as well as a shared desire to offer their closest family and friends a memorable wedding experience alongside a team of passionate vendors and professionals. A refreshing vibe was felt throughout the entire celebration. Ann-Margaret and Shawn took the characteristics they see and love in one another and displayed them beautifully for their guests. Truly an eccentric day that will live on forever.

Wedding Vendors:

Planning: Confetti Skies

Photography: Anya Kernes Photography

Floral Design: Little Hill Floral Designs

Cinematography: Theater 10 Films

Live Musicians: OMG Ocdamia Music Group, LLC

Venue: Franciscan Gardens

Catering + Bar: 24 Carrots Catering

Cake: Grace and Honey Cakes

Officiant: Dr. Sara Lodge

Hair & Makeup: Sharla Daleo

Child Care: L.A. Wedding Sitter