Sophisticated Science Fiction Wedding

Before I saw this wedding, I might have been a bit skeptical of a Great Gatsby meets science fiction wedding — but these images from The Melideos prove that not only can it be done, it can be done absolutely beautifully. Celestial details (like star-shaped confetti and Moon Pies for dessert) commingle with tables named after classic science fiction films, all wrapped up in a classically glam Los Angeles setting.

From the bride, Bianca: My husband Felix and I share an affinity for classic vintage style and movies, so we aimed for an elegant, vintage glam affair reminiscent of those ballroom scenes in black & white movies from the 30s & 40s — Old Hollywood without being too literal. Beyond that, our only requirements were that the wedding be outside with delicious food and lots of dancing. When we found Cafe Pinot, with its beautiful courtyard gardens, city skyline views and the iconic Art Deco L.A. Library as a backdrop, we knew it was the place for us. It provided the perfect modern meets vintage vibe and really echoed our aesthetic as a couple. The fact that it’s located in downtown LA, where we met, fell in love, and currently live, made it even more special.

Flower recipe: Bouquet — Black Magic and Piano roses, peonies, waxflowers, chamomile flowers, eucalyptus and myrtle. Centerpieces — Black Magic roses, spray roses, Sarah Bernhardt pink peonies, antique green hydrangea, white & red wax flowers, pink rice flowers, eucalyptus and myrtle.

I’m a writer and astrology/metaphysics nerd and Felix is a science fiction geek, so we went with a loose celestial theme — “Written in the Stars”. We named our tables after favorite science fiction movies and gave Moon Pies as favors. Color scheme was white and gold with navy blue accents. And — because my husband is Chinese — red flowers for luck. The venue didn’t require much decor, so my mom & I DIY’d all of it. She made confetti cones using pages from Arthur Miller’s autobiography “Time Bends” and gold star confetti. I painted white eyelet Chinese lanterns with gold glitter paint and inserted lights to make them look like stars in our ceremony tree, and framed vintage astronomy prints for the escort table. Our signage, programs, escort & table cards were Etsy custom designs we had printed locally. Our biggest DIY project was the flowers. My mom & I designed/arranged all the florals — except the boutonnieres. We picked up 2 carloads of flowers from the LA Flower Market and put everything together with a couple helpers. It was a lot to take on, and the money saved maybe wasn’t worth the added stress, but ultimately we were super happy and proud of what we’d accomplished together. And everyone wanted the center pieces at the end of the night!

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? It’s just one day! Try not to sweat the details, be flexible, roll with the punches and let go of expectations. Everyone will have an opinion about everything — be gracious but firm in your vision. Be present and enjoy this moment in time. Also — invitations get thrown away! You need trees more than museum board. Trust me.

See Also

A Bold Berry-Colored Vallejo Wedding

Wedding Music:
Processional: “‘Til Kingdom Come,” Coldplay
Recessional: “Sweet Disposition,” The Temper Trap
During cocktails and dinner: classic jazz standards — Sinatra, Dean Martin, Etta James, etc.