Weddings are most successful when every option to personalize is seized creating an event that represents a couple in their individual lives before uniting and the joint one they are entering into. This was achieved in spades by Mark and Larry, who had a ceremony with Jewish themes in a Church while wearing traditional Filipino Barongs. Their first glance of each other was at the altar, after being escorted by their mothers while the organ at All Saints in Pasadena executed the wedding processional from The Sound of Music. The ceremony brought together the elements from their cultures that were important to them, while keeping a sense of humor and inclusivity that this LGBTQ friendly church is known for.

Following the ceremony, Mark and Larry changed into white tuxedo jackets before being driven in a vintage red convertible to the Carondelet House. This venue has multiple rooms, and we created an experience in all of them. As guests arrived for cocktail hour, they enjoyed passed canapés and cocktails while having the option for a caricature to be drawn by Rosefur Portraits. The indoor/outdoor dining room then opened revealing the combination of round and long tables adorned by BudsNBloomsLA. Each setting had an individual Baby Bell gouda cheese wheel as this an inside joke of the couple. There was also a Vanity Fair inspired photo room to get a perfectly composed shot by Jake Ross.

After dinner guests took to the dance floor where DJ Eddie presided over a giant boombox and got the entire crowd moving. After they cut their cake from Porto’s, Larry surprised Mark by serenading him with a Frank Sinatra classic. This was followed by a surprise performance from Mark’s high school dance troupe that eventually pulled him up to join in the routine. There were also late night snacks of popcorn, churros and popsicles. And on the way out, each guest received a candy-filled coffee mug displaying the custom caricature drawing of the couple by theatrical illustrator Squigs Robertson. It was an absolute blast to work with these two gentlemen who wanted to infuse the entire event with their personalities. Guests got to enjoy all of the details, and also witness the union of two people who thrill each other through and through..