Guests Were Blown Away by the Ceremony Space at This Formal California Wedding
Guests Were Blown Away by the Ceremony Space at This Formal California Wedding
Dalton Maney and Ottilie "Tillie" Simon met as high school sophomores. After five years of dating, Dalton surprised his then-girlfriend with a vacation in Napa—and an accompanying proposal. When it came time for these high school sweethearts to wed, they chose the stunning Malibu Rocky Oaks as their venue, located up the coast from their Carlsbad, California, home. The vineyard's known for its Tuscan villa, 360-degree views of the California hills, and of course, it's rows of grapevines. As it turns out though, the celebration's backdrop was just one aspect of its allure.
The couple's planner, Berlanti Azhak of The Elegant Ninja, worked with their floral designer, Poppy Design Co., to dream up a design scheme for the formal wedding. Together, they decided to center their creative process around something unique: wallpaper by Ellie Cashman Design. It was the artist's juxtaposition of soft blooms and dark shades that drew the group's attention, and with the help of a team of talented vendors, they set off to recreate a similar look. Cue Ruth Jahja-Daro of Seniman Calligraphy, who hand-drew floral prints reminiscent of the wallpaper for the stationery. "She was able to capture that super-edgy romantic feel that we wanted to showcase," shares Azhak. From there, the rest of the day took shape, thanks in part to unique color combos and plenty of real flowers, too.
When the November 5, 2017, date came, the forecast predicted rain, which didn't suit the outdoor ceremony and reception. Luckily, not a single drop fell, and the sky only enhanced the vibe. "We had a very dark and chic palette," shares Azhak, "so the somber weather actually tied in very beautifully." We're sure that the 80 guests would agree.
A Moody Palette
Ellie Cashman Design's wallpaper informed the entire event's color scheme, starting with the couple's invitation. The dark shades in the artist's work inspired the stationery suite's own floral illustrations and palette of primarily black, pink, and gray courtesy of Seniman Calligraphy. See More Gorgeous Floral Wedding Invitations
The Blushing Bride
Tillie (who, like her husband, works in the fashion industry), glowed in her beaded Ines Di Santo wedding dress, which had long sleeves and an A-line silhouette. Tanya Bures of Page Beauty put her hair up in a ponytail, which the bride chose to ensure that every detail of the gown would be visible. Her updo was covered with a veil created by her wedding dress designer for the ceremony. 12 Brides Who Wore Wedding-Worthy Ponytails
The Bridal Bouquet
The Poppy Design Co. bouquet resembled the flowers on the celebration's paper goods and included roses, astilbe, blushing bride protea, and scabiosa. Our Favorite Rose Wedding Bouquets
Stylish Shoes
Talk about statement shoes! Tillie stepped out in strappy, embellished, and rosy Gucci sandals on the big day. 40 Wedding Shoes That Are Worthy of an Instagram
The Bridesmaids
When it came to the bridesmaids, the color scheme diverted from pink to purple. The women wore mismatched gowns from David's Bridal and carried bouquets that resembled the bride's. They left their hair down in soft and wavy styles.
The couple's flower girl wore a white David's Bridal dress and a classic flower crown.
The Groomsmen
The men shared a laugh as they took their group portraits. Dalton donned a River Island tuxedo, Gucci bow tie and shoes, Eton shirt, and an Alexander McQueen pocket square. The groomsmen looked dapper in The Black Tux double-breasted jackets, setting the tone for the formal affair. 29 Stylish Groomsmen from Real Weddings
A Grand Entrance
Tillie's father escorted down the venue's vineyard-inspired staircase. Meanwhile, an instrumental version of The Sound of Music's "Edelweiss" played. How to Choose the Perfect Processional Music
An Emotional Groom
While the couple's wedding had modern touches, they chose to work in a few traditional elements. That included one of Dalton's non-negotiables: seeing his future wife for the first time at the ceremony. The moment was one of the most emotional parts of the entire day—"there wasn't a single dry eye left in the audience," Azhak recalls. "I was completely speechless," shares the groom.
A Stunning Setup
The couple's Christian ceremony, which included a ring exchange, was officiated by one of their best friend's father. It took place on the estate's helipad, which overlooked the region's sweeping hillsides. As if that backdrop weren't enough, Poppy Design Co. crafted a floral crescent to frame the bride and groom. Have you ever seen such a breathtaking space?
The Recessional
The couple's joy was hard to miss as they blissfully recessed as spouses to The Beach Boys' "Wouldn't It Be Nice." "My favorite memory was turning back and looking at everyone who was there for us. I've never felt more loved," Tillie recalls.
Happily Ever After
The newly-minted husband and wife took postceremony photos on the helipad and reflected on the momentous occasion, which they both say was the most perfect, beautiful day in their lives.
Lounge Time
After the ceremony, attendees convened on the venue's patio, where lounge furniture was set up for comfortable (and stylish) seating. As they snacked on delicious offerings from Modern Art Catering—including mini spaghetti-and-meatball skewers and a sampling of olive oils and balsamic vinegars—Kevin Whan of Vox DJs set the ambiance with tunes. The full bar included the venue's house wines. Wedding Lounge Ideas Your Guests Can Cozy Up To
The Escort Cards
Moody flowers reappeared on the couple's seating display designed by Seniman Calligraphy, which featured black escort cards calligraphed with gold ink and affixed to a floral-patterned board. 25 Ideas for the Prettiest Calligraphed Escort Cards
In Full Bloom
The main theme of the day came to life with arrangements of bold flowers—including this collection of assorted roses, peonies, and scabiosa, that popped against a brocade linen.
Dining Alfresco
Come reception time, guests found their places at a mix of round and rectangular tables, all set beneath the elegant chandeliers and romantic greenery that decorated the veranda.
The Details
Poppy Design Co. arranged colorful centerpieces of mostly red and pink blooms. Seniman Calligraphy menus, Casa de Perrin chargers, La Tavola linens, and additional Premiere Party Rents dinnerware made up the darker place settings.
For dinner, Modern Art Catering served Italian delectables including antipasto salad and grilled flank steak. The Prettiest Place Settings from Real Celebrations
The First Dance
Tillie and Dalton shared the sweetest embrace during their private moment on the dance floor. They took their first spin as newlyweds to Cat Power's "Sea of Love." "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum was the soundtrack to both the father-daughter and mother-sun dances that followed. 70 First Dance Songs from Real Weddings
A Dramatic Dessert
The couple cut into this dramatic Vanilla Bakeshop cake, which was one last nod to the event's deep color palette. The confection and how it was displayed was fully floral, from the bloom-covered stand to the familiar background print. The flavor, however, was fruity: strawberry shortcake, to be exact. 42 Fruit Wedding Cakes That Are Full of Color (and Flavor!)
Sources
Photography, Mariel Hannah
Location, Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards
Event planning, The Elegant Ninja
Catering, Modern Art Catering
Flowers, Poppy Design Co.
Officiant, Roy Cochran
Stationery and calligraphy, Seniman Calligraphy
Cake, Vanilla Bake Shop
Music, Vox DJs
Rentals, Casa de Perrin; La Tavola; Premiere Party Rentals
Bride's gown, Ines Di Santo
Bride's accessories, Ines Di Santo veil; Gucci shoes
Hair and makeup, Page Beauty
Bridesmaids' dresses, David's Bridal
Flower girl's dress, David's Bridal
Groom's attire, River Island suit; Eton shirt
Groom's accessories, Gucci bow tie; Alexander McQueen pocket square; Gucci shoes
Groomsmens' attire, The Black Tux
Lighting, Premiere Party Rentals
Transportation, Mars Wagon
This couple's outdoor event was inspired by a moody floral design.