Katie and Alex are college sweethearts that met in the dorms during their freshman year of college and began dating the following summer. Fast forward to December of 2018, Alex surprised Katie with a trip to New York City, where he proposed to her over French food after a romantic stroll through Central Park. As a nostalgic nod to the early years of their relationship, one of their shared college professors officiated their ceremony!

The couple wanted their wedding to feel intimate and personal, so they opted for a private residence in San Juan Capistrano. The venue has a quaint avocado farm, surrounded by beautiful hills and trees. They had 40 of their closest friends and family members, making the whole experience incredibly special. It was very important for Katie and Alex to honor Alex’s Chinese culture and Katie’s Jewish heritage. They incorporated Jewish traditions in their ceremony––like the chuppah and breaking of the glass, as well as delicious Chinese dishes and recipe cards as favors.

Although the wedding was small in guest count, it was big in glamour. It was a black-tie soirée with formal details, like a champagne tower and string quartet. Because the residence is not typically a venue, they were able to be really creative with how they used the space to achieve their vision of having a highly personalized one-of-a-kind aesthetic. The color palette had a variety of colors—soft and romantic neutrals of sand, walnut, sage, and dusty blue with sunset pastels of blush, cantaloupe, butter yellow, terra-cotta, and pops of coral accented with black and mixed metallics. They layered playful touches like fringe and lanterns on top of all the glam. The lanterns were such a unique way to incorporate Chinese culture and add gorgeous festive light to the space when the sun went down. Throughout the property, there were vignettes with beautiful vintage-inspired furniture where guests could relax. This made everything feel upscale but cozy, adding to the intimate vibe. From the subtle elegant elements to the cultural fusion and fine details, this was the perfect California love story.

View the full feature in Volume 1 of The Aisle magazine.