A bit of a fab trend the last couple of days, we're way out west in sunny Los Angeles to celebrate Natalie and Ian's real wedding today (did you see the amazing DIY wedding in Malibu yesterday?) This wedding is less DIY and more uber-Glam with a lashings of rustic outdoor casual added in. The venue was the stunning Carondelet House, a 1920s Italian villa (yes, as fabulous as it sounds). Together with their nearest and dearest they said I do with a night-time ceremony under the glow of festoon lights. It all sounds pretty epic don't ya think?Well it is - as the beautiful images by Chloe Moore Photography will show...
So how did Natalie and Ian's love story begin? Well like many things in life, timing is everything... We both went to school at UCSD. Post college, we were at the same parties and our paths crossed countless times throughout the years, but we never actually met. The timing couldn’t have been better when we finally did meet in June of 2008 at a Dodger Game and we started dating in August 2008. We share a mutual love of music, food and adventure, but as much as we have in common, it’s our differences that make us so great together, I’m is a dreamer while Ian is a realist and we encourage each other to try new things and step outside our comfort zone.
Before we find out about the proposal, we're going to jump forward to bride Natalie's style. She opted for a lace embellished bodice with a drop waist, a full tulle skirt with a rose detail. With such a glam wedding dress, she choose to wear her hair loose with a jewelled hair accessories and full veil - Natalie's pop of colour was her fun mint shoes!
So I wonder how Ian the realist, popped the question to his dream girl Natalie, well on a perfect day in La Jolla, overlooking the Pacific Ocean of course! We both went to college at UCSD and sat upon the same cliffs before we ever met. Ian proposed in this special place as we’d often stop here together on weekend trips to San Diego. The day Ian proposed, we sat side by side (with our pup Baxter) with our feet dangling over the cliffs. He asked. I said yes.
The pair decided on a 'First look' before the wedding ceremony. Groom Ian and Baxter the pup were dressed to impressed in grey with mint accessories as they waited for Natalie to arrive.
We have shown you many different 'First looks' in our real weddings recently. Have any of you decided to change-up the traditions on your wedding day? Making your day your own is the most important part, whatever elements you keep, or add in is the exciting part!
What a great photo! Dogs as guests? A massive thumbs up from the One Fab Day team, especially one's that rockin' a bowtie - how dapper!
Natalie and Ian's venue is a stunner and I was pretty smitten when I saw the photographs, so I couldn't wait to hear how they felt...We went to countless venues and loved them all, but when I walked into Carondolet House I had the same feeling I had when I found my dress. I was filled with emotion and immediately excited for our big day. This place is so beautifully decorated down to the last detail. It had so much character and charm from the chandeliers to the vintage art. It didn’t need additional décor to fill the space. It spoke for itself. My fiance was equally excited and so we knew this had to be our venue.
Our venue is an old Italian styled villa from the 1920’s that was converted into an event space. This gave the day a very vintage feel. The vibe was all about fun! Since the venue was a former home with many rooms, we opted for a cocktail style menu which allowed the guests to roam the house in a more casual environment. It was a truly unique wedding which really captured our own personal style and sensibilities.
For their wedding colour palette, Natalie choose an ethereal late winter, early spring look with soft mint, silver, light grey and light peach and it worked brilliantly against the whitewash brick work and eclectic interior of the villa.
We love the soft mint of the bridesmaids a nice contrast to the dark grey suits on the groomsmen.
And check out these guys, talk about stylish - I think the kids stole the best dressed guest award!
So with all that action and fun in front of the camera, you might have thought that I forgot about the most important part, the ceremony! Well of course I didn't! Natalie and Ian decided to have a night-time ceremony (wait till you seen the place lit up - swoon!) So we had to wait till the sun went down...
Beeeautiful! How romantic to say I do beneath a tree and under the glow of all those festoon lights!
We wanted this day the capture who we are as a couple stylistically as well as remembering it forever with great photography. Our photographer Chloe Moore was incredible to work with. She was high energy and always assuring us that the photos were stellar as the day went on. We also wanted this day to be fun, so an eccentric soundtrack was crucial.
Natalie was a through and through DIY bride, getting involved in lots of elements of the day from glitter dipped mason jars to feather trimmed drink stirers! Every detail was thought out to make this day different from every other day of our lives. It felt like a moment in time. But mostly, it was the energy that meant so much to us. It felt so good to be surrounded by people who loved and supported us as a couple. We used very few vendors, opting to use our creative and talented network of friends from Djing, to signage, our wedding cake as well as mixologists creating our bar menu. This gave our wedding a true sense of community.
Natalie even made the potted succulents for the guests as wedding favours.
So what advice do today's lovebirds have for us? Planning a wedding can be so consuming. It is all you can think about sometimes. Remember to take a day off from time to time and just be a couple in love in your normal element. Also, have something relaxing to look forward to. Plan a spa day with your fiance for the days leading up to the wedding.
Congratulations Natalie and Ian! A big Thank You goes to Chloe Moore Photography for sharing her work with us at one Fab Day! To see more of Chloe's work pop over to www.chloemoorephotography.blogspot.ie
The wedding Details
- Ceremony: Carondelet House
- Photographer: Chloe Moore Photography
- Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani from Pebbles Bridal
- Bridesmaids dresses: Michelle Mason
- Shoes: Aldo with vintage shoe clips
- Flowers: Blossom Floral
- Groomsmen suits: Theory & Dolce & Gabbana
- Cake: Coco Bianca
- Make Up & Hair: Chevonne Moore at Goodform Salon
- Wedding Bands: Felix Leon Chan
- Wedding Website: www.natatlieandian.com
