California meets Asian Zen La Jolla Beach Wedding at Scripps Forum: the Ceremony & Cocktail Hour
When a  Manhattan based client approached me for a four-day destination wedding weekend in San Diego, although she had never even visited America’s Finest City and basically gave me free reign design wise, I knew this would be fun!  From an Old Town Mexican rehearsal fiesta, sailing day on a 150 ft antique sailboat, golf at Torrey Pines and a post-wedding brunch on the sand in La Jolla, this was quite an unforgettable affair! For this La Jolla Beach wedding I wanted to create a look that was still very chic and sophisticated with beachy and zen undertones, so with understated Asian and oceanic influences we did just that. I wanted to make these mainly East Coast based, out-of-town guests feel as if they were under the ocean in a not so classic California beach inspired seaside setting.
THE CEREMONY: As guests entered onto the seaside grassy setting they were offered guava cocktails in vintage champagne coupes sprinkled with flower petals as well as a tasty little chicken mousse cornetts. For the ceremony we wanted to create an organic, natural feeling beachy vibe so we designed a custom driftwood chuppah to be constructed, which we then layered on a ton of various shaped origami for a fun Asian element. In lieu of a traditional white aisle I wanted a more fluid, natural feel that would flow with the color of the grey sand on the beach so we constructed a custom grey-washed wood aisle built on site for the bride to walk down. Flanking the aisle was rustic wood podiums topped with seashell vases overflowing with big blooms and greenery to emulate the wildness of underwater plantlife on the seafloor. A pianist played Cannon in D on a white baby grand piano as the bride clad in Monique Lhullier was escorted down the aisle by her parents.
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At the beginning of the aisle stood rustic wood pillars with mother of pearl vases boasting underwater inspired flowers including pink peonies, orchids, wild greenery and other textures emulating an underwater wild coral reef.
 For this modern La Jolla Beach wedding we created a custom designed driftwood chuppah with colorful origami that stood atop a platform at the end of a custom build light grey washed aisle for a natural and organic feeling.
 THE COCKTAIL HOUR: After the ceremony guests were treated to jazz music flowing through the air as they nibbled on hors d’oeuvres and relaxed in the outdoor living room style lounges which featured California modern style of furniture blended with modern marble pieces which made a recurring appearance throughout the food styling. The cozy upstairs lounge designed with white velvet couches, marble coffee tables and a modern mirrored bar to reflect the sunset behind them also featured a Japanese sun ice sculpture glowing among the raw bar stocked full with Dungeness crab, oysters and shrimp.  Marble slabs featuring a variety of California cheeses greeted guests as they sipped on California wines paired with them.
Guests were treated to a downstairs bar and lounges as well as an upstairs lounge full of white velvet couches and ottomans, sleek chrome belly bars anda raw bar with a Japanese Sun ice sculpture.
Stay tuned for more blog posts of the reception, the food and the over the top dessert extravaganza from this La Jolla Beach Wedding!! The details were just too over the top to not share!
Wedding Photography: Photography: Samuel Lippke Studios | Wedding Venue: Scripps Forum | Event Design, Planning & Stationery: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations| Floral Design: Isari Flower Studio | Catering: Urban Kitchen Catering | Furniture & Production: Hire Elegance | Draping, Lighting & Chuppah Production: Your Bash! | Furniture & Decor Rentals: Revelry Event Design | Tabletop Rentals: Classic Party Rentals & Casa de Perrin | Calligraphy: Kathryn Murray | Desserts: Sweet & Saucy Shop, The Cravory, Sweet Lucies, Images Printed on Chocolate, Cappuccino on Call | Entertainment: Elan Artists & Freeze Frame | Dress & Bridesmaids: Monique Lhuillier |Beauty: Fiore Beauty
