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.

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.

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.

The Poppy Design Co. bouquet resembled the flowers on the celebration's paper goods and included roses, astilbe, blushing bride protea, and scabiosa. 

Talk about statement shoes! Tillie stepped out in strappy, embellished, and rosy Gucci sandals on the big day.

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 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.

Tillie's father escorted down the venue's vineyard-inspired staircase. Meanwhile, an instrumental version of The Sound of Music's "Edelweiss" played.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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