This Bride's Floral Wedding Dress Foreshadowed the Flower- and Butterfly-Filled Reception to Come

This Bud's For You

Raina's maid of honor, Sarah Stimpson Matazzoni, designed the invitation suite to mimic both the graphic flowers on Raina's Monique Lhullier wedding dress and the day's garden venue. Sage green Paper Source envelopes and vintage stamps from Edelweiss Post finished the look.

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Garden Party

Sal and Raina always envisioned tying the knot in a garden, and they knew the groom's aunt and uncle's ivy-covered Spanish style estate, which has lavender and rose gardens, in Ojai, California, would be just the place.

Fancy Feet

The groom's big-day look included patent Florsheim shoes, a Tom Ford satin bow tie, and, after their vows, a XIV Karats gold band. On his lapel, he wore a boutonnière filled with sweet pea, jasmine vine, and other greenery.

Suited Up

Sal wanted his big-day look to be "David Beckham approved," he says. Just 16 days before the wedding, he found his timeless ensemble: an Isaia black velvet tuxedo jacket, a Hugo Boss white tuxedo shirt, and Suit Supply tuxedo pants. He finished the look with a Rolex his great-aunt gave him for his 21st birthday. "She always believed in me and knew I would marry Raina," Sal says. "Wearing the watch was a sentimental way to include her with me on this special day."

Blooming Beauty

Raina, a stylist, knew her Monique Lhullier wedding dress was the one when she saw it float down the runway at the Spring 2018 Haute Couture Show in Paris, so she contacted the designer to see it up close. "To finally view it in person was like a fairy tale," Raina says. "I never asked any questions, I never tried it on, and I never requested a second opinion from family or friends. I could not picture myself wearing anything else and I purchased my wedding gown right then and there."

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Flower Fresh

The bride clutched a collection of blooms by The Loved Co. that contained lilacs, roses, ranuculus, sweet pea, frittilaria, silene, hellebores, and jasmine vine in light shades of pinks and purples.

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Lovely Ladies

Instead of asking her 'maids to wear one shade, Raina provided Pantone color swatches and let them choose their own floor-length dresses. The result? A pretty mix of gowns from A.L.C, Alice + Olivia, BHLDN, and Lulu's.

Dapper Dudes

Sal asked his groomsmen to wear black suits with white shirts, and then he gifted them black ties by Banana Republic, white pocket squares from Ted Baker, and black floral socks from Paul Smith.

Tears of Joy

The pair shared their first look under an ivy-covered arch on the estate. "I walked toward him from across the property; I embraced him from behind. As he turned around, tears of joy rolled down his face," Raina recalls.

"I was overwhelmed with joy to see Raina. When I turned to face her for the first time, she looked so beautiful—I could no longer hold back the tears," Sal says.

A Blooming Guest Book

In lieu of a traditional guest book, attendees wrote notes on cards and tied them to a vintage iron gate with ribbon.

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One Door Opens

The ceremony took place on a lawn accentuated by a rustic wooden door backed by oak trees that framed valley views. Tiffany Meriwether of The Love Co. surrounded the door with lilacs, dogwood, delphinium, campanula, nerine, sweet peas, and greenery.

Bridal Path

Raina walked through another vintage door as she entered the ceremony space while a jazz quartet played "Old Friends" by Juliana. The group was a homage to Raina's late father, who loved that style of music.

Ceremony Chuckles

During the non-religious ceremony, officiated by Sal's uncle, the pair exchanged self-penned vows and shouted out to their parents and grandparents for providing examples of successful relationships. Before they shared their first kissed, they watered a tree sapling together, a symbol of the life they were about to build together.

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We Did It!

After saying "I do," the newlyweds walked back up the aisle to "Soulful Strut" by Young Holt Unlimited.

Drink Up

During the cocktail hour, guests enjoyed their choice of a "Perfect Match Margarita," a "Madly In Love Mojito," lavender lemonade, wine, beer, Champagne, and soda.

Take Your Seats

Sarah Stimpson Matazzoni and Gold Image Printing worked together to create the duo's seating chart, which featured florals reminiscent of those on the bride's gown.

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Table for Two

During dinner, the newlyweds sat at a sweetheart table beneath an oak tree. Velvet tufted chairs and flowers repurposed from the ceremony set a romantic vibe.

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Flower Power

Long farm tables held centerpieces brimming with lilacs, roses, ranuculus, sweet pea, frittilaria, silene, hellebores, and jasmine vine, all in the event's signature shades: pink and purple.

Dinner Time

Hungry Bear Catering created what Raina calls a "California meets French Mediterranean" menu based on the couple's favorite dinner dates. The plated meal began with a market green salad; then guests chose between sea bass with olives, New York steak with chimichurri, or mushroom ragu.

Dance with Me

When the couple made their grand entrance into the reception, they grooved to "Quando, Quando, Quando" by Michael Bublé and Nelly Furtado, a song they heard while they were on vacation in Florence, Italy, just 10 days after getting engaged.

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Charming Cakes

Enjoy Cupcakes made a trio of cakes topped with buttercream and fresh flowers. Each was a different flavor: lavender lemon honey, baklava, and chocolate vanilla doughnut.

Sips Tea

As a nod to their first meeting, Raina and Sal collected vintage tea cups to decorate tables. They also doubled as party favors—guests were encouraged to take them home following the Moroccan mint tea service post-dinner.

Sources

Photography, Luna De Mare Photography

Event planning, Green Ribbon Parties

Catering, Hungry Bear Catering Co.

Cake, Enjoy Cupcakes

Ice Cream, McConnell's Fine Ice Creams

Flowers, The Loved Co.

Officiant, Mark Ukra

Stationery, Sarah Stimpson Matazzoni (design); Gold Image (printing); Paper Source (envelopes)

Vintage stamps, Edelweiss Post

Music, Jason Sulkin

Bride's gown, Monique Lhuillier

Bride's accessories, XIV Karats jewelry; Saint Laurent shoes; Orciani belt

Hair, Capella Salon

Makeup, Kristina Brown at Tracey Mattingly Agency

Bridesmaids' dresses, A.L.C; Alice + Olivia; BHLDN; Lulu's

Groom's suit, Isaia (tuxedo jacket); Hugo Boss (shirt); Suit Supply (pants)

Groom's accessories, Tom Ford (bow tie); Florsheim (shoes)

Menswear, Banana Republic; Bloomingdales; Macy's; Nordstrom

Rentals, Archive Rentals

Linens, La Tavola

Lighting, Premiere Party Rents

Transportation, Classy Chassis Rentals

Security, Sandman Security

Restrooms, Meraz Luxury Rentals