Casey Wilson and David Caspe’s California Wedding

When a hilarious TV showrunner and a just-as-hysterical actress decide to make it official, you can pretty much count on their wedding weekend having a built-in laugh track. “I’m the kind of person who feels the weight of everyone having a good time,” says Casey Wilson, star of NBC’s Marry Me, the sitcom her husband, David Caspe, created. So they kicked off their three-day celebration with a Friday-night margarita-drenched pool party called “Sweet Sweet Hangs,” followed on Saturday by a Tex-Mex rehearsal dinner that started with a toast from actor Adam Pally and ended with the nearly 190-person group participating in a lively sing-along around a piano.

Cut to their (appropriately telegenic) proposal eight months earlier. The pair had been dating for a year—they met in 2011 on the show Happy Endings—when David began shopping Marry Me, a comedy about an engaged couple, to network heads. “I was doing my best to sell it, and part of that was telling all these executives that it would basically mirror my real life because I was about to propose,” he says, then deadpans, “plus, I really wanted to get all the network presidents’ blessings.” On the day he moved into his new house, he popped the question with his mom’s engagement ring. The duo quickly went to work personalizing every part of the wedding weekend, from filling welcome baskets with a mix dubbed “The Last CD You’ll Ever Own” to writing their own vows.

It all came together at Ojai Valley Inn, on Sunday, May 25, 2014, at a Jewish-ish ceremony officiated by Casey’s brother and attended by, among many, comedian Whitney Cummings, singer Sia, and the whole Happy Endings cast. 

“It was really cool that we did a destination wedding on a long weekend because it was basically like mini-summer camp for all of our closest friends and family,” David says of their Ojai Valley Inn digs. “Everyone was on the same premises, so we saw everybody a lot.”

Upon arriving at the resort, each guest received a welcome basket filled with water, a hand-drawn map (courtesy of David), and three bags of treats for the weekend. “Indulge” contained fudge made by Casey’s aunt and uncle, local pistachios, and a fortune cookie.

Inside the Lucky Girl cookies, the witty pair wrote the fortunes.

The “Recover” bag in the welcome basket was filled with a hangover kit, a pack of Big Red (Casey’s mom’s favorite), and a mix CD. The “Relax” bag held a lavender candle, inspired by the Ojai’s sprawling fields that are filled with the growing herb. Custom matches completed the gift.

“I just went one time,” Casey says of dress shopping. “I wanted sleeves because my mom had sleeves on her dress, and I wanted something more traditional even though we were outside. All my bridesmaids came with me to Monique Lhuillier, and June, one of my maids of honor and also my writing partner, claims to have found the dress. She thinks that I was so taken with the emotions of that day that I forgot that she found it. I guess she did. Yes, I will accept that she found it.”

“I had been slightly worried that they were too close to my dress,” says Casey of her friends’ ivory J.Crew gowns. “But we nailed it!”

“It was so fun having bridesmaids,” Casey says of her eight-deep crew. “I debated it because I’m a little older, but I’ve worked so hard to maintain these friendships, and I wanted them all up there with me!” 

David’s groomsmen, all childhood friends (except for his dad, who was best man), wore garden-rose-and-rice-flower boutonnieres. “I’ve had the same five or six friends since the third grade from Chicago,” David says. “I have made other friends since then, so don’t worry, but in picking groomsmen, it seemed easiest to just do this one group of guys because they’re like brothers of mine.”

On her wedding day, Casey brought along talismans from her life, including a picture of her parents and her mom’s “Win With Wilson” pin from when she was elected president of the National Women’s Political Caucus.

Casey’s dad walked her down the aisle to “Over the Rainbow,” the same song whose lyrics adorned the invite’s envelope liner. 

Peonies and grapevine covered the cut-wood chuppah. 

Guests, including singer-songwriter Sia and comedian Whitney Cummings, took shelter under blush paper parasols during the ceremony. 

After sprinting up the aisle to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” the newlyweds stopped for snaps. David wore a Ralph Lauren suit, and Casey paired her Monique Lhuillier gown with a Vera Wang veil.

The newlyweds showed off their new bling postceremony. “I really enjoyed the day with David,” Casey says. “It felt like we were both really there, having a great time, and the emphasis was correct, which was that friends and family were so involved, but at the end of the day, it really was our day together. I am so in love with David, and oftentimes I’m reluctant to share with people what I feel for him, but it really felt nice to celebrate that. There was just something so beautiful about having a day so unabashedly about love.”

A refreshing way to guide guests to their dinner seats: bottled Coca-Cola, a favorite of Casey’s late mother, tagged with calligraphed escort cards.

Place-card crackers held handwritten notes from the couple, key chains, and stickers celebrating that weekend’s other celebrity wedding.

“You won’t really care about centerpieces if you’re marrying the right girl,” David says. “If you’re with the right girl, she’s probably picking centerpieces that you like anyway, right?” Flower Wild created these groupings of heirloom roses, peonies, bearded irises, parrot tulips, astilbes, foxgloves, and dahlias that graced the tables. 

Everyone gathered under a tent for a family-style feast of short ribs, cast-iron chicken, salmon, and artichoke ravioli, capped off with Meyer lemon crème brûlée.

Whipped cream icing topped layers of almond, chocolate chiffon, and yellow cake.

After the first dance to John Prine and Iris DeMent’s “In Spite of Ourselves” (google it; it’s so them) came the night’s big comedic finish: During the band’s set, Casey took a spill on the dance floor and fell. Hard. “The next day, I could not extend either of my legs. We were going to Italy, and my new husband was wheeling me through the airport,” she says. “We were just laughing.” It’s a sound we suspect they’ll be hearing for years to come.

Location, Catering, and Cake: Ojai Valley Inn

Event Planning and Design: Duet Weddings

Flowers: Flower Wild

Photography: Corbin Gurkin

Videography: Shark Pig

Photo Booth: PhotoBox LA

Stationery and Calligraphy: Little Miss Press

Music: Wayne Foster Band

Rentals: Town & Country Event Rentals; La Tavola Fine Linen; The Ark

Bride’s Gown: Monique Lhuillier

Accessories: Vera Wang veil; Jimmy Choo shoes 

Bridesmaids’ Dresses and Ring Bearer Attire: J.Crew

Groom’s Suit and Cuff Links: Ralph Lauren

Mother of the Groom Dress: Oscar de le Renta

Transportation: Topa Topa Taxi