Every wedding vendor team is created a little differently. In this series we explore how and why each couple selected the right wedding vendor team for their wedding day.
They say the third time’s the charm—and in the case of Adam’s proposal to Haleh, it’s absolutely true. First, Adam was going to pop the question in Joshua Tree (where they had their first camping trip), but the government shut down and the national parks were closed. He then attempted to propose during a sunset boat ride, but as the day got closer, the forecast called for heavy rain. Finally, he decided to do it in Coronado, California, where Haleh’s parents got engaged. Since the couple lives in San Diego, the weekend was positioned as a staycation, and the day began with some of their favorite things: a yummy brunch and a relaxing massage. A beach walk near Hotel del Coronado followed, where he finally dropped to one knee.
With a 10-month engagement, moves were made swiftly. And thankfully, with better luck than the rescheduled and revisited proposals.
The first move the pair made was reaching out to Amorology Weddings. The goal was to create a celebration that was classic and romantic but a little modern, with an English countryside feel, and nods to Haleh’s Persian heritage.
“We were inspired to design their day with that beauty of Old World charm, fragrant sprawling florals that appear to be pulled from an English countryside, warm wood textures, and worn tapestries. The color palette was earthy tones of sand, rust, blush, and bone blended with deep rich colors of forest green, dark maroon, raisin, and golden accents. There was a concept of a beautiful marriage of past, present, and future—embracing traditions that have come before and the inspiring dreams of what is to come through blended cultures.” —Heather Balliet, planner/designer
“Choosing the right planner was so important for us. We knew we needed guidance on all of the logistics and additional vendor selections, big and small. Since it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, we wanted a team who could lead the way and help us seamlessly bring the aesthetics and logistics together to create our dream event.” —Haleh, bride
Haleh and Adam chose the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort—just 15 minutes from where Haleh grew up—as their wedding venue. With their main request being an outdoor reception that enabled them to be connected to nature, that need was met when Heather discovered that the lower lawn was an option, with trees and greenery surrounding them, and the sounds of the trickling stream nearby. Everything came together perfectly from there, checking all of the couple’s boxes.
“Our reception in the tent under the stars was our favorite part of the day, and the venue lent itself perfectly to the experience we were hoping for. What I didn’t expect was the magical feeling when the sun went down and everything around us went dark. It really felt like nothing else existed outside of that moment in time in the sparkling tent with our dearest friends and family.” —Haleh, bride
The couple turned to their planner for wedding photographer recommendations. Heather suggested Stetten Wilson because of their use of color, and the duo’s personalities were a perfect fit for the couple. A few months before the wedding, the bride and groom did a photo session with them and built rapport, enabling them to really get the most out of their wedding photos.
“We love shooting tented weddings at the Park Hyatt Aviara because the venue is spread out and provides several transition moments for guests to walk from one area to another, which offers some of the best opportunities for candid photography. My favorite part of the wedding was the ceremony since it combined several new and old world traditions from Baha'i and Jewish ceremonies. Photographing cultural ceremonies is a treat; I often feel more connected to our couples once I witness, hear, and capture their vows.” —Skylar Stetten
“I was inspired by the energy of the crowd dancing and the hanging installation over the dining tables. To capture the energy I was feeling, I set up my camera with a slow-shutter on a tripod. I focused on the hanging lanterns to highlight the decor but the candlesticks, half-full wine glasses, and pulled out chairs really make it feel like a lived-in photograph. It's one of my favorite images from the day since I felt like I accurately captured the experience of the evening that everyone worked so hard to create.” —Devin Wilson
Another California vendor joined the dream team when the couple selected Native Poppy as their floral designer. Known for their one-of-a-kind design, epic floral installations, and rich color palettes, they were able to deliver the perfect mix of romantic, modern, and elegant that Haleh and Adam were after.
Amorology Weddings then pitched Vox DJs, as they always know how to get guests on the dance floor—and this crowd was ready to have fun. While having fun was imperative, it was also super-important to the couple to have the memory of their wedding day in video form. They not only loved the work of Quixotic Weddings, but also that they were a husband-and-wife duo.
Hey There, Cupcake! was brought on-board to design and create a trio of cakes with a modern-yet-timeless look that mimicked the floral installation. And Vow Studio 101 handled all things hair and makeup for Haleh and her six bridesmaids, who all sported glam looks of their own choosing for an equally mismatched but cohesive look with their assorted black gowns.
Roya Seradj Design then was hired to design the invitations, which featured floral and leaf illustrations as a nod to the lush decor the wedding would feature.
Simultaneously, some penultimate pieces in putting together the ultimate vendor puzzle was in choosing rental companies and specific pieces to create the layered and varied look that’s a signature of any Amorology Weddings event. Ultimately, they went with a handful of companies to get the mix just right: linens from Nüage Designs, Inc., BBJ La Tavola Specialty Linen, and Silk & Willow; the tent from Bright Event Rentals; tabletop from Hostess Haven and borrowed BLU; furniture from Adore Folklore; and backdrops from Back Up Backdrops.
Lastly, Four Things Paper joined the dream team to design the day-of pieces and provide calligraphy services. So many elements were customized, from the brass bells that served as escort cards, to the place cards atop each plate. And The Besharati Group was tasked with an important component of the reception: the tea station. It was a delicious and beautiful setup with glass teapots filled with colorful steeped options for guests to choose from before, during, and after dinner service.
