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.
Good things come to those who wait. And that was certainly the case for Megan and Gretchen, whose engagement was just two days shy of three full years, and who celebrated their 10th anniversary the day after their big day. After Gretchen proposed, the pair chose to enjoy their engagement and not rush into wedding planning. A year and a half in, they started making moves, only for the pandemic to interfere with what had begun as smooth sailing. Like many, the brides opted to postpone. Thankfully their save-the-dates hadn’t been sent, but it was still a tough decision to make, and a long year to wait until they’d be walking down the aisle. But in hindsight, the timing of their September 2021 wedding was perfect and it gave them more time to plan everything out.
Based in Manhattan Beach, California, Megan and Gretchen have always felt connected to and inspired by Beverly Hills. So they focused their venue search there and ended up with a dream setting for them and their 150 guests.
When Megan and Gretchen began their venue search, it was a bit overwhelming. They looked at a few venues that weren’t for them. Then they realized that they needed a place they really knew, but couldn’t quite pinpoint where. They were looking for timeless glamor with a playful twist. A black tie meets Met Gala vibe, but that still felt like them. They got all that and more in the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, with the lush Wetherly Gardens and its palm tree perimeter as the most idyllic ceremony backdrop before everyone would head inside to the ballroom for a tres chic reception.
“We have shared some of our best memories as a couple there. They always make us feel at home and treat us like family. We knew we would be in the best hands on our big day.” —Gretchen, bride
“The Four Seasons Beverly Hills is a timeless and iconic property. All of the staff are extremely professional, attentive, and experienced which makes the day flow extremely well and seamlessly. They take extra care of the clients and are always one step ahead whether that be with a glass of champagne or a shot of Don Julio 1942 (Megan and Gretchen’s favorite)!” —Caroline Garcia, planner
Once they picked their venue, inspiration and mood boards were created, as the couple wanted the style and vibe of their ultra-chic garden wedding to coincide with the venue so that everything would tie together beautifully. Their backgrounds in business (they own a self-care brand called Sand Spa) helped them decide on their dos and don'ts and what they really wanted from their wedding. One thing was for sure: it would be a formal affair. They wanted everyone to look and feel their best, and after months of laying low and limited social gatherings, they wanted everyone to get dressed up. They also wanted to give everyone the most memorable guest experience possible.
“We wanted our wedding to embrace our ‘Doing the Most’ lifestyle, so everything we chose had to be aligned.” —Gretchen, bride
Around this time, Megan’s friend Samantha Levis, of The Bold and the Bridal, helped the brides curate their ensembles. Having the help of a bridal stylist was key in not only picking the best options (a Naeem Khan gown for Megan and a two-piece set from Maticevski for Gretchen, as well as an outfit change later in the night) but also to assist the brides in keeping their outfits a secret from one another— all while ensuring they would work well together and not clash.
“We wanted to keep this aspect a surprise, and we knew how important it was to have a professional set of eyes piecing our entire bridal ensembles together so that we would blend beautifully together and not clash. We both wanted to be bold and stand on our own as brides, and since neither of us were going to be in a tuxedo, it brought a different fashion dynamic. We didn’t want our outfits to compete, they had to blend together into our entire vision, which Samantha really nailed.” —Megan, bride
An established relationship between the brides and Rolling Hills Flower Mart was already in place, as they had been buying flowers from them for years. The minute they dove into planning, they knew they wanted them to do their wedding. Using only white blooms, and mostly mono-botanical arrangements of them, a more modern aesthetic was created.
“Their staff is absolutely incredible, and we have always had such a positive experience with their business. Being business owners ourselves, it was really important for us to bring in people we knew and trusted. They went above and beyond our wildest dreams, and created the most stunning arrangements we could have ever imagined. Our minds were blown when we walked into the ballroom.” —Megan, bride
The next booking was a significant one. John & Joseph had worked at the venue multiple times and knew it well, and were excited to be there again to document Megan and Gretchen’s modern garden wedding, which included a few portraits on the hotel's helipad overlooking the city.
“We had seen some of the work they did before and really loved how detailed, yet clean, their photography was. We had met with three photographers, and we knew John and Joseph were it right away. They were AMAZING.” —Gretchen, bride
Since it was paramount to the brides that everyone have fun, music was a big part of it—and not one, but two forms of entertainment were secured. First, Vox DJs were tapped to play, as they had worked with the brides at a grand opening party for one of their spas. And knowing most of their guests hadn’t been in front of a live band in a while, they hired TC and the Traffic Jamm from de Bois Entertainment, whose lively set kept the dance floor packed all night. To make it all the more memorable and keep the energy up, the DJ spun during the band’s breaks.
Having worked with hair and makeup artists multiple times for events and to get camera-ready for some of their YouTube and social content, Megan and Gretchen knew what they were looking for and hired Trace Watkins to do their hair and makeup, and Kenzy Ward to glam up their friends.
“We are very lucky to have friends who are very well connected in the industry and living in Los Angeles, which gave us so many options. Out of all the recommendations, we had two people say, ‘OMG, you guys would love Trace Watkins! You have to reach out to him.’ So we reached out to Trace, who is obviously super talented, but the selling point for us was that we all just clicked and his personality is the perfect fit for Gretchen’s nonchalant, steal-your-man energy and my high-strung, stressed bride energy. I couldn’t have imagined a better person for this job on our wedding day. We’re all still besties to this day!” —Megan, bride
The Butter End then came into the picture to create a four-tier wedding cake with an edgy design using ripped wafer paper and edible gold leaf. Once the brides cut into the two-flavor combo confection (almond cake with toasted almond buttercream and pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese frosting), it was time to change into short dresses so the party could really get underway.
Megan and Gretchen needed some help to bring their overall wedding vision to life and put the remaining puzzle pieces together. Samantha proposed friends and former coworkers (they did event production together previously), Abby Ulf and Caroline Garcia of Abby and Caroline Events, who were thrilled to be part of the vendor team, handling all production and design for the wedding. Everyone met for the first time in person at a walkthrough of the hotel and immediately hit it off. The planning and design duo got right to work rounding out the vendor team and making sure the design for the day was cohesive and impactful.
To create a design that was chic and crisp, in a color palette of black and white with pops of gold, it was decided there would be a mixture of round and rectangular tables covered in black velvet linens from BBJ La Tavola Specialty Linen in the ballroom. From there, black-rim chargers, gold flatware, and vintage champagne coupes were chosen from Theoni Collection, and a 16-foot black bar with gold and marble back bar shelving near the sweetheart table rounded things out.
To achieve a modern, elegant feel, Abby and Caroline knew they had to bring on their go-to lighting company, Lighten Up Inc.. A mix of chocolate and amber-colored uplights surrounded the ballroom’s perimeter, bringing a romantic, warm glow to the entire evening. Stage and performance lighting was also confirmed, elevating the entertainment to feel like a true concert and a rocking party.
“Lighting is one of the most important aspects of design and truly creates the ambiance for the evening.” —Abby Ulf, planner
Abby and Caroline expressed the importance of covering the existing carpet to create a clean and neutral slate that also fit the crispness of the event’s mood. Simple, ivory carpet from Primo XL Event Flooring Specialists would transform the space, and a custom, white marbled dance floor from OC Portable Dance Floors was layered on top to create a striking statement piece.
Emily J. Snyder was recommended by Abby and Caroline for the invitations, calligraphy, and all of the day’s signage and pieces like the programs and menus. Like the rest of the wedding, everything she created was in a sleek combo of black and white.
In their true ‘Doing the Most’ lifestyle, Megan and Gretchen wanted an element of surprise for their guests. Something unique and completely unexpected. They landed on synchronized swimmers and booked The Aqualillies, who performed in the fountain right as the newlyweds recessed down the aisle. Outfitted in gold and black leotards with parasols that complemented the design of the day, it really set the tone for the rest of the evening. And why stop at one surprise performance? The performers made a second appearance when they escorted the happy couple into the ballroom and then did one of their mesmerizing routines to kick off a quick dance set before dinner was served.
Another bonus for the guests was in the form of late night In-N-Out burgers to keep folks energized on the dance floor.
