Classy Wedding at Avenue of the Arts

When Fred and Kat reached out to me in 2019 to photograph their wedding, I was impressed with how much they’d already had in place. They had a clear idea of what they wanted and were so on top of it all. Then came a doozy of a year. Amidst a pandemic and then wildfires not 10 miles from their wedding venue the week of their wedding, they stayed composed, optimistic, and never lost sight of why they were getting married in the first place. I got to know Fred pretty well in the planning process. He’s a jack-of-all-trades, thoughtful, detailed, and head over heels in love with Kat. Like, the kind of groom who would bustle his wife’s train. The kind of groom who would hook up an air ventilator in Kat’s getting ready suite. The kind of groom who wouldn’t intimidate a gal with his ball dancing moves. And what’s not to love, when you see how Kat just lights up. Her killer smile is just so genuine, it makes your heart do a little dance.

The Avenue of the Arts hotel in Costa Mesa was a perfect backdrop for Fred and Kat’s wedding day. It was inspiring to work with fun textures and colors, like the crushed velvet blue of the couch in the honeymoon suite, and these oversized purple bird cage chairs in the lobby. The colors complimented Kat’s love of midnight blue. Also, check out these towering trees you’d never expect in the middle of Costa Mesa.

I’m feeling SO GRATEFUL to the wonderful team that made Fred and Kat’s long awaited wedding day go so smoothly, in spite of every external road bump.

Venue | @avenueoftheartshotelWedding

Coordinator | @brandijaneevents 

Photography |  @genkiviv

Videography | @amariproductions

DJ + Lighting | @voxdjs

Florals | @flowersbycina

Beauty | @trangformation

Bridal Gown | @luvbridal

Tux | @friartux

Cake | @graceandhoneycakes

Lush Garden Wedding

02_Sherman Gardens Wedding_Vivian Lin Photo_-433

Ben and Maddie, experienced globe trotters, cat lovers, and generally all around fun loving souls held their wedding in lush gem of a garden.  Sherman Gardens is hidden in plain sight in downtown Corona Del Mar, and was the perfect location for their intimate wedding.  I loved that Ben, originally hailing from France, was experiencing an American wedding.  He gifted Hermes ties to his groomsmen, often had champagne in hand, and broke into the most genuine smiles throughout the day.  Maddie, a Japanese American hottie, could go from silly to fierce (I mean that in the Tyra Banks-work-it way) instantly.  Their florals were stunning!  Check out the circular floral ceremony installation and the overflowing floral chandeliers at reception.  Topping off the night, guests were treated to a boba bar, pie from the Pie Hole, and even a fire pit.

Huge congratulations to Ben and Maddie!  Thank you to all the talented and hardworking vendors behind the magic.

Venue: Sherman Library and Gardens, Corona Del Rey

Florals: Jessica Westervelt of SWD Floral

Band: The Lucky Devils

Rentals: Signature Party Rentals and Sundrop Vintage

Invitations: Jen Simpson Design Handmade Wedding Invitations

Planner/Designer: Cassie Howard of Events by Cassie

Boba: Cha for Tea

Dessert: the Pie Hole

 

East Meets East – an Autumn Wedding in Little Tokyo

Doubletree Little Tokyo Wedding_CL_Vivian Lin Photo_70When Cory and Lily planned on getting married, they didn’t want it to be a big deal.  They were going to get married at a courthouse.  When they settled into the idea of getting married at the Doubletree Hotel in Little Tokyo, they were only going to invite family.  Weeks before the wedding, they humbly asked if expanding the guest list to incorporate friends would make a big difference in the photography and timeline.  I enthusiastically responded “It’s a GREAT idea!  You should celebrate with everyone you love.”  And celebrate they did.  In the short time this wedding went from courthouse to full blown, Cory and Lily worked their butts off to incorporate thoughtful details and gestures that honored both their heritages.  The day started off with a tea ceremony to show respect for Lily’s Chinese background.  I was blown away by how Tina Li, of In The Clouds Events, set up the tea ceremony so beautifully on the rooftop of the Doubletree.  It was a special treat for Lily, who could see the ceremony site from her hotel room as she was getting ready.  The wedding ceremony and reception incorporated happy splashes of a fall color palette, with origami cranes made by the groom, a reflection of Cory’s Japanese heritage.  Out-of-town guests also got to share in some highlights of LA food culture, with cupcake Sundays from Sprinkles and an array of pastries from Porto’s.

Big hugs and congratulations to Cory and Lily!

Thanks to all the hardworking and talented vendors:

Venue: Doubletree Hotel, Little Tokyo

Coordinator: Tina Li, In the Clouds Events

Hair and Makeup: Grace, Kelly Zhang

Officiant: Clifford Broadway, Great Officiants

DJ/MC, Photobooth, Lighting: Benny Castro, Arthur Ko, Roger Lopez, Art Managa of GC Masterpiece

Florist: Jennifer Yang, In Flower

Pastries and Cake: Porto’s

Rentals: MTB Event Rentals

Cupcake and Ice Cream: Sprinkles