We’re Published in PRINT: Our two-page spread in California Wedding Day’s Summer 2019 issue
Last summer, we were asked to plan + design the grand opening for Aventura Ocean Club, a new venue space in Dana Point, California. With a stunning view of the bay and boats docked right on the property’s “backyard”, this is the perfect intimate setting for the coastal-loving couple to say “I do”.
As soon as we decided to take on this project, we knew we would also plan + design an editorial shoot beforehand, as we always do.
Pairing a shoot with an event means maximized exposure for the venue and for all of the creative partners involved, not to mention a surefire way to get some amazing new content up on our website, social media, and blog. And if the shoot gets picked up by a blog or magazine - that’s just the icing on the cake!
In this case, we were lucky enough to have California Wedding Day pick up this shoot, and they quickly realized that it would be best slated for their Summer 2019 issue. This meant that we had to wait almost a year to see the shoot in print, but it was SO worth it! The magazine debuted on the evening of the California Wedding Day “Best of” Awards Ceremony on May 14th and everyone went away with a copy in their swag bags. The magazine hit newsstands on June 10th and is now available wherever books are sold. Umm, just pinch me, because this seriously feels like a dream.
Photo by Simply Skyler Kate Photography from our celebratory brunch with our creative partners. More on that later!
THE PROCESS LW Annie spearheaded this shoot, and she hit the ground running with the conceptualization + design. We ended up bringing on Florally Ever After, Collective Rentals, Wildflower Linen, Sweet Salvage Vintage Rentals, Cherished Rentals, and Forrest and J to collaborate on the design - seriously a dream team! Annie couldn’t quite find what she was envisioning in terms of bread + butter plates, champagne flutes, and a few other elements, so she took matters into her own hands. We also ended up purchasing place mats from Ikea (LOL) because we couldn’t quite find what we were looking for at a rental company. See what I mean, below!
Annie hand-painted the bread + butter plates in this really pretty watercolor design, the table numbers in the bright blue hue, and the champagne glasses in a white matte finish. So gorgeous! The week of, I had the wild idea to shoot the styled table outside on the deck, literally next to the boats. Although not the most practical, this led to some AMAZING creative shots. For editorial shoots, we love placing the styled table + details in unconventional spaces because to us, an editorial shoot is meant to inspire. It’s meant to evoke emotion, and if we do it right, you might even gasp when the image shows up on your newsfeed or when you turn the page of a magazine. To us, that is #leilaniweddingsstyle.
Models Anna + Jesse (who we use for several editorials throughout the year!) were naturals as usual and made our jobs that much easier because of their natural chemistry + playfulness in front of the camera. And of course, Christine Skari Photography blew us away with her clean, crisp, and airy images. Swoon!
THE GRAND OPENING
Following the shoot, we hosted about 100 industry colleagues who indulged in music, food, dessert, drinks, and boat rides as we celebrated the grand opening of the space.
THE CELEBRATION This is an exciting one for us, so we decided to plan a celebratory brunch with all of the creative partners who contributed and helped make both the shoot (and the event!) a success! We brunched at Bluegold in Huntington Beach, complete with a photoshoot by Simply Skyler Kate Photography.
We love our “friend-ors!”!
This is the first of many we will see in print, but every milestone deserves a celebration, in my opinion. I feel so lucky to be able to work with such amazingly talented, sweet, fun and genuine individuals whom I don’t just see as colleagues, but as friends.
FULL LIST OF CREATIVE PARTNERS:
Venue: @aventuraoceanclub Planning and Design: @leilaniweddings @leilaniweddings_annie #leilaniweddingsstyle Appetizers + Bar: @noleftoverscatering Catering: @canyoncatering Photography: @christineskariphotography Videography: @hoo_films (View the video from the shoot + event HERE! ) DJ + Photobooth: @lapixevents Floral Design: @originaletm Furniture + Lounge: @collective_rentals Linens: @wildflowerlinen Invitation + Signage: @jensimpsondesign Supporting Signage: @thetipsycricket @typejcreative Live Music: @jbs.music Dancefloor: @hcd_portable_dancefloors Pipe + Drape: @ocpipeanddrape Cake + Desserts: @simplysweetcakery Dessert Display: @forrestanddj @midnightconfetti @cherishedrentals Tableware: @cherishedrentals @ikeausa Vintage Decor: @sweetsalvagerentals Bridal Gowns + Accessories: @monamiebridalsalon Tux Rentals: @friartux Beauty Planning: @elwynnandcass Hair and Makeup: @veiledvanityartistry Models: @jessecgrant @annavallefuoco Favors: @btoffee