de Lovely Details - An Elegant Chinese American Affair by Wynn Austin Events

If the devil is in the details, then this wedding has got it -- elegant, sweeping visuals and dainty touches, highly stylized tablescapes paired with handmade piece, adding an upscale down home feel -- and last but not least lavish cultural elements to capture the importance of this family moment...it just has it all! A well branded theme carried throughout this wedding and a super sweet love story to boot! Sent to us by Event Designer and Planner Wynn Austin and made immortal by photographer is Braja Mandala, I'm thrilled to be sharing the perfect example of a modern multicultural wedding, one that honors family heritage and makes room for the couple's own unique  personality.





As the radiant bride tells us: Ben and I met at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego in 2005. We sat next to each other in our 10th grade Spanish class and instantly hit it off. He was the smart kind of dorky one and I was more social, so we complemented each other well right away.





Ben decided  to propose while he was studying abroad in Prague during our junior year. Just before Christmas in 2010 we were up at a beautiful park overlooking San Diego when he brought out several different colored roses. He explained how each colored rose’s different symbolism represented reasons why he loved me and wanted to marry me.

Our fondest wedding moment was walking into the tent for the first time and seeing everything I had dreamed of for so long finally actually manifested in such a beautiful display. So my advice to brides is Don’t stress the small details; everything will turn out great! And hire a wedding planner, they will save your life!

Who were your favorite wedding vendors? First of all, our wedding planner Wynn Austin Events did an incredible job staying on top of all the details and helping me stay calm when I was close to a panic attack. Then also, Braja Mandala Wedding Photography and Gene Higa Photography did an amazing job with our photos and Kathy Wright & Co. blew us away with their florals. Concepts Event Design also exceeded our expectations with their décor and setup.

All images courtesy of Braja Mandala and Gene Higa

Congratulations to Nancy and Ben, and I hope you found some inspiration in all these lovely details! You are working super, seriously hard to make this a day to remember so fill it full of all the little things that make you happy.  

Thanks again to Wynn Austin Event & Collection for contacting us with this beautiful wedding. We love the color scheme, the design, and the elegant sophistication theme that is still accessible and possible for other brides. To see more fab creations, pop over to Wynn's Facebook Fanpage and say hi. And while you're at it, come say hi to the de Lovely Affair gang on the ol' FB as well.

Have a great long weekend!

{Real Wedding} A Sophisticated, Multicultural Affair - Ife & Jamal

Very simply, elegant sophistication and culture rule this wedding. From the vivid color palette, exquisite venue, and stunning gown to the rich cultural elements, traditional wedding attire, and of course, jumping the broom, this celebration is a modern cultural wedding done right. Sent to us by Kesha Lambert Photography/ Lash to Lens Studio, this well branded wedding, beginning with the invitations all the way to the joyous happy couple ending, is all about family, tradition, and details, details, details.

Meet Ife and Jamal, who had not one but two weddings in a single memorable weekend!  On Friday, in the beginning of June, the couple held a traditional Yoruba engagament/wedding to honor Ife's Nigeria heritage, complete with traditional food and music. They celebrated a traditional Western wedding ceremony at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott the next day. Truly, a multicultural wedding celebration! With a super modern color palette of dark purple, silver, and hints of hot pink, the couple dubbed their theme "modern, city chic with a touch of bling."

Ife was blingtastic in her sleek and sophisticated Allure Bridal wedding gown, with its beautiful fitted silhouette, strapless bodice, and Swarovski crytals accenting the empire waist. Her simple bouquet of calla lilies was wrapped with silk ribbon and embellished with pictures of her parents and grandparents on their wedding days. The rich purple bridesmaids dresses were from Dessy.

The tradition of jumping the broom, part of wedding culture since at least the 1700's, is found in   cultures throughout the world, including Africa, Scotland, Hungary, and in the Gypsy community. Although some say it originated in West Africa, there is no written record to back up the claim. Jumping over the broom symbolizes different things for different cultures, from determining who runs the household or makes the marriage decisions to a wife's commitment to keeping a home and a couple crossing a new threshold in life together.

 

The reception hall was bathed in color with purple uplighting, a custom monogram on the wall.  Chiavari chairs, satin lilac table linens, silver plate chargers, and even a custom ice sculpture all helped create the chic modern feel Ife and Jamal wanted. The centerpieces were a gorgeous combination of pink, white and purple roses, hydrangeas and calla lilies tying in with the bouquets of the bridesmaids.

Photos submitted throught Two Bright Lights.

VENDORS

Photographer: Kesha Lambert Photography, Lash to Lens Studio

Cake: Brendenbecks
Florist: Rings of Roses

Videographer: Family Treausres 

Lighting: East Coast Event Group 

Wedding Planner: The Detail Diva/Love Lee events

Invitations: The Event Boutique LLC
Dress Designer: Allure Bridal 

Bridesmaid Dresses: Dessy

Escort cards/Menu/Program/Paper Items: La Rue Louise Designs 

Shoes: My Glass Slipper

Ife and Jamal's most cherished moment? Saying our wedding vows and seeing our families unite as one and bringing two different cultures and backgrounds together. And that is exactly how it should be, a perfect multicultural wedding in my book. This is surely a weekend Ife, Jamal, and their families will not soon forget! We wish you health, happiness, and an abundance of love.

Many thanks for to the seriously talented Kesha Lambert Photography.  Kesha is located in New Rochelle, NY and had just teamed up with About Face Makeup to create Lash to Lens Studio, a fab make-up and photography duo catering to anything from modern luxury weddings to intimate affair and large corporate gatherings.  Check out their Facebook Fanpage!

AND check out our FACEBOOK FANPAGE too for more great photos and wedding inspiration!

Have a beautiful day,