Inside This Color Drenched California Wedding + Its Modern, Playful Design

Listen, we love a wedding full of earthy, muted neutrals or a celebration in classic black + white, but sometimes a little color is called for!

“We prioritized two things,” newlyweds Esther + Kevin say of how they organized their planning process for this vibrant San Diego wedding. “The first was the guest experience. We were picky in choosing the right venue that was beautiful and dramatic while also having nooks and crannies for people to hold intimate conversations and catch up with one another.”

That beautiful + dramatic venue they’re describing? That would be The Guild Hotel. Once the historic Armed Services Building, the hotel was built in 1924 and is an architectural stunner full of tilework, archways, and beautiful courtyards. Allysa of Sierra James Events shares: “The historic venue, with its grand architecture and soaring ballroom ceilings, set the stage for a day that felt both timeless and electric.”

“The second important thing,” say Esther + Kevin, “was to physically manifest the day-to-day joy of our relationship. We wanted plenty of color and whimsy, big statements that are impossible to ignore, and small details that only some people might have caught.”

“The couple’s vision was clear,” says Allysa, “to blend romantic elegance with a bold, colorful palette that honored their Korean heritage while embracing their modern, slightly playful style.”

This whimsical + colorful vision took shape with the help of planners + event designers from Sierra James Events, and the couple filled their celebration with vivid + organically asymmetrical florals, statement style moments, and an overall lighthearted sophistication. Avocado green, flamingo pink, lavender, marigold — the color world was non-stop serotonin. You’ll see it in these glorious pics from Sierra Dawn Photo.

“Esther and Kevin’s wedding was more than an event,” Allysa reflects. “It was a vibrant, beautiful expression of love, culture, and artistry. From striking monochromatic vignettes to bold bursts of color, every detail was thoughtfully captured against the backdrop of one of San Diego’s most iconic venues.”

Esther + Kevin’s darling wedding invites from Studio Cynth introduced the baby blues, oranges, and pinks that would become key parts of the day’s color scheme.

We are obsessed with the button downs with personalized name embroidery that Esther gave her besties as bridesmaid gifts! Such a unique + playful twist on traditional bridesmaid getting ready PJs or bridal party robes.

When it came to bridesmaid dresses, each bridesmaid had their own specific springy pastel shade…

…with a color-coordinated single-stem satin bow-adorned anthurium instead of a bouquet!

The day’s jaw-dropping modern florals — including this bridal bouquet filled with bold + curated blooms — were the work of The Mad Florist.

“Kevin made his final suit selection once the wedding colors were set and he had picked the groomsmen suits he wanted his groomsmen to wear,” says the couple of Kevin’s color-centric style approach.

“Kevin went with a double breasted, dark purple/grey wedding suit from Suit Supply made of a linen, silk, and wool blend, along with a white shirt and a baby blue tie that matched his groomsmen’s suits.”

A Courtyard Ceremony

Guests were greeted with customized white parasols to keep the SoCal sun at bay during the outdoor “I do’s.”

“The ceremony was nothing short of a showstopper,” Allysa remembers.

“A raised platform stage created a dramatic focal point for Esther and Kevin’s vows, drenched in colorful, impactful florals that seemed to spill across the space.”

“The altar became a living artwork, every angle alive with texture, color, and emotion.”

Complex colors + organic textures are two of our fave wedding flower trends of the moment — these aisle arrangements are a perfect example of both!

Our Favorite Memory
Our vows. It's one of the few moments of the day that were truly intimate and gave everyone a glimpse into our life and love. So many parts of the day flew by and we were pulled in so many directions, but everything slowed down during the vows and we were just focused on the listening to and sharing the words we'd spent weeks carefully crafting for one another. 

Our Musical Choices
Processional
"I Love You Always Forever" by Donna Lewis || "Joy When You Enter" by Bea Elmy Martin
Recessional
"We Might Even Be Falling In Love" by Victoria Monet and Bryson Tiller
First Dance
"Little Blue" by Jacob Collier

Refined Beauty Inc. did such a lovely job with Esther’s chic + wavy short bridal hairstyle!

“Esther carried a sculptural bouquet bursting with character: lavender orchids, fuchsia phalaenopsis, golden dahlias, and soft blush anthurium, accented with draping green amaranthus,” remembers Allysa of this breathtaking bouquet.

“Esther shopped at Loho Bride in West Hollywood, CA and tried on a bunch of different dresses,” the couple recalls of the dress shopping journey that led Esther to this stunning strapless look and its embossed floral design. “Through a somewhat democratic process involving both sets of parents, bridesmaids, and friends, she gathered votes and opinions before making her final selection.”

“She had a chance to try on her dress when picking it up and knew she made the right choice when her friends couldn’t hold back tears when they saw her.”

The Color Drenched Celebration

“From the moment guests arrived, the space buzzed with energy,” Allysa says. “During cocktail hour, a painted blue console became a striking art installation, overflowing with sky-blue carnations. Paired with sleek chrome lamps, the arrangement felt modern, editorial, and sculptural, a perfect preview of the vibrant celebration to come.”

Our Advice
Work together and build off what you've learned about each other that's gotten you to this point. We had originally wanted to divide and conquer the planning, with each of us being responsible for different parts of the wedding. That was the advice we'd gotten from others, and it made sense when we heard it. But that wasn't who we were and we wanted to be more involved in each other's decision making. So we carved out some time each week to go to a coffee shop and plan our wedding together. We loved spending time together, deliberating, iterating, and coming up with what we both wanted. We didn't feel like we were compromising, but co-creating solutions that were better than what we could each come up with separately. 

“The reception felt like stepping into a curated gallery of art, food, and design,” recalls Allysa.

“Long banquet tables featured rich, layered textures, with colorful taper candles in varied hues cascading down the tables alongside vibrant floral arrangements and glowing votives.”

Light wood guest seating and a mix of long banquet tables and creatively spaced round tables from San Diego Celebrations combined funky minimalist table decor from Adore Folklore created the celebration’s vibrant-yet-curated modern vibe.

“Menus were printed in modern oval silhouettes, mirrored name cards doubled as stylish keepsakes, and place settings balanced whimsy with sophistication through crisp linens, modern flatware, and pops of color,” Allysa shares.

Congratulations, Esther + Kevin! Your colorful contemporary wedding in San Diego was bold + bright in all the best ways! Best wishes from all of us at GWS!