What do you do when you want to have a wedding, but make it as light and fun as possible? You turn it into a backyard dinner party! Hayley and Jason were ready to tie the knot after 9 years of dating, and nothing felt more ‘them’ than an intimate, elevated dinner party. Plus, it had a handmade pasta bar! Incredible!
Our main goal was for the day to feel as un-weddingy as possible. We honestly just wanted a really short and lighthearted ceremony followed by a dinner party with our nearest and dearest.
The work of wedding experts like Partners in Crafting and Joe + Kathrina was crucial to making this day what it was. Their planning and photography skills worked in tandem to perfectly curate and capture this modern Italian-inspired micro wedding.
Staying True
One of the main things we love about this wedding is how authentic Jason and Hayley were to themselves and their relationship. So many elements were non-traditional, yet felt so natural! One example of this was Hayley’s decision to wear a red and white floral dress instead of a traditional wedding gown.
I went to this bridal store specifically for the gold Markarian dress I ended up getting. I didn’t start shopping until like 4 months before the wedding. I had scoured the internet like truly, left no stone unturned, and nothing else really spoke to me. Also, keep in mind I was dead set on not wearing all white which eliminated most bridal designers. I ordered it so late in the game that it didn’t even arrive until 2 weeks before the wedding! After I purchased it, I continued to online shop, which is how I came across the Erdem dress. It was love-at-first-sight. I ordered it with zero expectations of it actually working out, but it was amazing in person, and I just felt so comfortable in it.
After 9 years of being together, the chemistry is still so strong between these two!
We had an incredible jazz band and I walked down the aisle to a live acoustic jazz version of Miley Cyrus’s “Adore You”. No other traditional elements, such as a first dance, happened. We are more about food and cocktails than dancing.
Cheers to the beautiful newlyweds!
A (Somewhat) Italian Dinner Party
Excellent food and cocktails were Hayley and Jason’s main priority. The bar featured 6 signature cocktails, though none were exactly “Italian”.
There were definitely Italian influences to the night and even though I love a good theme (some may call me obsessed), it didn’t feel right to go so over the top in one direction because we really wanted the night to be representative of us rather than to drive one particular theme home.
Can we let you in on a little secret? This was set up on top of a pool! In order to best accommodate the guests and staff, a decision was made to cover up the pool to host dinner. This was executed so seamlessly, the guests were none the wiser!
As far as color palettes go, Hayley and Jason opted for a chic combo of terracotta and cream. We adore how that played out in the form of their place settings!
Their six-tier terracotta wedding cake by Maison De La Fork had beautiful, handpainted touches all throughout its design.
Pasta to Impress
Renowned pasta expert Fiona Afshar brought her skills to the table with a stunning live pasta-making demo for guests to enjoy. Though this was her first-ever wedding appearance, we wouldn’t be surprised to see her do more!
After an experience like this, it was a no-brainer for Hayley and Jason to gift handmade pasta as wedding favors. What a delight!
In addition to artisanal pasta, the evening’s menu prominently featured gelato by local vendor Gelato Granucci. We’ll have two scoops, please!
Is it just us, or does this pasta look even more delectable under the candlelight?
Jazzing It Out
In lieu of dancing, the couple chose to prominently feature the rich sounds of Jazz music by Chris Norton. Sounds like a blast!
Be true to yourselves as a couple. Plan it the exact way you envision it and don’t let wedding norms influence any of your decisions. Oh...and hire Partners In Crafting :)
The groom deserves something special, too! Jason created an over-the-top experience for his friends and family with an expansive cigar bar. To complement this experience, he chose to include a selection of high-end Japanese whiskeys as well as a number of Bourbon options.
It is a tie between reading the vows my brother wrote for us (there were plenty of jokes or lines written for us that were obviously not written by us; we had some good laughs) and the goblet we used for champagne toasts! I brought out a goblet that my great, great grandmother Birdie used over a century ago at her wedding. The goblet was my late grandma’s prized possession. The glass was large enough to hold a full bottle of champagne. It also worked out that the goblet perfectly went the dress I wore for dinner. It sounds cheesy, but it felt like it was meant to be! Both Jason and I drank champagne from the goblet throughout dinner.
When asked to describe the wedding’s ideal vibe Hayley said, I remember one of the first things we said to Laura and Brittany [of Partners in Crafting] was that we wanted good vibes but without a neon sign that literally says, “good vibes only”. It was everything we wanted and more.
Congratulations to Hayley and Jason from the whole team at GWS!
photography: Joe + Kathrina // venue name: Private residence, Rancho Mirage, California, USA // event design: Laura Hine & Brittany Giello of Partners In Crafting // planning: Laura Hine & Brittany Giello of Partners In Crafting // florals: Stephanie Howard of Floraltique // wedding dress: Erdem // bride's shoes: Dolce&Gabbana // bride's ring: Wachler Estate Collection // hair stylist: Nicole Sanchez // makeup artist: Nicole Sanchez // groom attire: Saint Laurent // groom's shoes: Saint Laurent // paper goods: A Fabulous Fete // calligraphy: A Fabulous Fete // catering: Workshop Kitchen + Bar // cake: Maison De La Fork // desserts: Gelato Granucci // tabletop rentals: The Ark // furniture rentals: Found Rental Co. // music: Chris Norton // officiant: Bride's brother Matt // cocktails: Snake Oil Cocktail Co // pasta activation: Fiona Afshar // custom cookies: Compact Cookies // cigar bar: Papisano // signage: Creative Amme // second dress: Markarian // groom's second look: Zenga