In the year before their own “I do’s,” Angela + Louis attended six different weddings and nicknamed this wedding guest marathon their “tour of love.”
When it came time to plan their special day, they used all of the inspiration they’d gathered from friends’ and loved ones’ celebrations as a jumping off point and then got to personalizing. “We kept coming back to the questions: What do we care about? And then, What’s our version of that?” say Angela + Louis. “With this in mind, we skipped a lot of traditions entirely and opted to really go all out on the details that felt like ‘us.’”
The result was their very own lush + eclectic DTLA greenhouse wedding at Valentine by Marvimon, which, with the help of So Smitten Events, was packed with color and charm. Bold statement florals abounded, non-essential traditions were ditched, and Angela’s perfectly pastel purple wedding gown absolutely stole the show.
Let’s take a peek at the joyful pics that Mandee Johnson Photography snapped along the way!
Perfect In Purple
Let’s start with Angela’s lovely lavender wedding gown! “I am a personal stylist and got my start in bridal,” Angela says. “Because of this, something unexpected was the only thing anyone expected.”
“I’m a big believer that all it takes to be ‘bridal’ is to wear it on your wedding day. Coincidentally, I also wanted to wear purple, so we ran with it!” Angela’s stunning strapless purple wedding gown and veil were custom made by DKL Couture in New York. She is an absolute vision in violet 💜
Ginger Snap Florals created eclectic magic with flowers for Angela + Louis’s day, and this show-stopping statement bouquet is a perfect example. We love when brides go BIG with their bouquets!
Angela’s matching veil totally completes the lavender bridal look.
Dilva Perry styled Angela’s gorgeous curls, and Emily Lynn & Co. created her dewy neutral makeup look.
Groom Style Goals
Angela wasn’t the only one rocking purple! Groom Louis had a dream of wearing a purple suit to his wedding, and dreams came true with this plum, gray, and teal plaid Paul Smith suit.
Louis finished off the look with details from Roberto Cavalli and shoes from Scarosso.
The Ceremony
Loving the lush greenery of the sunny greenhouse courtyard at Valentine!
Is there anything better than a groom fully beaming when he first catches sight of the bride?
Check out our list of 124 songs to walk down the aisle to if you need to find a tune that’s just right for this special moment.
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding Our ceremony was pure love and joy. As we were tucked away while our guests arrived, the soundtrack was a compilation of playlists Louis has made for me over the last three Valentine's Days, culminating in two of our most special tracks serving as the processional. Our dear friend, Jason Gordon, married us and wrote the most hilarious and heartfelt words, and then we exchanged vows that we both stayed up way too late writing the night before. (Wouldn't be us if it went any other way...) After the ceremony was all said and done, we looked at each other and said, "That was really fun! Wish we could do it again!"
Angela + Louis included this super sweet little blurb in their ceremony program beside a custom wedding day playlist QR code:
“Every year since they first met, Louis has made a special Valentine’s Day playlist for Angela. The songs you hear during today’s ceremony & dinner are from those playlists. Take the music home with you by scanning the QR code above, and experience the sounds of having a lover with very little money and very good taste.“
Want to pen your own vows like Angela + Louis did? Check out our how to write your own vows guide + template!
Our Musical Choices Processional: "I’ll Come Too by James Blake + "House of Woodcock" by Jonny Greenwood
Recessional: "Will You Promise" by Ebo Taylor
First Dance: "Volta" by O Terno
The Moments After “I Do”
If you’re loving the vibe of Angela + Louis’s venue and want to see more weddings that utilized this unique space, check out this lush and colorful DTLA wedding and this oasis wedding with nods to Korean culture.
Another way to work some purple into your color palette? Have your bridal crew wear something lavender! Take a peek at our favorite lavender bridesmaid dresses!
The Reception
We are obsessed with all of these amazing murals!
So into the eclectic minimalism of Angela + Louis’s reception tables decor! Grab some minimalist black table numbers and vintage-inspired amber glassware to recreate it yourself.
Angela + Louis’s reception was an “elevated pizza and ice cream party” with pizzas from Gorilla Pies and scoops from Uli’s Gelato.
The couple amped up the dessert game with colorful sweets and cake from iconic LA institution Porto’s Bakery.
In addition to the two different DJ’s that were featured throughout the evening, Angela + Louis also had a live jazz trio to “spin the traditional hora on its head.”
Our Advice To Those Planning Now Take your time when you start planning to really understand and agree on what's important. And then be as decisive as you can when it's time to make choices. Trust yourselves! This day is in some ways proof of concept of what you can create together, so trust your instincts and plan the day that lets your loved ones into your world. It's okay to block out all the opinions of others, and it's also okay to ask for help! But, when asking for help, try to be as specific as possible about what you need.
Congratulations, Angela + Louis! Your romantic + eclectic DTLA wedding was purple perfection! All the very best from the team at GWS!
photography: Mandee Johnson Photography // venue name: Valentine DTLA, Los Angeles, California, United States // planning: So Smitten Events // florals: Ginger Snap Florals // wedding dress: DKL Couture // hairpiece: DKL Couture // bride's ring: Artemer // hair stylist: Dilva Perry // makeup artist: Emily Lynn & Co. // groom attire: Paul Smith and Roberto Cavalli // groom's shoes: Scarosso // catering: Gorilla Pies Pizza // cake: Porto’s Bakery // desserts: Uli’s Gelato // music: DJ Phatrick // cocktails: Huntington Catering
