Have you heard of a pop-up wedding? In the same vein as intimate weddings and micro weddings, the pop-up wedding takes a small affair a step further by offering a ready-to-go vendor package. Essentially, all you have to do is show up! Emily of Heartthrob Weddings and Events launched “Heartthrob Hotel” in October 2020 as a luxurious and easy one-stop all-inclusive solution for those looking to have weddings with 12 or fewer guests. And the first couple to snag a spot was Alexandra + Ty!
Newly engaged and frustrated by a lack of options for a small yet well-designed wedding in Los Angeles, a pop-up wedding ended up being exactly what Alexandra + Ty were looking for. They were excited to see all their dream vendors in one place and immediately settled on a cheerful pastel color palette to guide the way:
We bonded over our love of Wes Anderson movies, particularly the Life Aquatic, which played a large role in our inspiration and color choices. It was really easy to agree on the muted pastels; the larger choice became, “Does Ty wear a pastel pink tie with a pastel blue shirt or vice versa?!”
With Emily at the design helm and Mary Costa Photography behind the camera, the day began to take shape as the couple and their 12 guests gathered at The Ruby Street:
Bride Meets Dress
Sometimes you just know in your heart of hearts that it’s the one. With hair by Alli Elizabeth and makeup by Emily Lynn and Co, Alexandra’s bridal look was simply meant to be.
I saw a dress online that was made by Pronovias and there is a flagship store about 10 minutes from where we live. I pulled names of dresses I liked from their website and first had a phone consultation. When I arrived at the shop, I instantly bonded with my bridal consultant, Marie, and found out that I was her very first client! She had the dress I’d fallen in love with already pulled and hanging in the dressing room. It was the first of nine dresses I tried on — and it was the one! The dress was from a brand new collection and the sample fit me so well that they sold it to me that day.
The heart-shaped neckline was one of Alexandra’s wedding dress must-haves, so how fun that the heart-shaped bouquet by Whit Hazen mimics just that?!
Pastels for the Groom
Ty went with the pink tie!
We love a fun sock moment.
Carousel
Carousel
Isn’t this just the sweetest photo?
Pop-Up Wedding for 12
Such a darling set-up!
Painted baby’s breath in a pastel color palette dotted with blooms framed the altar.
The guests of honor!
The Intimate Ceremony
Sum up your wedding day in one image…this is a winner!!
Happy family with Penny, Piper, and Poppy in tow!
Surprise Serenade for the Bride
Alexandra: The most memorable moment for me was when Ty surprised me with a serenade of a song from the concert we went to on our first date - "Hot Dreams" by Timber Timbre.
Ty: For me, it was the double whammy of seeing Alex in her gorgeous dress for the first time, and seeing our best friends walking our tiny adorable pups down the aisle. A real dream come true on both counts.
Dyinggg this is so sweet!
Advice for a Pop-Up Wedding
Even if a pop-up wedding isn’t available in your area, chances are an amazing team of vendors is. And for a small but meaningful celebration, a team you can trust is crucial.
It’s tricky to offer much in the way of advice as we owe so much of our wedding’s success to timing and luck. But what we can definitely say is: if you’re planning a wedding under circumstances like these, prioritize safety above all. Don’t be afraid to go VERY small. Understand that there’s only so much you can control and remember that the event is about your love and your loved ones, not spectacle or grandeur.
Choosing not to wait and to take matters into our own hands meant making sacrifices in terms of what we might have envisioned beforehand, but the result was so sweet, so empowering, and so extremely us.
Also: do the legwork to find local pros in your area who know what they’re doing. (All credit to Alexandra here!) We owe everything to our amazing, collaborative team of vendors.
Cut the Cake
The cheerful—purple!— cake by Flouring cemented the day.
Congrats to the happy duo!!
photography: Mary Costa Photography // venue name: The Ruby Street, Los Angeles, California, USA // event design: Heartthrob Weddings and Events // planning: Heartthrob Weddings and Events // florals: Whit Hazen // wedding dress: Pronovias // hair stylist: Alli Elizabeth // makeup artist: Emily Lynn and Co // cake: Flouring
I’m usually not a fan of pastels, but this was done beautifully. Her bouquet reminds me of an old-world oil painting. And the pups of honor are an added bonus!