This Whimsical Spring Wedding In San Diego Blended Contemporary + Historic Aesthetics

“Jonas + Nadia are absolute visionaries.” 

That’s the way photographer Natalie Joy Mitchell describes this creative bride + groom, and we’d have to agree. 

Nadia + Jonas’s San Diego wedding at charming venue Darlington House was a whimsical celebration with a one-of-a-kind approach. “They had a unique point of view and wanted a wedding that felt different from all the trends you see come and go, but instead focused on a true representation of themselves,” photographer Natalie adds. 

The design-minded couple (both artistically inclined in their professional lives) dreamed up the event design together and leaned on planners from Miho to help bring their vision to life. “From the very beginning, we were excited to plan a celebration that truly reflected who we are as a couple,” Nadia + Jonas say. “Collaborating closely with our wedding planner—and with each other—we approached it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to artistically interpret our love and shared experiences.” 

“The wedding simultaneously blends some many things that you usually would find hard to blend,” remarks photographer Natalie. “It feels vintage, Victorian rococo, and summery while also blending in contemporary bold colors and modern florals.”

Lace. Pearls. A springtime color palette. Antique-inspired aesthetics. Modern design vision. It all came together so beautifully under the Southern California sun.

“The result,” as the couple puts it, “was a deeply personal, whimsical, and joyful celebration.”

The talented groom (aka Brand Designer, Creative Director, and Experiential Designer Jonas Groves) dreamed up these funky navy blue invites.

“My shoes were the Triple-Strap Mary Jane Heels by Vicenza from Anthropologie,” says bride Nadia of those amazing strappy wedding heels, “stylish yet comfortable enough to wear throughout the day.”

Always practical to have a cute “Happy Tears” embroidered handkerchief on hand!

“I wanted my wedding look to feel romantic, Spanish-inspired, ethereal, and couture,” Nadia says. “My gown, COLE by Saint Bridal, was the perfect choice, and I found it at Lovely Bride. It featured various lace fabrics and dramatic billowy sleeves.”

“To incorporate pearl details from my jewelry, I designed my wedding nails to look as if they were crafted by the ocean (a nod to Jonas’ middle name, Ocean). Alora brought my vision to life.”

“I always envisioned a mantilla wedding veil,” says Nadia, “so I had a custom one made by Bridal & Veil, with a thick lace border to complement the gown.”

These sunny matching bridesmaid looks came from City Studios from Macys. Love the feminine floral detail on the off-the-shoulder straps!

Also, how fab are these festive bridesmaid hairstyles! Matching bows made for such a delicate and cohesive look.

“From the start, I knew I wanted a brown pinstriped wedding suit —something classic but unique,” recalls groom Jonas. “I went with a custom-tailored suit from MrGuild paired with vintage Florsheim boots. My tie was a gift from my father-in-law and used to belong to his father. It brought everything together and meant a lot to wear it.”

Our Favorite Memory
Bride: Our private vow exchange just before the ceremony was incredibly special. It was one of the few moments we shared just between us, without cameras, making it beautifully intimate and unforgettable. Our first look, the butterfly release, and dancing with our guests were close seconds!
Groom: Right after the ceremony, we were led into a private room where we had a moment alone before heading to the dance floor. It was the first time I could look at my bride as my wife, with no one else around. In that quiet moment, it hit me that we were married. It felt like a new and more beautiful reality had set in.

A Sunny Courtyard Ceremony

Ask your photographer to snap a dreamy bride + groom ceremony POV shot before everything gets started like Natalie Joy Mitchell did. Such a fun way to revisit what it felt like to look out at the crowd on your Big Day!

And OMG, these flowers by Best Bud! Stunning springtime abundance!

Here’s your first peek at all of the gorgeously off-beat calligraphy that Emily J. Snyder created for the event’s signage and paper goods.

Mismatched bridesmaid dresses are definitely the prevailing approach these days, so it’s exciting to see a set of bridesmaid dresses that all perfectly match!

Especially when they’re this sunny shade! Lemon yellow just so happens to be one of our favorite trending wedding colors.

The shirt dress silhouette and lace details of this feminine, floral pink + green Mother of the Bride dress captured the dreamy old-meets-new aesthetic.

Our Musical Choices
Processional
"A Dedication" by Washed Out
Recessional
 "Let’s Dance (2018 Remaster)" by David Bowie
First Dance
"Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby" by Cigarettes After Sex

Officiant Morgan Ervin was on hand to pronounce Nadia + Jonas officially married!

Live butterflies from Swallowtail Farms were carefully released by Nadia + Jonas’s guests when the ceremony came to its romantic conclusion.

The Reception

Check out our helpful guide to Spring wedding guest style to start planning a wedding-ready look as chic and seasonal as these!

We truly cannot get enough of the way opulent + exciting floral arrangements like Nadia + Jonas’s incorporate fresh fruit. This old world meets modern wedding shoot and this intimate Lake Como wedding and this dreamy lemon yellow wedding are some of our other fave fruity examples.

When the venue already has a beautiful wrought iron gate, why not work it into the day! Such a great reception seating chart idea.

Can we take a moment to appreciate how flawless these two look? Jonas’s hair was the work of Cameron Schuster while Nadia’s bridal hairstyle was created by Heather Ferrante and her bold-lipped wedding makeup was done by Lana Groves.

Our Advice
Bride: Start shopping for your wedding dress early if you don’t want limited options, as many take 6–12 months to create. Set a firm RSVP deadline to avoid last-minute guest list issues. Be intentional not just about the design but also about who you invite—surround yourselves with people who make you feel loved, celebrated, and supported. Above all, have fun with the process! People often warn about how stressful planning can be, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Make it a creative and inspiring time for you and your partner. And don’t shy away from incorporating color—it can add so much life to your day!
Groom: Align your vision with your partner, stay organized with timelines, and think creatively about how you want to tell your story. It’s not just an event—it’s the start of a life-defining union. Treat the planning process with intention and see it as an opportunity to grow closer as a team.

Loving the modern + airy vibes of this light wood guest seating from Event Party Rentals.

These terracotta napkins + large-scale green plaid table linens from BBJ La Tavola are giving elevated picnic vibes.

Catalog Atelier decked out the reception tablescapes with colorful glassware + decor details that paired perfectly with the vivid floral centerpieces.

Not only did Miho handle the day’s planning, they also took care of the delicious dinner’s catering and the cocktails guests were sipping.

Nadia + Jonas snuggled up into a perfectly vintage photo booth from Classic Photo Booth to immortalize the moment in b+w.

This all-white vintage wedding cake by Cynthia Guerra was an ornate, nostalgic masterpiece. And fun fact: groom Jonas upcycled that vintage cake topper by painting it himself!

Final words of wisdom from the bride + groom: “Have fun, be present, and savor every moment. The day goes by quickly, but the memories will last a lifetime.”

Congrats, Nadia + Jonas! Your sunny, springy San Diego wedding was nonstop whimsical joy! GWS wishes you both so much happiness!