A Moody, Magical "Harry Potter"-Themed Wedding

Cindy and Matthew

wedding couple
Nirav Patel

Cindy, a calligrapher and user interface designer, first met Matthew, a director, in school at UCLA. A mutual friend introduced the pair, as the trio became roommates, and by the end of their first year living together, Cindy and Matt were dating. After six years as a couple, Matt surprised Cindy with a camping trip in Big Sur, California. He dropped to his knee during a hike through scenic Point Lobos, proposing with a purple flower he plucked along the way.

As an avid Harry Potter

fan, Cindy wanted a wedding inspired by the dark, moody nature of the films—and Matt obliged, despite the fact that he hadn't read a single book from the series before the wedding. (Though he so enjoyed the day that he finally read them all afterwards.)

To get the authentic feel she wanted, Cindy began crafting DIY projects one month into their 10-month engagement—making save the dates, the guest book, favors, table markers, and more. With the help of event designers Crosby + Jon, the bride's crafts contributed to the carefully curated, and utterly magical, look.

On February 20, 2016, Cindy and Matt wed at Hollywood Castle in their hometown of Los Angeles, enjoying a warm, sunny day. With their dog, Millie, and 97 guests, all dressed in "formal wizard-inspired clothing," joining in on the fun.

01 of 20

The Invitation

harry potter wedding invite
Nirav Patel

Cindy designed, printed, and produced all the stationery. (The save the date mimicked a Hogwarts acceptance letter and included a magnetic "ticket" to Platform 9¾.) For the invitation, Cindy created a folding Marauder's Map wrapped with a belly band that read, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." She printed the design on textured paper, then folded, cut, and assembled each invite.

02 of 20

The Venue

Wedding castle
Nirav Patel

Finding a venue in Los Angeles that emulates a British castle is no small feat. Hollywood Castle, set atop the hills of Los Angeles, provided an Old World feel with its stone walls and overgrown botanicals. "It was one of the few locations we found that captured the magical feeling of Hogwarts," says Cindy.

03 of 20

A Wizardly Crew

cindy-matt-wedding-bridalparty-0237-6287638-0417
Nirav Patel

Family and close friends (Cindy has known three of the bridesmaids since high school) surrounded the pair. To fit the moody theme, the entire wedding party wore black with burgundy accents. Groomsmen wore Generation Tux, with feathered bow ties Cindy crafted, and the bridesmaids wore dresses from Rent the Runway and Etsy.

04 of 20

The Fashions

wedding couple
Nirav Patel

The bride wore a James Clifford dress and gold Melissa flats (in case of rain, as it was the middle of El Niño). Matt went for a "classy, wizardly look," wearing a Zara suit with a subtle raised pattern.

To suit the moody palette, Cindy held a bouquet of ranunculus, Andromeda, hellebores, and roses in a combination of inky and dusty hues, made by JL Designs.

05 of 20

Her Details

wedding veil
Nirav Patel

Cindy's headpiece, veil, and jewelry were all Etsy finds. Using tulle and rhinestone patches she sourced in L.A.'s garment district, she crafted her own epaulettes to wear on her shoulders after the ceremony.

06 of 20

The First Look

wedding couple
Nirav Patel

Matt's favorite part of the day was his first look at Cindy. "Up until that point there was a lot of fun socializing and getting ready, but in that moment it was just nice to see her," says Matt. "It was the first time in the day that it truly felt like we were getting married," he adds.

07 of 20

Personal Vows

Calligraphed note
Nirav Patel

And Cindy's most memorable moment was immediately after; when the pair shared personal vows they wrote for each other in private. "It's funny that you start to cry just as you've finished getting ready," Cindy says of her reaction.

08 of 20

The Garden Setting

wedding ceremony
Nirav Patel

Upon arrival to the 4:30 p.m. ceremony, guests made their way to the garden in front of the castle, where church pews, weathered books, and antique wood stumps from Archive Rentals lined the space. An iron arch, with woven vines, trailing amaranths, and quicksand roses, courtesy of JL Designs, framed the couple.

09 of 20

A Wand Welcome

wedding wand
Nirav Patel

The bride crafted wands for guests by covering chopsticks with beads and hot glue, and finishing them off with paint, a small bell, and an Ollivander-inspired tag reading, "Cast a spell of love and joy throughout the night." Wands were placed on each seat.

10 of 20

Costumed Guests

Harry Potter wedding guest
Nirav Patel

"We were both worried that no one would have fun with the formal wizard dress code, but it turns out we have the best friends ever because so many of them came in wizard wear," says Cindy.

Some guests took creative liberty, like the couple's pals pictured here, donning wigs and fur capes to resemble wolf animaguses.

11 of 20

Dressed the Part

harry potter wedding guest
Nirav Patel

Others came as Hogwarts students. Cindy's coworker, Daniel, used strong magnets to fasten a Hedwig stuffed animal to his shoulder.

12 of 20

The Bride's Entrance

processional bridge
Nirav Patel

To the tune of a cover of Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years" by the Piano Guys, the bride and her father crossed a drawbridge to enter the ceremony.

13 of 20

A Special Appearance

wedding dog
Nirav Patel

In place of a flower girl, the couple's dog, Millie, walked down the aisle.

14 of 20

The Nuptials

wedding ceremony kiss
Nirav Patel

During the ceremony (officiated by the groom's dad), the couple opted for lighthearted vows as they had shared personal words prior. Matt recited the lyrics to Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Lookin' Out My Backdoor," and Cindy shared a silly Harry Potter-inspired love poem.

As the newlyweds recessed, "Magic Works" from the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire soundtrack played, complemented by the soft ringing of bells as guests waved their wands in the air.

15 of 20

The Sorting Ceremony

wedding book table number
Nirav Patel

With the "I do's" complete, guests stayed seated for the sorting ceremony conducted by two of Matt's cousins. They called up groups of guests, and placed a worn wizard's hat (crafted by Cindy, of course) on each of their heads.

"They were so innovative with their performance, many guests thought we had hired professional actors—but to be fair, Matt's cousins are actors!" says Cindy.

Once sorted into a Hogwarts house, guests received personalized boxes that included a history of their house, a pin with the house crest, and their first "class assignment," which correlated with the class textbooks marking tables at the reception. To create the table markers, Cindy painted old Harry Potter books and calligraphed class names, such as Potions, Divination, and Astronomy, on each.

16 of 20

The Reception

wedding reception
Nirav Patel

Event designer Crosby + Jon designed the reception space with the great halls of Hogwarts in mind. Towering candelabras filled with black ranunculus, red garden roses, and untamed greenery topped long feasting tables from Archive Rentals. Scrolling table runners of Harry Potter book pages and garlands added another layer to the décor.

With the help of her close friends, Cindy made chocolate favors to place at each seat. Each included a card with either the bride's or groom's face imposed on a "Harry Potter" character, and a fun fact about themselves on the back. Guests enjoyed comparing and trading cards throughout the evening.

17 of 20

The Sweetheart Table

sweetheart table
Nirav Patel

"I was told to hold on to the small moments you have alone with your husband, since people are pulling you every which way throughout the day," says Cindy of opting for a sweetheart table. "The thought of having a place where we could eat alone together felt very important," she added.

Guests dined on a buffet of offerings provided by 24 Carrots, which included a steak dish and a vegetarian risotto.

18 of 20

Celebratory Sweets

Harry Potter Dessert
Nirav Patel

Cindy and Matt served pumpkin pie instead of cake. They bolstered the dessert options with an assortment of themed treats, like potion parfaits, chocolate wands, and lightning bolt-shaped cookies, served at a "Honeydukes" table (aptly named after the candy store in the series).

19 of 20

A Magical Ending

floating candles
Nirav Patel

After dinner, guests made their way inside the castle for Cindy and Matt's first dance, to the tune of Nina Simone's "I Shall Be Released." The wizardly guests joined the couple to celebrate with a night of dancing beneath Cindy's final magical touch—a hundred "floating candles."

20 of 20

Sources

wedding reception
Nirav Patel

Photography, Nirav Patel

Location, Hollywood Castle

Event planning, Crosby + Jon

Catering, 24 Carrots

Flowers, JL Designs

Stationery and Calligraphy, Owl Post Calligraphy

Music, Keith Divel

Rentals, Archive Rentals; Class Party Rentals

Bride's gown, James Clifford

Bride's accessories, Etsy veil, headpiece, and jewelry

Hair, Billion Dollar Hair

Bridesmaids' dresses, Zara; Etsy

Groom's suit, Zara

Menswear, Generation Tux

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