Not Even Raging Wildfires Could Stop This Couple's California Wedding—Which Was Planned in 12 Hours

Feeling Blue

Liz and Scott chose a waterfront-inspired color palette of blue, gray, and white tones with a decorating scheme that focused heavily on flowers. The invitations they picked from Minted tied all those elements together with a blue floral watercolor design and bold text. Blue velvet boxes held Liz's engagement ring and her wedding band.

A Couture Gown

Liz worked with Chicago's Mira Horoszowski and Julie Mersine of Mira Couture to design her one-of-a-kind wedding dress. "I knew I wanted a very specific look, and I didn't want it to be all traditional white," she says. "I found a few dresses where I liked certain parts and brought those ideas." The end result: A scalloped boat neck top in white lace over a satin bodice and an A-line skirt in navy Italian silk taffeta. "I loved that it was different, it felt like me," says Liz. "It was so comfortable—I even had pockets built in—and yet I still felt beautiful and elegant."

Naval Flair

Scott also wore a custom outfit, turning to Chicago suitmaker BLVDier for his navy tuxedo and bespoke shirt. Cole Haan shoes and a dark tie finished his formal look, while lobster-print socks added a fun bay-inspired accent.

Their First (and Second) Look

The couple planned their official first look for just before the ceremony, but accidentally bumped into each other in the house before they had finished getting ready. "Given the chaos of the weekend, we just kind of laughed, because something like that was bound to happen!" says Liz. But that happy accident didn't ruin the magic of their first look in a grove of palm trees. "Walking up to him and seeing his smile, my favorite, will always be a memory I cherish dearly," the bride says. Scott agrees: "The first look was my favorite part of the day. It really kicked the day off and got me excited about all of the fun to come."

Coming Up Roses

Liz knew from the start of planning the wedding that the floral design would take a primary role. "Flowers are one of my most favorite things in life," she says. "I always try to have fresh flowers around our home." She chose Heirloom Design House to create her floral arrangements, and, eager to avoid tight clusters of blooms, requested a bouquet that was "soft, loose, and organic."

Around the House

Before the ceremony, Liz and Scott posed for portraits at the house, on the dock, and around the property, giving them a few quiet moments together. "I definitely learned you truly cannot sweat the small stuff," says Liz. "Focus on what matters—your soon-to-be spouse, your happiness, your friends and family."

A Family Affair

Liz and Scott kept their bridal party family-only which worked with the intimate feel of their wedding. As the maid of honor, Liz's sister, Emily, wore a gray halter dress from David's Bridal, while the best man—Scott's brother, Chris—wore a gray Calvin Klein suit.

Full Bloom

Though the couple used the house for getting ready and their reception, they requested permission from the homeowner's board on Bay Island to hold their ceremony on a shared space overlooking the bay. A wooden structure draped in flowers and foliage created a focal point for the ceremony.

Down the Aisle

As The Temper Trap's "Sweet Disposition" played during the processional, Liz's mother, Pam, escorted her down the aisle. "I wanted her by my side!" the bride says. But when she reached the ceremony, she only had eyes for Scott. "Even though we had done a first look, there was just something so amazing to see him waiting for me. After everything we had been through that weekend, it was like, finally!" she says. "I kind of just wanted to run to him, I was so excited to be his wife."

Their Own "I Dos"

Liz and Scott worked with Lisa of Great Officiants to come up with vows that were a little more unique than the traditional script. "We did not write our own vows—both of us were very nervous about making it through personal ones," says the couple. "Instead, we worked with Lisa to make our vows more personal than the regular, standard vows." They also exchanged private letters to each other before the first look.

Shaken and Stirred

During cocktail hour back at the house, The Whaling Club served three signature drinks: Liz chose the "Bee Sting," while Scott opted for an old fashioned—a sweet way of honoring his grandmother, who had always named it as her favorite—and they both agreed on the "Eastern Standard." Says the couple, "Let's just say the drinks were a big hit with our guests."

Butterfly Effect

The couple chose simple escort cards calligraphed by Jenna Caitlin Designs on handmade paper with hand-torn edges; they were presented on an intricate floral tabletop display. "The display resembles a Chinoiserie pattern or a trellis to play off the ginger jars all around the reception," says Liz. "It was made out of a wooden frame with a wiring base, then a floral install that included real white butterflies. It was insanely beautiful and really caught all our guests' attention!"

The Perfect Setup

The last-minute location switch meant rethinking their reception table layout, but for Liz and Scott, the end result never felt like settling for second best. "With the blues and grays in our color palette, it was really beautiful and felt intimate," says Liz. "Everything looked and seemed like our Plan B was really our Plan A!"

Place Setting

A combination of round and rectangular tables were dressed with complementing linens from La Tavola—blue patterned runners on the long tables and solid deep marine cloths on the rounds—while off-white napkins tied with velvet ribbon adorned each plate. Chargers with a decorative edge and blue-and-white dinnerware, both from from Borrowed Blu, incorporated all the colors and patterns on the table; calligraphed name cards, menus, and table numbers from Jenna Caitlin Designs gave the al fresco location an extra touch of glamour. "We really wanted something clean, classic, and romantic," says Liz. "We didn't want it to feel too lavish or over the top because that's not how we are as a couple."

Garden Party

Liz had a clear vision for her florals: "I wanted them to be timeless and classic, and I wanted a lot of whites and creams," she says, "but I wanted to avoid traditional roses, because I do not like them!" Her florist used several varieties of garden roses, including Jeanne Moreau, Purity, Alabaster, and White Cloud, alongside anemones, peonies, and dahlias, throughout the ceremony and reception décor.

Her Favorite Jars

Smaller arrangements made in vintage blue and white ginger jars—a favorite of Liz's—coordinated with the patterns on the plates and added a playful element to the décor's otherwise classic look. "I told Tory how much I loved ginger jars, mixing modern with classic, and she and her team ran with that idea from the get go," says Liz. "It was absolutely beautiful and beyond anything I could have pictured."

On the Dance Floor

Liz and Scott shared their first dance to "I'll Be Your Man" by the Black Keys, but asked their DJ from Dart Collective to open the dance floor to their guests afterward with a tongue-in-cheek song request: "On the fly, we asked if the first song could be 'We Didn't Start the Fire' by Billy Joel," says the couple. "Everyone went nuts and started dancing immediately…singing out loud and hugging each other, jumping up and down. It was amazing!"

Simple and Chic

The couple chose a two-tier wedding cake from Frost It Cakery with white buttercream frosting, fresh blackberries, and lemon slices. "This was hands down my favorite tasting," says Scott; at the end of it, he and Liz decided on one tier of strawberry cake with Champagne mousse filling, and a second of white velvet with raspberry mousse. "It was delicious and gone in a flash at the wedding!" he says.

Sources

Photography, Valentina Glidden Fine Art Photography

Event planning, Smith + James Events

Catering, Contemporary Catering

Flowers, Heirloom Design House

Officiant, Lisa at Great Officiants

Stationery, Minted

Calligraphy, Jenna Caitlin Designs

Cake, Frost It Cakery

Music, Dart Collective

Rentals, Borrowed Blu, La Tavola, Premiere Party Rents

Bride's gown, Mira Couture

Bride's accessories, BHLDN Leaflet (hairpins), BHLDN Cailin (earrings), Chloe (shoes)

Hair and makeup, Danielle Ryan Beauty

Bridesmaid's dress, David's Bridal

Groom's suit, BLVDier

Menswear, Calvin Klein

Groom's shoes, Cole Haan

Lighting, Premiere Party Rents

Transportation, Swoop

Bar Service, The Whaling Club