At This SoCal Celebration, the Bride Couldn't Wait to Tell Her Groom That Her Wedding Dress Had Pockets

Pretty in Pink

coral and cream wedding invitations with flower and crane accents — Tenth and Grace

For their invitation suite from Event of the Season, Corey and Evan wanted a "clean, modern" look, so they chose flat printing on white cotton stock. Mauve liners and reply envelopes set off the crisp font and dusty blue outer envelopes, while a wax seal with a paper crane design matched the 1,001 paper cranes folded for the reception.

02 of 19

Feather Report

bride in cream dress standing in courtyard — Tenth and Grace

Corey found her wedding dress at a Lazaro trunk show, where the designer himself drew her a sketch of the gown as a keepsake. "I wanted a somewhat eclectic, yet classy and elegant dress," she says. "The moment I saw the phoenix feather pattern on the neckline of the dress, I knew it was the one."

She added black stud earrings, a diamond bracelet borrowed from her mother, and blue Manolo Blahnik flats—plus a Cartier bracelet Evan gave her as a wedding gift, and a Tiffany & Co. ring the couple gave to everyone in their bridal party.

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03 of 19

Autumn Flowers

bride holding mauve, maroon and neutrals wedding bouquet — Tenth and Grace

Coco Rose Design arranged a full bouquet with a natural shape for Corey, including ranunculus, heirloom roses, orchids, and a variety of foliage for texture.

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04 of 19

Ladies' Choice

bride and bridesmaids in shades of blue in courtyard — Tenth and Grace

Corey felt so strongly about letting her bridesmaids choose a gown they loved, that she didn't limit them to a color or designer; instead, she let her maid of honor pick a dress and took each of the other women shopping individually to select their favorite frock. The resulting lineup included a dove gray Amsale off-the-shoulder; a blue Bill Levkoff halter; a navy blue Jenny Yoo V-neck; and a beaded BHLDN blouson.

05 of 19

Well Suited

groomsmen laughing and smiling with groom wearing floral garland — Tenth and Grace

Evan and his groomsmen wore slate blue suits from Friar Tux, which they paired with ivory shirts. Corey gave Evan a blue lizard Hermes tie—Evan collects the designer's neckwear—and he also wore a traditional maile lei.

06 of 19

Their First Look

wedding first look in the courtyard — Tenth and Grace

Corey and Evan shared their first look in a garden on the hotel's property. Evan remembers the nerves he felt while waiting for Corey—which disappeared when he saw her. "I turned around and was floored," he says. "It was even more stunning than I had imagined, and renewed my feeling of gratitude that this person chose me to marry."

Corey agrees: "I felt incredibly nervous leading up to the first look, but the moment I saw him, all the nerves dissipated instantly. All I could remember was being excited to show Evan that my dress had pockets, and to give him a packet of gummy bears that I had stashed away!"

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07 of 19

Arch Arrangement

corey evan wedding floral arch at outdoor ceremony on lawn — Tenth and Grace

The duo defined their outdoor ceremony space with a large floral arch that marked the altar; an aisle carpeted with white hydrangea and rose petals; and two curved floral structures at the entrance. Black chairs created a rich contrast against the bright flowers, and two overflowing hedge-style arrangements stood behind the last row of seats.

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08 of 19

Love and Joy

groom hugging father of the bride after processional — Tenth and Grace

Musician Kevin Miso performed Coldplay's "Yellow" as Corey's father escorted her down the aisle. A friend of the couple officiated the ceremony, during which Evan and Corey exchanged their own vows.

09 of 19

She Said, He Said

bride laughing during ceremony vows — Tenth and Grace

Evan insisted that he and Corey write their own vows and keep them private until the ceremony. The bride referenced some of the couple's favorite shows and movies, incorporating a favorite Captain America quote: "I'm with you until the end of the line."

Evan took a different approach. "Evan, being in academic surgery, couldn't resist the urge to infuse some methodogical structure," says Corey. "His vows were presented in the format of a surgical research presentation, complete with background, methods, results, and discussion of findings. He described an exhaustive search for writing the ultimate set of vows and the conclusions based on these findings."

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10 of 19

Sealed with a Kiss

corey evan wedding couple kiss during ceremony under floral arch — Tenth and Grace

After exchanging vows, the couple shared their first kiss as husband and wife before leaving the altar for their newlywed portraits.

11 of 19

So Happy Together

couple holding hands and kissing on beach — Tenth and Grace

While Corey and Evan posed for sunset photos on the nearby beach, guests continued on to the cocktail hour. The couple served Moscow mules—their favorite drink—with passed appetizers that included fig, blue cheese, and sugarcane brulée; kobe beef meatballs; and lobster grilled cheese.

12 of 19

Birds of a Feather

couple origami bird escort cards hanging by ocean — Tenth and Grace

A freestanding structure held paper crane escort cards—just a selection of the 1,001 folded paper birds Corey and Evan displayed at the reception.

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13 of 19

Paper Cranes

origami crane escort cards in tan, navy, and coral — Tenth and Grace

"The paper cranes represent good fortune and prosperity for marriage," says Corey. Others were displayed in the shape of two dragons, matching the couple's Chinese zodiac signs.

14 of 19

Natural Beauty

cream colored reception dinner tables with floral centerpieces — Tenth and Grace

Post-cocktail hour, the party continued inside, in one of the venue's vast ballroom. On the round tables, low centerpieces included blooms in darker fall tones—chocolate, burgundy, mauve, and white. Gray side plates at each setting held wrapped boxes of Corey and Evan's favorite sweets from Fran's Chocolates.

15 of 19

White on White

corey evan wedding neutral place setting with floral bouquet — Tenth and Grace

Cream-colored raw linen tablecloths coordinated with white ceramic plates, taupe pillar candles in glass hurricanes, and bamboo-inspired silver flatware. Pale gray-blue napkins matched the chair cushions, while menus in vellum pockets called back to the same materials used in the invitation suite.

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16 of 19

A Sweet Surprise

bride and groom cutting four tiered wedding cake — Tenth and Grace

Colin O'Dea Cakes created a multi-tiered lavender cake with raspberry buttercream and lemon buttercream for the couple, decorating the outside with sugar phoenix feathers to match Corey's gown. "The wings were pearlized to make them stand out against the textured white fondant covering the cake," says Corey. "Due to this, Evan was not allowed to see the cake design until the wedding reception!"

17 of 19

Love Is in the Air

couple dancing at reception under floral installment — Tenth and Grace

For their first dance, Corey and Evan chose a version of Bob Marley's "Is This Love," covered by Allen Stone, which they appreciated for the "chill and reggae vibe" that reminded them of their home state of Hawaii.

18 of 19

Hula Girl

bride hula dancing at wedding reception in second dress — Tenth and Grace

Though it's common in Hawaii for brides to dance the hula at their wedding, Corey kept her performance a secret by telling Evan she didn't have time to prepare. But after changing into a party-ready BHLDN gown, she took the floor to perform to "Pua Kiele" by Josh Tatofi. "When the dance was announced, Evan was in shock," says the bride. "At the end of the song, the room erupted in applause and cheering."