Southern Weddings

Designing the florals for her big day apparently was the bride’s favorite part of the planning process, and after seeing the crisp white blooms from BeBuds Florist, we totally can see why!  Something we think we would have loved (both designing + eating)?  The couple’s classic three-tier round cake from Portos Bakery.  The Swiss dot pattern is light and whimsical, and the gray ribbon detailing subtly sophisticated.  Sugar perfection!  For more details from F + L’s LA wedding, visit Stephanie Williams’ blog here!

Describe your wedding flowers: Picking the flowers was probably one of the most enjoyable parts of the planning process, for me at least!  Once we chose our wedding colors (white, slate grey and green), we decided to go with all-white flowers while utilizing the natural greens from the leaves and stems. We wanted the flowers to be simple, beautiful and have a touch of vintage. The bridal bouquet included my  favorite flowers: white peonies and ranunculus with some vintage elements accented by the dusty miller leaves and slate grey satin ribbon wrap. The five bridesmaids bouquets were unique arrangements of different white flowers.  The same flowers were reflected throughout the wedding in everything from the ceremony arch to the centerpieces. 
Describe your wedding cake: There were three layers to the cake: Cuban-style with custard and raspberry filling, red velvet and chocolate!  The cake was beautifully designed by Porto’s Bakery in Glendale by a wonderful lady named Lulu.  We came in with a picture of a wedding cake and she designed it with our own customization.  It turned out better than we imagined, and so delicious!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding?  Details, details, details.  We thought we were prepared two weeks before the big day, but we were still taking care of details up to the day before! Last minute RSVPs, table changes and alterations to the dress… the list went on.  But we overcame the challenge by staying as calm as possible and knowing that we had each other’s support.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The most memorable moment was seeing all our family and friends in one place and having a good time! We both come from close families and it was very important to us that they had a great time.  We were also so happy to finally be united as one!
Did you write your own vows?  If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? Yes, we both wrote our own personal vows to give it a special and meaningful touch.  My favorite line from Leonard’s vows was: I promise that when we are old and wrinkly, we will still hold hands, make each other laugh, kiss each other on the lips and go on dates. Leonard’s favorite phrase from mine was: Never did I imagine myself marrying a Venezuelan-born Korean-American, tri-lingual speaking individual, who plays over 5 instruments and balances work, school and personal life – all seamlessly and successfully without a strand of white hair.
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?  We are now looking to buy a home in Southern California and looking forward to starting a family soon.  In the future, we hope to travel the world and continue enjoying our close relationships with our family and friends.

Congratulations, Fannie + Leonard!  Thank you for sharing your gorgeous wedding with us!

Okay, confession time: I raved about Fannie + Leonard’s wedding to Emily for a good half hour yesterday.  More specifically, I raved about Fannie’s incredible slim-fitting gown with that sophisticated plunging neckline and those airy layers.  I don’t know if it’s the bride, the dress or maybe the bride in the dress that makes this look so fantastic, but this dress is chic, glam and total wedding perfection.  Whew.  You want to know about something other than the custom-designed dress from the former Monaco Couture?  The bride wore grey Stuart Weitzman pumps that look like they were made especially for her sash and the bridesmaids’ Monaco Couture frocks.  Leonard + Fanny became Mr. + Mrs. in a water-front ceremony at the Skirball Cultural Center in sunny LA.  The ceremony blooms – which are amazing! – were designed by BeBuds Florist.  The couple’s uber-talented photographer, Stephanie Williams, clearly rocked it out for this West Coast wedding, and I can’t wait to see the reception pictures!

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story.  We met in 2005 on a typical night out in Hollywood through a mutual friend, but it wasn’t until a couple years later that we finally got to know each other. In 2007, we hit it off while we visiting Hawaii on separate trips and began dating soon after. It really was a matter of right timing for us, but it definitely was worth the wait!
Describe the proposal. Leonard surprised me with an unforgettable weekend getaway to San Francisco!  He planned all the details: left me letters and hints of our day, booked the flights, limo and hotel, made a lovely photo book and even excused me from work! He proposed to me at the scenic Legion of Honor overlooking the SF bridge.  It was such a thoughtful and romantic proposal!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Fun, memorable, special.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our handmade paper goods: sundae bar cups, table numbers, menus, etc.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I knew I wanted a dress that was a bit different and a reflection of my beautiful engagement ring. I wanted it to be vintage-looking, modern and comfortable. I visited a couple stores but came across my dress inspiration from a magazine, and decided it was the one for me! I had my dress custom-made, and, after a few alterations, it came together perfectly. I had so much fun wearing it!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? Does a layer of decadent red velvet cake count?!