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Elegant Glamorous White and Red Wedding at Maguire Gardens and Cafe Pinot in LA – Sarah and Raymond

July 9, 2010 | editorial team

elegant and classic Los Angeles real wedding, images by Caroline Tran

Sarah and Raymond’s wedding in downtown Los Angeles was both classically elegant and super relaxed – a unique combination that fit this couple perfectly. Photographed by the amazing Caroline Tran, we love the sweet vibe and glamorous look of the bride and groom, they are simply gorgeous! Check out all the details from their special day below!

elegant and classic Los Angeles real wedding details, images by Caroline Tran

The Goals: When it came time to decide what was most important to them on their big day, Sarah and Raymond settled on incredible food and a location with gorgeous ambiance. Maguire Gardens and Cafe Pinot, in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, had both of these things in abundance. Their ceremony was held in a courtyard garden with a private, hidden feel, and the reception was held outdoors on the patio at Cafe Pinot. Surrounded by candlelight, twinkling Italian string lights and a view of the L.A. skyline, their wedding was an easy, elegant and romantic-style event with a vibrant city feel.

The Design: Planning the event themselves, Sarah and Raymond didn’t use a specific color palette, instead they simply chose looks that they loved. The venue was decorated with white orchids, and lit with candles and amber light, creating a clean and natural look. The bride carried a bouquet of dark red peonies, while the bridesmaids carried bouquets of dark red garden roses. The groom and groomsmen wore boutonnieres of dark red orchids and ranunculus. 

The invitations, designed by the bride’s high-school age cousin and printed in Indonesia, included a booklet called “Where Are You Sitting?” with a cute seating chart, printed on heavy card stock. The bride loved this little extra because it gave the guests something to look over and talk about while they waited for the ceremony to begin.

Their three-layer wedding cake was all-white, and decorated with orchids, a fondant sash, and a swiss-dot design. The flavors were a tasty trio of red velvet, marbled chocolate and pistachio.

elegant and classic Los Angeles real wedding ceremony, images by Caroline Tran

The Look: Sarah looked glamorous in her strapless lace dress from Monique Lhuillier, accessorized with a sophisticated up-do and floor-length veil, the perfect accompaniment to Raymond’s elegant slim tuxedo from Ralph Lauren. Bridesmaids wore long black gowns by Rachel Roy, and the groomsmen, tuxedos from Elite Tuxedo. The bride’s mother, and maid of honor, were distinct and lovely in long red gowns.

During the reception, Sarah changed into her grandmother’s Chinese cheongsam, a traditional dress in a deep burgundy and gold, that her grandmother had worn at Sarah’s parent’s wedding, Sarah’s sister had worn it at her own wedding, and now it was Sarah’s turn. Throughout the celebration, in both dresses, Sarah’s look was glamorous and timeless.

elegant and classic Los Angeles real wedding reception, images by Caroline Tran

The Moments: One of the most memorable parts of Sarah and Raymond’s big day was a quiet lunch they shared together before the ceremony began. “We just closed the bedroom doors to the suite and relaxed for a bit while everyone else was running around in the hotel room, getting ready. I didn’t want to adhere to the rule of not seeing him on this day. He was the only person I really wanted to see.”

Sarah and Raymond chose to have a friend officiate their casual ceremony because they “trusted her words.” Says Sarah, “my favorite line of the ceremony was when we were exchanging rings and we said ‘wear it, think of me, and know that I love you.’ So simple, so sweet, so true.” As the couple said their vows, Sarah remembers, “Raymond cried more than I did, and his brother, the best man, cried more than both of us!”

At the reception, the couple had a ball dancing to “Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)” from Flight of the Conchords, for their first dance. A joke song, it perfectly summed up the air of ease and relaxed, fun feeling of the wedding.  

The Pros: To learn about all of the incredible wedding professionals who helped to make this wedding a reality, please visit our Real Weddings section

elegant and classic Los Angeles real wedding reception, images by Caroline Tran

Thank you so much for sharing your wedding with us Sarah and Raymond! What a treat!

If you’re planning your own wedding in Southern California or Seattle, don’t miss our trusted Plan Your Wedding Hotlist!

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12 Comments

  1. I am gushing. This wedding is just so fabulously elegant and chic. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything as gorgeous as the altar. The flowers just look beautiful. And the touches like the lights at the reception, the orchids everywhere and the stunning reception dress only make the couple look more radiant. Gorgeous!

  2. OMG, her shoes are freaking awesome. Where are they from???

  3. I agree that everything small detail is absolutely gorgeous. I love that she went for those awesome shoes with her gown instead of something more predictable.

  4. Aren’t those shoes AMAZING!!!??? We’re working on getting the source, but this lovely couple is on their honeymoon, so it may take a little doing. Hang in there readers! =)

  5. UPDATE: Our sources say that the bride’s shoe are by Guiseppe Zanotti! http://www.giuseppezanottidesign.com/

  6. that’s really nice! love it! :)

  7. We provided the photo booth for this wedding and it was by far one of the most beautiful and most unique wedding we have seen. And I was a bride last year so I still have the eye of a bride we sees all the details. Sarah was super, super sweet and their guests LOVED the Photobox, we have never had that many photos taken within the allotted time. We are so happy to see the photos came out so well!

  8. Those shoes are absolutely amazing!

  9. Wow, talk about high glamour and elegance… Love this. I love the location, love the classic, elegant colours and adore the dress. jjust beautiful…

  10. What a lovely wedding. no words for such a beautiful wedding. Bride and groom both were looking gorgeous. Just Awesome. They look perfect for each other.

  11. How beautiful– I love the punches of that rich red and the fact that she incorporated her Grandmother’s dress that is clearly a precious family heirloom!

  12. I can’t believe how beautiful the couple looks like. I feel like I am looking at some models doing a pictorial and not actually a real wedding! A job well done for the wedding photographer and to the couple who made this possible! Great job!!!

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