Vivienne and Joshua’s Wedding for Two Elopement

When asked for some of our best advice for brides on their wedding day, we often say do something that makes you happy and relaxes you the morning of. When you can get a clear head start for the day, you’re able to truly soak in everything that is about to happen and appreciate each waking moment! We love how bride Vivienne started her morning with a beautiful milk bath on the morning of her and Joshua’s intimate elopement in California. Weddings shouldn’t be cookie cutter – this gorgeous couple decided a handful of guests and a sweet, private ceremony would be their dream day. The images by Jen Wojcik tell a captivating story of blissfully in love people and the details by Haute Fêtes are meaningful and personal to this couple. Enjoy!

From Haute Fêtes: “Most little girls (and even little boys) grow up day dreaming about their wedding – a perfect day filled with images of the perfect dress, a ten-tiered cake, the reception hall overflowing with flowers, and lots of guests. And, why not? Your wedding day is, after all, one of the most important days of your life.

While big weddings are great, however, they’re not necessarily for everyone. For some, eloping is an intimate, beautiful, and romantic alternative to the hustle and bustle of a large affair. In talking with Vivi and Josh, the very essence and meaning of the word ‘wedding’ came down to something that was just the two of them, and four of their closest friends and family. Together, they envisioned a wedding day that was uniquely theirs where they could concentrate and remember only each other and their love, every expression, every word, and every touch, uninterrupted and without explanation.

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe in Southern California was the perfect backdrop for their ‘wedding for two’. It offers a magical escape from the ordinary to the elegance of a bygone era, imbued with the romanticism of old world Spanish architecture and the legacy of Hollywood legends. It is a place that the couple envisioned they could come back to for anniversaries, time and again. Inspired by this history, and with Audrey Hepburn as Vivi’s muse, in our design we sought to create a harmonious balance between the décor and venue. We kept a muted palette of dusty rose, ivory, sage, seafoam, fig and plum, and filled their day with special touches and details: Vivi’s grandmother’s diamonds. A candlelit fireplace. A table set with heirloom silver and cut crystal. Hand calligraphed menus on soft cotton paper, bound by amethyst colored silk ribbon.

We kept the details to a minimum and true to their vision, we centered the day around intimate moments and what was most important to our couple. A romantic milk and white rose filled bath for Vivi as she prepped for the day; a heartfelt first look in the rose garden; a quiet stroll through the Village; and a romantic dusk lit ceremony before dinner. For Vivi and Josh, their wedding was about their love for each other, with no other distractions, and it was such a privilege to get to witness them being truly present in every joy-filled moment.”