Sam and Lindsay quickly became friends while doing monthly comedy shows for their university. They started to date while working on a summer play together, but when it came time for Sam to graduate and move to LA, they decided to break up because neither wanted to be in a long-distance relationship. The following year after Lindsay graduated, she also moved to LA where the couple met back up the first night she was there. Ultimately, Sam proposed to Lindsay on a trip to Europe last summer where, after arriving in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, he got down on one knee during a hike along the top of the mountains. Keep scrolling to see how their wedding day brought together Lindsay’s fresh eye for design and the overwhelmingly warm California charm of Orange County, all captured on camera by Mandee Johnson Photography and planned with the help of Ruffle Effect.
Fresh, modern invitations
Bride-to-be Lindsay designed each element of their invitation suite with a focus on fresh, clean, and warm elements.
A daring yet sophisticated wedding dress
Lindsay’s wedding gown by Louvienne Bridal incorporated structural ruching with soft movement, a thigh-high slit, and classic off-the-shoulder detail. Her bouquet of roses, cosmos, and ranunculus by Ruffle Effect incorporated whites, peaches, and pops of burgundy. She paired this look with a veil with subtle pearl details for a bit of vintage glamor.
Customized with a quote
Groom-to-be Sam wore a burgundy suit with modern lines, inspired by his own father’s Western wedding suit of yesteryear.
A first look at a second location
For their first look, Lindsay and Sam snapped photos at the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano, where they posed in front of incredible Spanish-style stone architecture.
Peachy florals and warm lantern light
The couple’s laid-back but intimate celebration was hosted at the blossoming Franciscan Gardens in San Juan Capistrano, California. The outdoor ceremony faced a circular wooden altar with large installations of peachy warm florals, met by strands of bistro lights and paper lanterns. For the ceremony, the bridesmaids wore the softest touches of sage green, which was also utilized in decor and signage, and the couple provided thoughtful details such as customized light blankets and dainty baggies of petals.
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Custom match boxes and Kodak moments
For the reception, Lindsay designed custom match boxes inspired by vintage soul posters to celebrate how the couple first bonded over their love of soul music. A Pinterest-worthy seating chart created in an oversized geometric design guided guests indoors where the couple’s head table sat in front of their wedding altar, decorated with joyful florals. These playful arrangements were blended throughout the guests’ tablescapes and also acted as an accent for the couple’s dainty wedding cake by MCakes Sweets.
