A Hidden Oasis Wedding at Valentine DTLA Inspired by the Bride’s Handbag
Michelle and Brandon were married in an intimate ceremony on June 12, 2022.
Better known as Loving Day, June 12th is the anniversary of the historic
court decision supporting interracial marriage. Michelle and Brandon
chose this date as a way to not only celebrate their unwavering love for
each other, but to also pay homage to all of the interracial couples who
came before them. Their only regret was not being able to share this
important occasion with everyone who’d helped shape their lives. That
all changed over the weekend of January 21st.
When we started this journey together, it was imperative that we created
an event reflective of Michelle and Brandon’s values. Like many couples,
they were focused on the health of their guests, inclusivity, and creating
experiences for their guests to share and revel in.
Because Michelle and Brandon were planning their much anticipated
follow up celebration long distance, our top priority was assembling
the right wedding day team. Ensuring that the team consisted of diverse
and inclusive vendors was a must. When handpicking vendors for them
to consider, I focused on BIPOC small business owners whose ethos
aligned with Michelle and Brandon’s. This gave them the freedom to
concentrate on really connecting with and getting to know their wedding
vendors. When you have this level of trust going into an event it makes
for an unparalleled client experience.
Michelle and Brandon said, “If you’re looking for a strong operator who
can ensure an event as important as a wedding actually gets done correctly,
then Helayne is the right person. Her strong skills in logistical planning,
vendor execution, and operational planning kept us on a solid schedule
and resulted in what I can honestly say was the best weekend of my life
thus far. Helayne handled everything with grace. I never felt one minute
of stress or anxiety.”
The weekend’s events began Friday afternoon with an intimate, traditional
Chinese Tea Ceremony. During the Tea Ceremony, Michelle and Brandon
honored their elders by serving them tea as a symbolic gesture of unifying
their families. Participating family members and close friends blessed their
union, shared heartfelt stories, and feasted on an exquisite 10 course Chinese
banquet.
Later that evening, guests gathered for a lively Welcome Event at
Bonaventure Brewing Co. Friends and family mingled, reminisced,
and relaxed while enjoying lite bites and stunning views of the LA
Skyline. We worked behind the scenes with the Bonaventure Brewing
Co. staff to ensure everything from guest parking pass distribution
to the audio equipment set up and placement went smoothly. This
was paramount in keeping the atmosphere welcoming and stress
free for everyone.
By Saturday, Jan. 21st the wait was officially over. Michelle and Brandon
renewed their vows and partied with over 200 of their nearest and dearest
at ValentineDTLA.
For months we worked together to plan the understated yet exuberant
celebration Michelle and Brandon had always envisioned. They wanted
to evoke feelings of familiar intimacy and camaraderie, where guests
felt like they were an integral part of the festivities and not just one of
200 people on a guest list. We accomplished this by focusing on details
and personal touches that would enliven guest’s senses at every turn.
Their custom designed reception stationery by Lucky Orchid Designs
was inspired by this lovely Gucci Diana mini tote bag. The bamboo
handle, and combination of the green and pink leathers were the perfect
elements to pull inspiration from. Little did Michelle know it would be
her surprise wedding gift from Brandon! And, as an added personal touch,
Michelle and Brandon penned thoughtful handwritten notes to each
guest detailing their gratitude for the impact they’ve had on their lives.
A seemingly small detail that left an unforgettable impression on every guest.
Guests were treated to elevated versions of some of Michelle and
Brandon’s comfort food favorites, further adding to the familiar,
laid back ambiance. The perfectly mouthwatering barbecue from
Bludsos was served on bamboo plates that tied in with the bamboo
elements of their stationery and venue. And everyone felt right
at home enjoying the delectable, inventive ice cream flavors of
Wanderlust Creamery.
Following the natural beauty of ValentineDTLA and Michelle’s vision
of a private herb garden, we worked with Flowers by Lady Buggs to
create a fresh yet cozy atmosphere that included natural greenery
garlands and potted herbs that filled the air with subtle aromas. To
add interest and color, Davida also included modern bud vases brimming
with bright, bold hued blooms.
The ambiance these elements created made each guest feel like they
were at an intimate garden party rather than a large wedding celebration.
Seeing their vision come together was everything Michelle and Brandon
hoped for and more.
“We would be remiss if we did not mention Helayne’s biggest bonus asset, which is her personality. She is genuinely a kind and caring professional, with a holistic eye for design. She cares about her clients at a level that is rare to find. We genuinely loved working with her and would recommend her to the moon and back.”
Special thanks to Porterhouse LA Photography for capturing these images.