Madeline & Jake // Intimate Point Dume & Backyard Wedding

Madeline & Jake grew up just one town away from me & were high school sweethearts! After high school, the duo decided to attend separate colleges in the midwest. 4 years of long-distance and countless drives past oodles of cornfields later, the couple moved back to Los Angeles and, as Madeline says, “started truly living their best lives.” They got engaged soon after & started planning their dream wedding.

When I first talked to Madeline about her wedding, she shared her plans to get married at a stunning garden venue with 100+ guests. However, a few months ago, in light of the ongoing pandemic, it was clear that the only way to still get married in October was to dramatically downsize their guest list & shift their venue plans. The couple made the difficult decision to invite only 25 guests (consisting of their closest friends & family), and to get married at Point Dume in Malibu on a beautiful cliff-side platform. After, they would celebrate their wedding reception in Jake’s parent’s backyard. Madeline designed & planned every detail, and WOW—let’s just say: she will be planning my wedding one day, too. Wait until you see the DETAILS.

When the big day finally arrived, I met up with Madeline and her bridesmaids at the beautiful Westlake Village Inn, and knew just minutes after walking into their suite that the day was going to be so. much. fun. The boundless positive energy of Madeline’s pals partnered with the boy-band classics blaring from a little speaker set the tone for what was sure to be an absolutely wonderful day.

When Madeline was buttoned into her elegant, low-back wedding dress, she shared a sweet first look with her bridesmaids & moms (cue screams + OMGs), and then a tear-jerking first look with her dad. Those dad first looks always get me right in the feels!!!!

Madeline + her dad then headed down to Malibu in the family’s cherished white Prius, and the rest of the guests & I loaded into a big bus to make our way to Point Dume.

Hilariously, because something must always go wrong on a wedding day, when we arrived to the predetermined ceremony spot, we stumbled upon a few people setting up for a proposal! The wedding party and I convinced the proposal-planners to let us proceed with the ceremony and promised we’d be quick, and they kindly gathered all of their stuff and waited nearby.

Soon, Madeline and her dad turned the corner of the make-shift aisle, smiling ear to ear, and the two walked over to the breathtaking cliff-side platform to meet Jake. During their perfect, intimate ceremony officiated by the couple’s good friend, Madeline & Jake shared sweet vows about their long-time love for one another, and guests laughed and cried—holding on to every word. After rings were exchanged, the Bernsteins shared their first kiss as husband & wife! We then quickly got out of dodge so that those folks could set up for the imminent proposal...

We had BIG plans to take family photos + portraits at Point Dume, so we headed up to the top of the hill to get started. Upon our arrival, we discovered that there was a full-blown outdoor rave happening (huge, loud speakers + 50 people eclectically dressed and dancing / cheering). On top of the hilltop EDC situation, we found ourselves enveloped in huge, damp clouds which pretty much completely obstructed our ability to take group photos. After a few photo attempts, & with everyone’s hair gradually being frizzed while dubstep music raged in the background, we decided to head to the reception location (where I knew it was sunny & warm) to take all the photos. Off we went!

When we arrived at Jake’s parent’s home, it was 85º and magically sunny, so we took all of the family, wedding party, and couple’s portraits there! Madeline & her bridesmaids somehow kept their epic energy AND looked stunning even after being inside of a literal cloud, and Jake’s groomsmen each had their own ridiculous pose / idea for photos; I couldn’t stop laughing the whole time. Serendipitously, the light was perfectly glowy and ideal as we captured portraits of the newly minted Bernsteins. You just have to make do when all you have is a front lawn… but we made good do. That’s 2020 for ya.

After photos, guests headed to the yard where they were wowed by an immaculately decorated long table & delicious appetizers, cocktails, and charcuterie. Madeline & Jake hired a chef who served gnocchi and pizza for dinner (my kinda people) & had a spread of delectable donuts for dessert. Although ants attempted (and... succeeded) to overtake the donut table, the couple fed each other sweet treats + snuck a few bites in anyway. A lil’ extra protein!? More quintessential 2020-ness for ya…..

After dinner, family members & Jake’s best man shared the sweetest speeches with hilarious commentary about the couple & their relationship, and guests watched as Madeline & Jake had their first dance as husband and wife. The evening felt so casual, relaxed, and care-free, which pretty much exactly matched the calm, low-key energy that Jake & Madeline exude. Although it looked almost nothing like their original wedding plan, their day was prettttyyyy perfect. Minus the few hiccups—which are now hilarious stories.

When I left at the end of the night, Madeline & a couple of her bridesmaids & I decided that we had to be friends in real life. I knew from the jump that these were just my kinda people and that I would love spending more time with them. Welp, we’ve already hung out & my suspicion was correct—Madeline is my GAL, & her sweet bridesmaid Sabrina (that stunning, tall, majestic brunette) is also my soul friend. I feel so, crazy lucky to have a job that continues to bring beautiful new friendships into my life, & I can’t wait for the next time I get to see the cutie Bernsteins.