Rachel & Mikey // intimate Wrensmoor Alhambra Wedding
On a warm summer day at the gorgeous Wrensmoor in Alhambra, Rachel & Mikey became husband and wife!
This wedding was as unique and vibrant, blending curated, quirky elements with a sense of timeless elegance. Rachel has a keen eye for design, a penchant for party planning, and immaculate taste, so I knew her & Mikey’s wedding would be both gorgeous and a blast.
When considering the many traditional elements of a wedding, this couple wanted to reinvent the nuptial experience and create a celebration that felt completely authentic to them. They chose to walk down the aisle together and exit the ceremony the same way, invite a dozen friends to give heartfelt one-minute toasts, perform their ELECTRIC, flawlessly choreographed first dance before dinner, encourage a COLORFUL and playful dress code, and even pass out Krispy Kreme donuts on the dance floor for dessert, donning little trademark KK hats. Among the countless thoughtful touches, Rachel’s father’s memory was woven into so many parts of the day, from encouraging all the male guests to sport mustaches to passing out his favorite drinks, Budweiser and Sprite, for toasts.
One of my favorite parts of the entire day was when Mikey surprised Rachel with very legitimate-looking official adoption papers for their dog. The pup was originally Mikey’s, but now Charlie was theirs, and he went so far as to design + print a form for her to sign before officially becoming a dog mom. It was the cutest!!!
They really just kept “what would be fun and meaningful?” at the center of every planning choice, and they were truly sublime hosts, making each guest feel extra special by hand-writing personal letters and using those love notes as their seating chart.
The dinner setup was moody magic, with custom tablecloths adorning tables lined with candelabras and arrangements of grapes and florals. In a tender nod to the couple’s very first date, a single Oreo sat on each napkin, mirroring the thoughtful gesture Michael made when he first met Rachel. :’) After dinner, a saxophonist led a PARADE to the dance floor, where everyone partied until the wee hours of the night.
This wedding was more than a wedding; it was a love-fest, a party, and an immersive experience. Mikey and Rachel don’t concern themselves with what one “should” do. Instead, they focus entirely on what they want to do and the vibe they want to create. I always admire when couples stray from the norm and lean into their individuality and personal style, and this day was a vivid and magnificent example of just that. Have the wedding you want, friends!!!!
