bride and groom walking hand in hand Credit: Erich McVey
` Martha Stewart Weddings View All A Musical Festival and a Green Couch Inspired This Couple’s Whimsical Garden Wedding in California 9 Wedding Trends You’ll See Everywhere in 2023, According to Wedding Planners and Event Designers 7 Wedding Dress and Accessory Trends Every Bride-to-Be Needs to Know About in 2023 Princess Eugenie Is Pregnant With Her Second Child—and Is Due This Summer
bride and groom walking hand in hand Credit: Erich McVey
bride and groom walking hand in hand Credit: Erich McVey
bride and groom walking hand in hand
Credit: Erich McVey
Justine Gordon Schlecter wasn’t eager to join the dating apps, but with a little help from a few close friends, she created a profile—and quickly found her match. David Schlecter couldn’t believe the smart, beautiful, and funny woman he’d found on Hinge; he asked her to meet in person at an off-the-beaten path bar in Mar Vista called The Alley. Justine accepted his invitation—and shared her iPhone location with her friends, just in case. Her nerves were quickly assuaged: These two strangers quickly became old friends. They realized that they had several joint passions and interests—and a shared sense of humor and similar family values.
It was no surprise that things moved quickly. They were engaged 18 months later in September 2019. And, after a delay due to the pandemic and all of the typical frustrations of navigating safety and deciding whether or not to elope, the pair was married on August 28, 2021, in Montecito, Calif., at the Rosewood Miramar Beach with their loved ones, family, and friends by their side.
The Lynden Lane Co. planned and designed the celebration, which merged both of their styles into a design landscape that balanced masculine and feminine touches—and utilized all of the unique aspects of the property to create an event that was all their own.
wedding paper with painted flowers Credit: Erich McVey
Parisian Touches and Floral Elegance
The team at The Lynden Lane Co. worked hand in hand with artist and stationer Elsa Madeline Design to create a paper set that perfectly represented both the couple and the spirit of the event. Everything from the save-the-dates and the invitations—with details including custom painted floral liners, a map of the property, a drawing of the venue, and a custom monogram—to the tied menus felt cohesive and fresh. The fonts, colors, and blend of minimalist and maximalist touches all evoked the Parisian elegance of the wedding.
bridesmaids in matching cowl-neckline slip dresses Credit: Erich McVey
Bridesmaids By Her Side
Justine’s bridesmaids wore champagne silk slip dresses from Alice + Olivia. Several of her attendants actually became pregnant ahead of their rescheduled date, so luckily, the group was able to pivot their attire and find something that worked for everyone.
bride in wedding dress posing by white door outside Credit: Erich McVey
The First
The first wedding dress Justine tried on—a stunning mermaid silhouette by Galia Lahav with a delicate floral lace overlay and an off-the-shoulder detail that gently draped over her arms—was the winner. The designer was actually in the atelier on the day that Justine went shopping; she picked out Justine’s veil and snapped a photo with her during the appointment.
outdoor ceremony set up with florals along the aisle Credit: Erich McVey
Vintage, Artistic Elements
The couple chose the Rosewood Miramar Beach as their venue because of its accessibility for friends, family, and children—as well as all of the property’s unique spaces available for their celebration. The ceremony unfolded on an expansive lawn, where wooden bistro chairs were placed in front of an iron chuppah. “Each chair had a hand-painted fan from an artist in Spain,” says Justine.
ceremony aisle greenery with white flowers and wild plants Credit: Erich McVey
In Bloom
The design team created a custom black aisle flanked by lush garden florals, courtesy of Mindy Rice Design.
outdoor wedding chuppah Credit: Erich McVey
Trellis Chuppah
The pair’s chuppah was composed of black iron garden trellises; a vintage white lace talit, or prayer shawl, was suspended above.
flower girl with ring bearers Credit: Erich McVey
The Cutest Mess
Watching their niece and nephews walk down the aisle was one of Justine and David’s favorite moments of the day. “It was a mess, but the cutest mess ever,” says the bride. The oldest boy joined the men in a tux, while the younger ring bearers wore tuxedo suspender shorts . The flower girl, who was thrilled about her role, practiced the day before, and pranced down the aisle in an Isabel Garreton dress.
groom smiling at the altar Credit: Erich McVey
Groom at the Altar
David—beaming with joy as he saw his bride on the aisle—looked timeless in a black tuxedo with a white silk pocket square and velvet slippers. He wanted to be “comfortable yet snazzy.”
wedding recessional as bride and groom wave to guests Credit: Erich McVey
Saying Yes to Forever
The couple wrote their own vows, which they exchanged during their meaningful and long-awaited ceremony. After they marched back up the aisle as husband and wife, the couple took a moment to themselves to bask in all of the love surrounding them. Looking back at their big day, Justine says, “Enjoy the ride. Always remember to not lose sight of the main purpose—celebrating your love!”
cocktail hour welcome sign Credit: Erich McVey
Inspired by a Parisian Sidewalk Cafe
A cast iron sign frame held a personalized cocktail hour sign, adding a Parisian touch to the interlude’s décor scheme.
black painted reception bar with white florals and candles Credit: Erich McVey
Bloom Bar
The cocktail hour mimicked a sidewalk cafe, and featured hand painted wallpaper by Elsa Madeline Design. Carte Blanche, a French-inspired quartet, entertained guests as they sipped on cocktails and snacked on appetizers.
wedding chocolates escort cards Credit: Erich McVey
A Sweet Surprise
David loves chocolate, so the couple worked with a chocolatier in San Francisco to design hand-painted treats that mimicked the floral illustration from their invitations. A chocolate was placed on top of hand-calligraphed coasters, which doubled as escort cards and guided guests to their seats.
reception table setting with black plates and rose-colored napkins Credit: Erich McVey
Romantic and Refined
The pair’s black-and-white color palette, which was accentuated with touches of deep burgundy and mauve, carried into the romantic reception tablescape, which was inspired by Parisian dinners al fresco. Elsa Madeline Design hand painted the menus, which echoed the other day-of paper—everything felt curated, moody, and on-theme.
floral table centerpiece with marble table number Credit: Erich McVey
Marble and Blooms
Marble slabs depicted each station’s table number; lush, overflowing centerpieces were filled with a mix of rose varieties and ferns.
after party cocktail table with twenties-inspired table number and lamp Credit: Erich McVey
The After-Party
The French theme continued during the after-party, complete with art deco-inspired lettering, moody floral details, and a dimly lit ambience. Everything about this portion of the event felt sultry and sexy—with all of the vibes of a French speakeasy. The Lynden Lane Co. completely transformed a room in the hotel into a 1940s Parisian nightclub, which guests entered through a dramatic velvet curtain. Stylish cocktail tables, set with golden lamps, added to the chic vibe.
wedding performers on the dance floor Credit: Erich McVey
On the Dance Floor
Justine and David wanted to create an immersive experience at every turn, and they did so with the help of Elan Artists. From dancers to synchronized swimmers, the entertainment was top-notch and something guests couldn’t stop talking about all weekend.
stunning multi-tiered wedding cake with dried colored leaves Credit: Erich McVey
Sugar Story
The pair’s incredible floral-inspired cake, full of organic movement and gravity-defying lines, greeted guests as soon as they walked into the after-party. “Jasmine Rae Cakes is a genius,” says Justine.
bride wearing sparkly reception dress Credit: Erich McVey
Love and Espresso Martinis
With a quick change into a gold Galvan dress, which was perfect for dancing, Justine rejoined her husband and their guests at the after-party. They were bowled over with love for each other and for those who had joined them from near and far—and, as they grabbed espresso martinis from the bar, they were amazed by the realization of the vision, recalling “how insanely beautiful and fun it all was.”
bride and groom walking up spiral staircase Credit: Erich McVey
Sources
Photography, Erich McVeyVenue, Rosewood Miramar BeachEvent Planning, The Lynden Lane Co.Catering, Rosewood Miramar BeachCake, Jasmine Rae CakesFlowers, Mindy Rice DesignVideography, Le Rêve FilmsStationery, Elsa Madeline DesignMusic, Elan ArtistsBride’s Gown, Galia LahavHair, Contour FossaMakeup, Contour FossaAfter-Party Dress, GalvanBridesmaids’ Dresses, Alice + OliviaBridesmaids and Family Hair and Makeup, Team Hair and MakeupGroomsmen, The Black TuxLighting, Amber Event ProductionCustom Aisles, Trejo Dance FloorsCustom Trees, Green Set, Inc.; Jackson Shrub SupplyCustom Fans, Rosana GonzalezSynchronized Swimmers, AqualilliesCustom Items and Rentals, The Ark Rentals; Found Rental Co.; Theoni Collection; Revelry Event Designers
wedding paper with painted flowers Credit: Erich McVey
wedding paper with painted flowers
bridesmaids in matching cowl-neckline slip dresses Credit: Erich McVey
bridesmaids in matching cowl-neckline slip dresses
bride in wedding dress posing by white door outside Credit: Erich McVey
bride in wedding dress posing by white door outside
outdoor ceremony set up with florals along the aisle Credit: Erich McVey
outdoor ceremony set up with florals along the aisle
ceremony aisle greenery with white flowers and wild plants Credit: Erich McVey
ceremony aisle greenery with white flowers and wild plants
outdoor wedding chuppah Credit: Erich McVey
outdoor wedding chuppah
flower girl with ring bearers Credit: Erich McVey
flower girl with ring bearers
groom smiling at the altar Credit: Erich McVey
groom smiling at the altar
wedding recessional as bride and groom wave to guests Credit: Erich McVey
wedding recessional as bride and groom wave to guests
cocktail hour welcome sign Credit: Erich McVey
cocktail hour welcome sign
black painted reception bar with white florals and candles Credit: Erich McVey
black painted reception bar with white florals and candles
wedding chocolates escort cards Credit: Erich McVey
wedding chocolates escort cards
reception table setting with black plates and rose-colored napkins Credit: Erich McVey
reception table setting with black plates and rose-colored napkins
floral table centerpiece with marble table number Credit: Erich McVey
floral table centerpiece with marble table number
after party cocktail table with twenties-inspired table number and lamp Credit: Erich McVey
after party cocktail table with twenties-inspired table number and lamp
wedding performers on the dance floor Credit: Erich McVey
wedding performers on the dance floor
stunning multi-tiered wedding cake with dried colored leaves Credit: Erich McVey
stunning multi-tiered wedding cake with dried colored leaves
bride wearing sparkly reception dress Credit: Erich McVey
bride wearing sparkly reception dress
bride and groom walking up spiral staircase Credit: Erich McVey
bride and groom walking up spiral staircase
` Martha Stewart Weddings View All A Musical Festival and a Green Couch Inspired This Couple’s Whimsical Garden Wedding in California 9 Wedding Trends You’ll See Everywhere in 2023, According to Wedding Planners and Event Designers 7 Wedding Dress and Accessory Trends Every Bride-to-Be Needs to Know About in 2023 Princess Eugenie Is Pregnant With Her Second Child—and Is Due This Summer
` Martha Stewart Weddings View All
A Musical Festival and a Green Couch Inspired This Couple’s Whimsical Garden Wedding in California 9 Wedding Trends You’ll See Everywhere in 2023, According to Wedding Planners and Event Designers 7 Wedding Dress and Accessory Trends Every Bride-to-Be Needs to Know About in 2023 Princess Eugenie Is Pregnant With Her Second Child—and Is Due This Summer
Martha Stewart Weddings View All
Martha Stewart Weddings
View All
Martha Stewart Weddings
Martha Stewart Weddings
