There is something truly special about an intimate wedding, where the couple gathers their closest circle to celebrate. This wedding weekend in Ojai for just sixteen guests was one of our favorite events to produce, with different moments and special touches that made it so personal to our clients and their circle. This weekend had an added element of surprise, as the guests all flew into California from different countries, without any indication of where they were going! We collaborated with Lehr and Black to send out an invitation that had an element of mystery, with enough information about what to pack and where to fly. Once guests landed, we picked them up at the airport and transported them to the idyllic Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, where we hand-delivered nightly gifts with hints for their plans for the next day. Here is how the weekend unfolded!

The Welcome Party: Jazz Night

This couple has an affinity for music, so we created a Jazz club environment to kick off the weekend’s festivities. We custom-floored the front drive at Casa Elar–the private estate at Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, and transformed the environment with moody lighting, velvet soft seating and a rich tablescape in black damask velvet, burgundy and metallic.

We brought in the bride and groom’s favorite fare from Nobu to bring the menu to life with a multi-course, family-style menu and live sushi bar.

Bob Gail Music’s Jazz quartet serenaded the guests with classic standards throughout the evening.

The Wedding Day

The next day, we re-imagined the grounds at Casa Elar to create a modern, elegant space for the wedding itself, with an intimate ceremony in the garden, followed by a luxe cocktail hour in the front drive, and a long mirrored table under a custom structure with an array of hanging glass pendants overhead, complete with a floating dance floor over the pool for the reception.

A fourteen-piece band by Bob Gail Music performed for the guests on a custom stage across the floating dance floor.

Guests dined on a Mastros-inspired menu expertly crafted by the team at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa.

The guests were then invited to a disco-inspired after-party with sequined drapery, a disco ball and a hand-graffitied dance floor.

Guests were gifted custom sneakers to dance into the wee hours, with the party lasting until 7am!

The next afternoon, the weekend culminated with a bright and vibrant brunch under the iconic Oak Tree at the resort.

Pastel florals sat atop a pale patterned linen with rose gold flatware and vintage colored glassware. Each guest was offered a pair of sunglasses to shield the sun (and affects of the party the night before!)

Brunch favorites, including pastries and nutella waffles and crepes, bloody marys and mimosas were served up, with guests all enjoying individual spa treatments after the weekend-long celebration.

Callaway Gable || La Tavola Linen || Lehr & Black || Casa de Perrin || White Lilac, Inc. || Elysium Productions || Bob Gail Music || Nobu || DJ BeeFowl || Revelry Event Design || Bright Event Rentals || Peterson Event Lighting || Make Up Therapy || Messex Industries