Where do we start with this wedding? This adorable couple met in Los Angeles at The Groundlings Sunday Company, a comedy theater, and the rest was history. With the help of amazing vendors like Meg Smith Photography, MAP Events, D’Lish Catering this wedding went off without a hitch. But, our favorite element, was the custom sketch of the couple and their three rescue dogs featured on both the cocktail napkins and the wedding’s program. The bride tells the story of their day below.
I wore a beautiful Vera Wang dress with Kate Spade shoes (and later, to dance all night, white Nike wedge sneakers as a nod to the my favorite film “Father of the Bride”). My jewelry: Grandmother’s sapphire wedding ring for something borrowed and something blue. My necklace was a gift from the groom the morning of the wedding – he had it made from the diamonds from both of his grandmothers’ engagement rings.
My mom drew the map in our welcome bags; it included helpful information like where the wedding was, but also funny memories, like the spot where Tony accidentally drove my car into a tree once, the spot where he proposed, the spot where my dad almost burned the house down helping set up the proposal, etc.
Tony is starring on the upcoming “School of Rock” TV series, playing the role Jack Black played in the movie (it premieres in January). I’m a writer-actress and write daily on my comedic lifestyle blog, Heels in the Hills. Tony and I met performing together in the Groundlings Sunday Company, a comedy theater in Los Angeles with alumni that include Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Will Ferrell and Phil Hartman.
We got married at “The Big House,” the home of my parents’ best friends. It’s a gorgeous 10-bedroom estate on the lake that has been in their family for three generations. I spent summers there growing up and Tony proposed there; I dreamed of getting married there my entire life. There have only ever been 2 other weddings there; the owners (my parents’ friends – the bride had a replica of Princess Diana’s dress made), and their nephew’s. And now ours!
Josh McDermitt (star of “The Walking Dead”) officiated the ceremony. He and Tony are writing partners, and created an improv group together years ago and have been making internet comedy videos together since.
That gorgeous setting was the biggest wedding inspiration of all! The home and the lake are so beautiful, I didn’t want to do anything to distract from them. Instead, I chose colors and design elements that would complement the house and backdrop of the lake, while still feeling timeless and elegant.
My friend Carly Kuhn (The Cartorialist, who’s drawn for Vogue, Prada and Sarah Jessica Parker) drew the image of us with our three dogs that went on our programs and cocktail napkins.
Our place cards were slices of blue agate; they looked like mini Lake Tahoe’s, and were also a way to honor my geologist grandfather, who sadly passed away before the wedding. Our calligrapher, Jenny Sanders, wrote the names and table numbers on them.
Our three rescue dogs (Lucy, Tippi and Maggie) joined in on the first look photos. We named the cocktails after them: Lucy Lemonade, Tipsy Tippi, Maggie Mocktail.
As a nod to Tony’s southern roots, we had an upscale comfort food theme (fried chicken, pimento cheese on green tomatoes, truffle macaroni and cheese, etc), and the caterer made several of my Texas grandmother’s recipes. (My dad baked her cheese biscuits himself, which we set out during guest arrivals.)
We had five kinds of cake at the wedding, including the “cake in a jar” favors: red velvet, marble, lemon, strawberry and chocolate peanut butter.
My favorite moment or part of the day… Too many to list, every minute was my favorite! But here are a few: Seeing Tony’s face, holding back tears, as we said our vows. Our officiant hilariously taking a selfie mid-ceremony. Tony crowd-surfing to The Spazmatics. When I got too hot from dancing, my mom and I went upstairs and she braided my hair and pinned it up, just like when I was a little girl; such a beautiful, unexpected and unplanned mother-daughter moment that I’ll never forget. And Tony and I sneaking upstairs to look down on the house we love so much, seeing all our friends having the time of their lives on the dance floor while we danced, just the two of us, in the window, was one of the happiest moments of my life. The wedding at “The Big House” that I’d dreamed of since I was a little girl came true.
Wedding Vendors: Photography: Meg Smith Photography | Cinematography: Razon Byrne Productions | Event Planning: MAP Events | Floral Design: Jiosia Designs | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Susie Cakes | Stationery: Graceline Art | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Black Halo | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Armani Vest From YOOX | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Isabella Oliver | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Catering: D’Lish Catering | Hair + Makeup: Veronica Sinclair | Lighting: Creative Lighting Design | Band: The Spazmatics | Groom’s Attire: Custom | Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux | Officiant: Josh McDermitt | Venue: At Home | Late-night DJ: Satyr Entertainment | Linen Rentals: La Tavola Fine Linen Rental | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals