If Old Hollywood is your jam you’re going to love the vintage vibes at Jamie + Neil’s wedding. They are nuts for Mad Men and all things midcentury modern. (They’ve even hosted many a Mad Men premiere party, costumes ‘n all.) Naturally the iconic Hotel Lautner had to be the place and the whole affair looked particularly stunning with every ounce of that desert light supremely captured by Let’s Frolic Together (who these two raved about). Lotsa details in the post!
Jamie says, The wedding was really an extension of our love of the midcentury time period and our love for each other, solidified by our Mad Men geekiness and our deep appreciation of authenticity, detail, and a really good party.
As we began actively planning the wedding, we found even more inspiration for the “feel” of the day through movies and television, like the incredible one-shot scene in Goodfellas where Ray Liotta leads Lorraine Bracco through the kitchen of the Copacabana to the best seat in the house. After we heard that the impeccably restored Hotel Lautner was available, we researched the architect, John Lautner, and found out that one of his designs appeared in a James Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever. We wanted to pay tribute to Lautner, Sinatra, and Bond at our wedding in some way, and one night, as we were watching a Mad Men rerun, we hit the jackpot. In the season five finale, Nancy Sinatra’s song “You Only Live Twice” (the theme song of the 1967 James Bond movie of the same title) soars as a woman poignantly asks Don Draper, drinking an old fashioned at a bar, “Are you alone?” We knew we had to play that song at our wedding, and even though it’s in a minor key and at first sounds unromantic, it’s actually a song about choosing love before it’s “gone.” DJ Eko played it at dinner, and the whole venue looked like a 1960s supper club. It was perfect.
Jamie created escort cards with vintage postcards and shipping tags, and stamps from Etsy, and her friend Celia handwrote all the names. All the postcards were personalized for each guest too, which was a huge hit and conversation starter!
A fresh and elegant bridal bouquet recipe of hydrangea, dahlia, majolica spray rose, lisianthus, and fresh mint, which we’re told smelled amazing…
Let’s end with some fave moments, shall we?
Jamie: My favorite “souvenirs” from the day are the ivory notecards (from Paper Source) we wrote our vows on. They represent our personalities to a T: Mine are typed, printed out with a computer printer, centered, and perfectly punctuated, in tight little paragraphs. Neil scrawled his with a fat black Sharpie. To me, that’s marriage: The foundation is the same, the intentions are the same, but the people are different. It’s wonderful when you think about it.
Neil: The wedding ceremony itself was one of the more memorable moments of my life. The desertscape at sunset, the touching words of the officiant (Jamie’s uncle, who heads up the San Francisco Night Ministry), having family and dear friends present and smiling, the Lautner architecture, the Coachella Valley wind that kicked up, the music, the flowers, the BRIDE. When I looked around at everyone, and then her, I lost it.
Congratulations J + N! Wishing you the best.
Photography: Let’s Frolic Together / Venue: Hotel Lautner / Event Coordinator: Courtney of After the Engagement / Floral Design: Branches Floral Studio / Hair & Makeup: Salon 119 & Spa / Invitations: Fancy That NYC / Save the Dates: Factory Made / Hashtag Printable: Swell & Grand / Cake & Mints: Over the Rainbow Desserts / Catering: MIHO Catering Co. / Bartending: Barçon Cocktail Co. / DJ: DJ Eko / Rentals: Platinum Event Rentals / Lighting: SociaLights / Bride’s Dress: Sarah Janks ‘Daxa’ from Lovely Bride New York / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Comb: Untamed Petals by Amanda Judge / Earrings: Ti Adoro / Rings: Single Stone / Perfume: Miss Dior / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Weddington Way / Bracelets: Marinette Jewelry / Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Nail Polish: Essie Petal Pink / Groom’s Tuxedo: J. Lindeberg / Shirt, Shoes, & Bowtie: Thom Browne / Cufflinks: J. Press / Wedding Band: Harry Winston / Groomsmen’s Suits: Zara
