Min + Carl are no stranger to weddings. They were the last of their crew to tie the knot, and Carl has been a groomsmen eleven times. So you could say they had an idea of how they wanted to celebrate with over 240 guests when it came to their wedding at Camarillo Ranch. They had tons of recommendations, so they planned it in just four months. Starting with their photog Vivian Lin. She had snapped one of Carl’s fave photos of his best friend’s wedding, so the first thing they did was enlist her to document the whole thing:
Such a gorgy bouquet by Jeany of Shawna Yamamoto Event Design, chock full of white Tibet roses, polo roses, veronicas, dahlias, and Israeli ruscus. Keep scrolling for how she transformed the rest of the space!
Min says, Our wedding style incorporated a classic outdoor theme with white florals, bright greenery, pale grey linens, and gold accents. The theme was soft and romantic, interlaced with subtle barnyard elements that didn’t give off such a rustic vibe—gold ombre painted deer antlers, globe bulb string lights, and farm tables. We, as a couple, are an easygoing pair that love to laugh. We have a keen eye for detail and there are little details in our wedding that depict us as a couple.
See what we mean? This whole scene is pretty enchanting if we do say so ourselves.
Upon our arrival, we took a peek at the setup crew working and saw them struggling to keep pieces standing. The wind was strong that day, blowing over linen, knocking off the centerpieces/wisteria structures and kept the branches on the trees swaying. We were somewhere between nervous and peaceful when we realized it was something we couldn’t control. We said a short prayer to God, leaving it in his hands. After finishing touches and as all the guests settled in we both took a quick look behind us and saw the most beautiful set up surrounded by calm winds. It was quite the emotional moment when we knew that everything was going to be OK.
The DIY list: stained wood signs, giant Jenga + Connect Four, seating chart, table numbers, deer antlers, buffet menu, flower girls’ dresses, and the cute stop motion film they shared.
See Min and Carl’s planning tips below…
• Credit card companies charge fees and that is usually added onto a vendor’s fee. If you have cash available, speak to various vendors and see about getting a cash discount.
• Take things day by day and tackle DIYs on a schedule. If by a certain time, it isn’t done, either pay to get it done or forgo it all together. I stressed myself out by making three flower girl dresses on the week of my wedding.
• Prior to booking a venue, read the contract. Most venues have preferred vendors and buy out fees if you don’t use them. Make sure that kitchens are available, if needed, for caterers. Ours wasn’t, and we paid quite the hefty price in building one outdoors. See what’s inclusive and what can be rented out for cheaper by utilizing the venue’s rentals. Rentals ended up being one of our bigger budgets, next to the caterer and this is something we learned halfway down the planning road.
Find more of Min + Carl’s inspiration on Pinterest. Congrats, guys!
Photographer: Vivian Lin / Videographer: Sung of April Story Films / Venue: Camarillo Ranch / Wedding coordination: One Darling Day / Florist: Jeany of Shawna Yamamoto Event Design / Hair & Makeup: Kelly Zhang / Invitations: Zazzle / Cake: Mai Nguyen of Petit Sweets / Catering: Hungry Bear Catering / Rentals: La Pinata Party Rentals / Lighting: Ambiance AV / Linens: Wildflower Linens / DJ: DJ Cito / Caricature: Kinman Chan / Scroll + Monogram: David Chang / Bride’s Dress: Berta Bridal from Mon Amie Bridal Salon in Costa Mesa, CA / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Cathedral Veil: DTLA’s fashion district / Necklace: Gum Mae Diamonds & Jewelry / Bridesmaid Dresses: Custom from DFI / Groom’s Tux: Burberry / Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo / Groomsmen Tuxedos & Shirts: J. Crew / Ties: The Tie Bar