It wasn’t long after being introduced to Brennan Ross her freshman year at George Washington University that Eden Bonbright invited him to be her date at her sorority formal. “We have been inseparable ever since,” she says, though Brennan knew early on Eden was The One. He reveals, “Eden was cute, witty, outgoing, extraordinarily smart, and had a spunk that I knew would keep me engaged for a lifetime.” It was after a two-year stint in New York together, as they readied to move back to Southern California, that he knew it was time. 

Brennan secured her parents’ permission and planned a surprise engagement at the childhood home of Eden. Their families hid in the house secretly watching as Brennan got on bended knee in the picturesque backyard to ask for his beloved’s hand in marriage. He presented her maternal grandmother’s diamond set in a classic gold band that Eden’s mother had helped him choose. She happily accepted, and they enjoyed the remainder of the evening celebrating. 

Because the bride had a very specific vision in mind for their nuptials, Eden and Brennan opted not to hire a wedding planner. “I wanted to control every detail myself,” she shares. “My biggest surprise was how many moving parts and hundreds of details go into planning an event of this scale; however, it was one of the most fun and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.” 

Focusing on a traditional wedding with a timeless, elegant feel, Eden chose a very simple décor concept: a black-and-white palette accented with hundreds of fresh pink and champagne-hued florals. Since she had always loved the idea of an at-home wedding, Eden knew with strong certainty that her family’s Beverly Hills estate would be the ideal venue for the celebration. 

“Being able to say ‘I do’ in my family home made the day so much more special,” describes Eden, who selected every wedding-related celebration with the same level of thoughtfulness. The couple’s rehearsal-dinner location was BOA Steakhouse, where the two enjoyed many date nights, and for the post-wedding brunch, Eden opted for one of her favorite restaurants owned by her parents: Gracias Madre, an amazing alfresco venue in Los Angeles that is completely plant-based. 

The bride’s attention to detail and desire to make it a family affair was apparent throughout the festivities. Her mother was her go-to during the wedding-planning process. “She’s a master organizer with impeccable style and taste!” Eden says of her mom. “My cousin made our wedding cake, my sister did my makeup on the big day, and my uncle officiated the ceremony. We wanted to highlight the intimacy and family feel of an at-home wedding.” 

“Being able to say ‘I do’ in my family home made the day so much more special.”

Guests arrived to the soft sounds of a string quartet and enjoyed tray-passed flutes filled with sparkling Champagne. The bride made her grand entrance on the arm of her father as they exited a vintage Rolls-Royce and walked down the petal-strewn aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon in D. Eden was stunning in an airy, tiered custom gown designed by the bride herself and carried a feminine bouquet of all-white flowers, each individually adorned with a small pearl. 

The betrothed exchanged vows in front of an impressive floral wall, as the bride’s uncle delivered a memorable service that had everyone – including the bride and groom – laughing joyfully. At the conclusion, loved ones indulged in signature cocktails before finding their seats at round tables adorned in silk linens, illuminated in soft candlelight, and decorated with elegant centerpieces for the reception. 

A silver-rimmed charger plate showcased a place card, a personalized menu card, and a gardenia at each setting. White round lanterns suspended over the black-and-white checkered dance floor created a glamorous, romantic look. “The wedding was magical, and I can’t think of anything I would do differently,” confides Eden. 

After a lovely dinner service, slices of the six-tiered wedding cake adorned with handmade sugar flowers, edible white pearls, and one “something blue” pearl were offered to attendees. The sweet confection was exactly what partygoers needed to recharge! Eden slipped into a glitzy, feather vintage minidress for the festivities and prepared herself for late-night dancing that lasted until 3AM breaking only when the In-N-Out truck arrived with freshly made burgers. 

“Our wedding was beyond my wildest dreams!” muses Brennan, who also mentions that the best thing he and Eden did was keep the guest list at 120 because they were able to spend time with each person. “Everyone there knew they had a special place in our lives!”

This real wedding was originally published in the Winter 2023 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

To order a copy of the Winter 2023 issue, visit our library of Inside Weddings back issues available for purchase.

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