When friends of Randie suggested that she meet Alan, she flatly replied, "No thanks. I'm not into set-ups." Thankfully, Randie's friends (and unbeknownst to Randie, her mother) disregarded her wishes and urged Alan to call her to arrange a date. His first message went unreturned, but the second ultimately paid off. "We had the most amazing conversation and spoke every night that week," recalls Randie of the days leading up to their first date. Alan proposed just a few months later during a romantic weekend in Napa. "I guess moms really do know best," says the bride.
As a residential landscape designer, Randie was naturally drawn to the detailed wedding planning process, particularly when it came to designing the colors and flowers that would be used for the decor; she knew from the onset that their wedding would be a chic celebration done up in black and white with a focus on her favorite blooms. A crisp apple green was later added to the color palette at the suggestion of wedding coordinator Linda Howard, and it provided an edgy punch that accentuated the Beverly Hills Hotel's verdant ceremony garden and updated the ballroom's traditional fixtures.
Throughout their courtship, Randie and Alan were fond of telling each other "always and forever," and they decided to incorporate the phrase into their celebration. It adorned their black, white, and green invitations and the custom-designed fans that were used as ceremony programs. Since September weather in Southern California can be unpredictable, the fan design was chosen as a foil to the potential heat. It turned out that the weather was comfortably cool, so upon arriving at the wedding, female guests were offered black, white, and green shawls to wear for the evening ceremony.
The setting was a garden-lover's dream. "It took my breath away," gushes the bride. Randie worked hand-in-hand with her florist to create a look that used her favorite flowers -- large white garden roses, hydrangea, dendrobium orchids, gardenias, and curly willow branches -- into a lavish display for the chuppah and the more manicured designs that filled the black planter boxes lining the aisle. Apple green lanterns hung above rows of black chiavari chairs from where the 315 guests witnessed the couple exchange vows. "We looked at our family and bridal party, and saw the smiles and joy in their eyes," remembers Randie. "It's something we will never forget," she says. As Randie and Alan made their way up the aisle, guests showered the newlyweds with rose petals from the black and white patterned cones that dangled from the chairs.
During the cocktail hour, which was heightened by apple green lighting, guests were asked to leave wishes for the newlyweds in a large glass jar as opposed to signing a traditional guest book. Then, everyone entered the ballroom ahead of the bride and groom so they could be announced for their first dance.
The space was teeming with white and green flowers set atop crystal candelabra centerpieces. Each one rested on a mirrored surface framed by either all-white or black and white patterned linens. Only the couple's sweetheart table and the cake table were draped in apple green silk, allowing them to stand out amidst the sea of neutrals. Each table also boasted smaller arrangements that surrounded the centerpieces, hurricane candles, and circular menu cards that fit perfectly beneath glass-beaded chargers.
The "summery and colorful" menu featured gnocchi with pesto sauce, golden tomato gazpacho garnished with micro greens, rosemary-crusted beef with whipped potatoes, and orange-soy Chilean sea bass with Asian risotto cakes. A sampler plate of desserts was also followed by the wedding cake, which was covered in white fondant and chartreuse orchids.
As dancing was the focus of the celebration, guests were ready for another sugar fix by the time they finally departed for the night. Green Granny Smith apples covered in layers of caramel and chocolate – some in white chocolate drizzled with dark chocolate, others done in the reverse – were given out in clear boxes tied with black and white ribbons. The tag on each read "Sweet Dreams," something that the newlyweds also enjoyed as they spent two weeks honeymooning in New Zealand and Bora Bora.