To celebrate their 10-month anniversary, Katie Fine and Dan Hoff went to dinner at a local Italian restaurant they frequent. When she finished her meal, he excused himself from the table. “My Love” by Justin Timberlake – Katie’s favorite song – suddenly started to play over the speakers. As she turned to tell the establishment’s owner how much she adored the tune, she saw Dan on one knee. He presented her the engagement ring that had caught Katie’s eye at the popular Beverly Hills jewelry store where she works. “I’m not exactly sure what he said, but I said yes!” Katie smiles.
The bride’s mother was very involved in the yearlong preparations. She would generously fly from Maryland to California every three to four weeks to attend meetings with the planners. “We had so much fun!” attests Katie. Not wanting a décor scheme filled with expected, “traditional florals” for the celebration, she was inspired by the vibe and glamour of the New Year’s Eve holiday – starting with a Beverly Hills hotel featuring stylish Philippe Starck interiors as the setting.
For the vow exchange, guests entered a majestic tented courtyard draped in fabric with chandeliers glinting overhead and an eclectic mix of Lucite chairs. Gilded lanterns glowed along the aisle that led to a four-pillar Lucite structure bedecked with crystal strands, inspired by The Chandelier Bar at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – a beloved location of the couple. The entire space was designed without flowers, in favor of incorporating other luxe textures and elements. “My amazing planners at Bob Gail Special Events came up with my dream ceremony,” declares the bride.
The lively party music played during the service certainly set a festive tone for the fête to come. This included the groom walking down the aisle to the band performing a string version of “...Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears – a moment that stands out in Dan’s memories of the day. “We had the best band ever!” adds Katie.
A flower girl wearing a slate-colored satin dress with a white tulle overskirt and buttercream sash exuberantly sprinkled metallic confetti in lieu of traditional rose petals. Escorted by her parents, the bride made her grand entrance in a haute Vera Wang strapless gown with an onyx bodice and pearl skirt. A beautiful cathedral-length veil with a black lace trim trailed behind her. Katie’s nosegay of ivory anemones was wrapped with intricate charcoal-colored beading.
Bridesmaids were clad in a variety of ebony dresses and carried striking bouquets of eggplant calla lilies. The same bloom adorned the lapels of groomsmen’s sable suits. Festive fuchsia socks added a splash of brightness to the dapper ensembles worn by Dan and his gents.
The officiant was a family member “who knew us both well enough to make the ceremony personal, while also being extremely entertaining!” says Katie. As a result, the proceedings were full of laughter. After kissing the bride – another of the groom’s cherished moments – the service concluded with the breaking of the glass.
Befitting the holiday, the reception’s color scheme was mostly midnight with punchy pink accents to incorporate Katie’s favorite hue. In the ballroom bordered by chocolate amber uplighting, guests took their seats at either glass tables with brass frames and crystal drops along the edges or round tables swathed in ebony satin tablecloths with contrasting white napkins. Floral designs consisted of vanilla amaryllis and calla lilies, and scarlet calla lilies in geometric black vases, as well as ivory calla lilies in glass bowls. Onyx taper candles flickered in silver holders. Sparkling metallic horn blowers and cool feathered hats were also on hand, so loved ones were fully prepared for a night of revelry. “The décor of the entire wedding was absolutely beautiful and very nontraditional,” notes Dan of the lovely, unexpected details.
The exquisite banana chocolate chip cake was composed of square and cube layers showcasing illustrations of anemones, reflecting the lace motif on Katie’s veil. In addition, a contemporary dessert bar with an elaborate display – inspired by The Bazaar restaurant’s whimsical décor – served an array of marvelous treats by award-winning chef José Andrés, including chocolate pop rocks, jars of tiramisu and chocolate mousse, as well as lemon and chocolate peanut butter tarts.
As 12AM drew near, the couple surprised guests with custom gobos counting down from 10 to 1, culminating in confetti canons erupting and the lighting in the ballroom changing to a bright magenta hue, as the band played “Everybody (Backstreet's Back)” by Backstreet Boys.
From the newlyweds’ first dance to Justin Timberlake’s “Pusher Love Girl” to their kiss at the stroke of midnight beneath sparkling disco balls, surrounded by the merriment of their loved ones, the whole night was an incredible way to ring in the New Year and blissful life as husband and wife.