As coworkers at their university’s athletic department, Alexandra Klomhaus and Scott Cutrow became well acquainted and eventually established feelings for one another. “We always had to work football games, and even though the games rarely went in our favor, we both usually stayed until the end and drove home together,” she remembers. “Years later, I found out Scott would take the long way back just so we could spend more time together.” Time passed, and as a surprise to Alexandra, Scott proposed on a Malibu cliff with a gorgeous view of Los Angeles. “To top it all off, he followed up the perfect surprise proposal with a surprise engagement party! My mom, brother, and sister-in-law, who live out of town, were also there to surprise me,” she smiles.

With the help of their mothers and Mindy Weiss Party Consultants, the couple arranged their nuptials in just over a year. “We had a lot of support and help in planning our wedding!” the bride confides. “We had a big planning team who handled so much for us and were always available to answer questions, big or small.” Out of all the fascinating venues Los Angeles has to offer, the couple was drawn to Vibiana, a former cathedral in Downtown LA. “We wanted the venue to be relatively easy to get to for both in-town and out-of-town guests,” she explains. “There was an outdoor and indoor space [and] it was stunning in just its architecture alone. It has some historical importance to Los Angeles, which we thought was a really neat detail.” In honor of Scott’s faith, they exchanged their personalized vows during an alfresco Jewish ceremony, which was officiated by one of his best friends. “He was able to add funny, relatable, and personal bits to the ceremony that wouldn’t have been included otherwise,” Alexandra reveals.

Attendees gathered inside the venue for the reception, which featured a plethora of natural floral décor. “We wanted our florals and décor to emulate an old-world feeling, like an old cathedral overgrown with greenery and vines [and] lit by candles,” the bride says. “Our florist also wrapped pillars in vines and built two stunning trees that framed Vibiana’s altar, which was also covered in vines and pillar candles of varying heights.” Following a delectable dinner service, guests enjoyed the live band and dessert table, as well as posing in the photo booth throughout the evening. Everyone left the party with customized UCLA cookies, a nod to the couple’s alma mater where they first met.

The bride encourages engaged couples to enjoy each moment of their wedding: “All I remember now is how utterly amazing our wedding day was, and I have already forgotten the stresses of wedding planning!”