While attending Comic Con in San Diego for business, Angela Dallas and Bryan Walsh were introduced by their colleagues. That night, Bryan hosted a party at his company’s rental home and made sure to impress since he knew Angela was attending. They quickly discovered they were both from Ohio and now worked in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. Knowing they would be taking the same train home the following morning, Bryan arrived early to get a seat and save a spot for his new friend. Angela arrived right before boarding, and Bryan was happy to save the day and spend extra time together. 

“I knew she was The One the day I met her,” smiles Bryan. “So after our first date a few months later, I knew right then and there.” While visiting Angela’s family over the holidays, Bryan asked her father for his blessing – as well as a recommendation for a diamond jeweler in the area. While Angela was opening her stocking on Christmas Eve, the moment unfolded in front of her parents. “All of my favorite little things were wrapped and opened… and the last gift was my dream ring!” she remembers. 

Though they initially planned to exchange vows in Downtown Los Angeles, Covid forced them to rethink their celebration. Thankfully, they worked with Natalie Sofer of Natalie Sofer Weddings and Events, who helped them pivot their plans and create a new wedding they loved yet never expected. To ensure everyone could celebrate safely, they abandoned their indoor city ceremony and reception in favor of a romantic alfresco soirée. A stunning ranch property not far from the city provided the perfect safe haven. 

“We let the natural beauty of the environment shine through!” muses Angela of their design scheme. Since both the wedding ceremony and reception were held outdoors, the landscape influenced the elegant décor for both events. “The venue has beautiful pink flowers growing in the background of the ceremony area and palm trees with lights, so we didn’t want to include too many additional colors,” she adds. Thus, black-and-white color palette focusing on vanilla-hued florals with greenery became the vision for the day. 

“In a year of lockdown and being an avid concert-goer myself, I wanted the reception to not just be a celebration, but an experience for all of our guests.”

Growing up with a musical background, it was very important to Angela that a string quartet performed at the ceremony. The musicians played classical music by Mozart and Bach, save for a modern cover played during the bride’s processional. Angela was gorgeous in a beautifully draped gown and held a bouquet of white roses and peonies as she walked down the aisle to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” from the wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians. “One of the moments that set the tone for our entire celebration was our dueling-style vows that had us going back and forth over the same topic in our own words, comically expressing our love and promise to each other,” shares the groom. 

Following the entertaining wedding ceremony, Angela and Bryan joined their guests in the courtyard for a reception under the stars. Bistro lights twinkled overhead, as loved ones took their seats at cane-back chairs surrounding wooden tables decorated with high and low centerpieces of white hydrangeas and dahlias accented with lush greenery. The vision of romantic elegance was brought even more to life with warm candlelight. 

Though the couple wasn’t able to wed in a Catholic church due to Covid, they still made sure to honor their faith throughout the nuptials. “My cousin said grace before dinner, which was very important to me and my family,” confirms Angela. “She is suffering from glioblastoma… We didn’t know if she would make it to 2021, so one of the reasons to push the wedding through despite Covid was to be able to celebrate as a family again.” To make the special memory even more joyous, “she’s healthy, thriving, and doing better than our wildest dreams,” adds the bride. 

One of the aspects most important to the groom was having a live band. “In a year of lockdown and being an avid concert-goer myself, I wanted the reception to not just be a celebration, but an experience for all of our guests,” he affirms. “The set list was a soundtrack of our life, our families’ lives, and all of our guests.” For the newlyweds’ grand entrance, the drumbeat of “We Will Rock You” by Queen played as they made their way to the dance floor for their first dance to “You’re the Inspiration” by Chicago. 

Though the day wasn’t what they had initially planned, it was even better than what they dreamed. “The entire day was magical,” smiles Angela. Her groom agrees: “Best day of my life!” To celebrate their new marriage safely, the newlyweds had a mini-moon in Laguna Beach, California, and they’re looking forward to planning an Italian honeymoon that they’ll get to share with their new baby due March 2022!

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