Though Lindsay Ehlers and Daniel Trapp were neighbors, they had never officially met. Lindsay did take notice of Daniel though and dubbed him “The Cute Guy from Coffee Bean” when speaking of him to her friends. One evening, Lindsay saw Daniel at a bar and took the opportunity to introduce herself. 

“I gave him my number, he took me on a date a few days later, and the rest is history!” she reveals of the fateful night. Daniel reflects on the memory and shares that he loved her confidence and the fact that she approached him. “After our first date, I literally skipped home to my apartment, I was so happy,” he adds. 

Five years later on a warm summer evening while sitting in the backyard of their new home, Daniel proposed to his beloved. “He completely surprised me and caught me off guard. I sobbed, he cried, and we waited the whole weekend to tell anyone besides family,” the bride-to-be details. It was even more special when she learned that Daniel had taken the time to ask both of her parents for their blessing and that her mom, along with Daniel’s sister, helped to select the engagement ring. 

As wedding planning began, the couple took it in stride, with Daniel mainly tackling choices in regard to the band and the bar. “I wanted to make sure we had everything that anyone wanted to drink, and since I love live music, it was important to me that we had a great band,” confirms the groom. 

Lindsay shares that she didn’t feel overwhelmed, and relished having her mom by her side to finalize choices. “I enjoyed the whole process, and I think a lot of that is because our magician of a wedding planner [Tessa Brand of Tessa Lyn Events] is so amazing,” the bride affirms. “She made it fun and was always there to help when there was an issue.” 

Since the groom has a large family primarily based in Los Angeles, the affianced pair thought it was best to select a local wedding venue. Plus, they wanted to be able to easily visit on anniversaries and special occasions in the future. “I also knew I wanted the wedding to be outdoors and feel like a secret garden,” describes Lindsay, who ultimately selected a luxury hotel just 15 minutes from their home. 

“I enjoyed the whole process, and I think a lot of that is because our magician of a wedding planner [Tessa Brand of Tessa Lyn Events] is so amazing.”

The bride envisioned an “upscale garden party vibe with hints of Hollywood” and settled on a color palette of white, beige, and blush since she favored neutrals. Lindsay made her grand entrance on the arm of her father to “The Prayer” by Andrea Bocelli. She wore a stunning fitted lace gown featuring a plunging V-neck bodice and carried a feminine bouquet of vanilla florals including fringe-top tulips. 

Loved ones were in awe as she gracefully made her way to Daniel, who waited for her beneath an arbor bedecked in frothy roses, dahlias, anemones, lisianthuses, Queen Anne’s lace, and tulips. The lush greenery of the hotel provided the perfect backdrop to the fresh flowers that decorated the alfresco space. 

“Unfortunately, due to Covid and all the issues that impacted everyone, there was a white flower shortage,” Lindsay reveals. “It all turned out beautifully though, you’d never even know!” Daniel confides his favorite moment of the day was during the ceremony: “Without a doubt, it was when Lindsay walked up to the altar and began holding my hand. She looked so beautiful, and I just remember her squeezing my hands so tight!” 

An open-air tent was masterfully decorated for an evening of refined revelry. A long head table, as well as guests’ round tables, were adorned with collections of blush roses and ivory anemones held in either short vases or antique silver-footed vessels paired with votives and candlesticks. 

The gorgeous tablescapes were covered in lace specialty linens, and each place setting showcased a customized menu card wrapped in a luxe napkin and embellished with a single white tulip. The ceiling was made magical using thousands of twinkle lights suspended overhead. “It completely stole the show,” remembers Lindsay of the lighting design. 

As dinner was finished, partygoers shifted indoors where a live band performed a playlist curated by the groom. “We chose a lot of oldies, some newer songs, and a little bit of country music – my and Lindsay’s favorite,” adds Daniel. Slices of an all-white, three-tiered wedding cake made of golden chiffon cake, seasonal berries, and a vanilla mascarpone cream frosting were also passed as the final course to provide added energy to loved ones who wanted to continue to enjoy the affair. The bride changed into a glistening short dress to prepare for a night on the dance floor with family and friends. 

Lindsay had so much fun on her big day, she advises other couples to take an entire day to rest before jetting off on a honeymoon. “We were wiped out when we were traveling the day after!” she says. “Ultimately, you want to take it all in. If I had to do it again, I would arrange for a welcome party to spend more time with guests. The perfect day goes by so fast!”

This real wedding was originally published in the Summer 2022 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

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