Since the two were raised in neighboring cities, it was easy for college sweethearts Caitlyn Trudnich and Ryan Piercy to settle on a location for their winter nuptials. Opting for the landmark parish that the bride grew up attending, she and Ryan planned to exchange vows in a traditional Catholic ceremony where Caitlyn’s parents had also wed 33 years prior. “The church was built in honor of San Pedro’s commercial fishing industry, with Mary Star of the Sea facing the Port of Los Angeles high above the church’s tower, watching over the hard-working local fisherman who helped shape our community, including my beloved grandpa Joe,” explains the bride of the sanctuary’s special significance. 

As for the reception venue, Caitlyn and Ryan contemplated a few sites, until finally deciding to end their search and book Vibiana. “It had always stood out to us as a classic and historic building in the heart of Los Angeles. From its former cathedral structure with high ceilings and grand architecture, to its Art Deco, yet modern aesthetics – it was our dream space,” Caitlyn muses. “Their food and service is incredible, and the staff was a pleasure to work with. The feeling when we officially booked was of pure joy!”

Desiring a clean aesthetic, the couple settled on a color scheme of white with gold metallic accents. The house of worship was heavily decorated with vanilla florals to amplify the feeling of formality. The altar was adorned with grand arrangements, and the pair exchanged vows led by a priest whom the bride’s family knows well. “It was very meaningful to have him officiate,” she adds. “He really made the process of saying ‘I do’ even more special.”

Caitlyn was stunning in a fitted vintage-inspired beaded gown with long sleeves. She carried a feminine bouquet of peonies, garden roses, ranunculuses, sweet peas, Veronica florals, and freesia. “When I got a glimpse of her walking down the aisle, it was a sight I thought I was prepared for until it happened. She was radiant and beautiful,” describes the groom of the moment that had him holding back tears of joy.

Loved ones made their way across town, where they were introduced to a stunning design concept. Caitlyn and Ryan’s vision of a space filled with “timeless elements mixed with a hint of clean and modern” style had finally come to fruition. Both long tables and circular versions formed a diamond pattern surrounding a striking black-and-white dance floor installed in the center of the room. Tabletops had been carefully crafted with linens by Luxe Linen, and the bride was thrilled with the final result Melissa McGowan of Flowers by Cina had constructed. “I’ll never forget the overwhelming sensory sensation when opening the doors to the main hall,” Caitlyn reflects. “I wish I could bottle the wonderful fragrance of our florals!” Tall, lush arrangements in shades of crème brûlée were created in contrast with fresh greenery. “We especially requested to showcase lots of sword fern, which Melissa pointed out are reminiscent of feathers – a nod to the Art Deco elements of Vibiana,” reveals the bride. From collections of candlelight, to projections of a star-filled sky, an eye-catching lighting design illuminated the room beautifully.

Demonstrating their love of music was extremely important to the newlyweds. “Having both majored in Musicology at UCLA, as well as previously working within the music industry, we wanted our wedding to be filled with great tunes,” the bride explains. Ryan continues, “We knew we had to have a live band. The bigger the better, as we were definitely going for wow factor and knew our guests would be expecting great entertainment from us.” An instrumental trio from Bob Gail Music accompanied the cocktail hour, and later Jumpstart, an 11-piece band from the same entertainment company, performed. “Our first dance as husband and wife to ‘City of Stars’ from La La Land was pure magic,” reflects Caitlyn. “We met and fell in love in LA, and also adore the musical, so what better song to encapsulate our romance than that?”

As for their wedding cake, the pair desired something unique. The outer layers of the multiple-tiered white confection were kept understated and elegant in design, but fun and scrumptious on the inside, boasting tasty flavors from banana split to chocolate-fudge surprise. “It was truly delicious!” says Caitlyn of the sweet treat that helped to fuel guests for a night spent on the dance floor. 

For others planning their dream days, Caitlyn encourages: “Know what you want and go for it! With so many options, it can be difficult to make decisions, but stay confident in your choices.”