kiana57
- Aug 31, 2022
- 4 min read

Enchanting Italian Inspired Wedding at LA Rivers and Gardens | Kiah & Nick

Updated: Oct 4, 2022

Kiah and Nick's wedding day was the picture perfect romantic and elegant celebration. The vibes were all right and their undying love for each other was perfectly displayed throughout their venue. If I didn't know better, I would have thought we were in an ethereal garden tucked away in the Italian countryside. LA Rivers and Gardens provided the perfect space for K & N to tie the knot, and their gorgeous ceremony and reception spaces along with their stunning florals and lively band brought their vision to life! Immediately upon entrance to the venue, guests walk through a towering, picturesque iron gate to get into the garden. On the other side of the gate a gorgeous stone courtyard surrounded by lush greenery welcomes people and leads them through the indoor atrium with private bridal and grooms getting ready suites upstairs, spacious enough for a large bridal party. Outside the atrium is another outdoor courtyard and grass area where K & N held their ceremony and cocktail hour.

Their ceremony was heartwarming and I would be lying if I said I didn't shed a few tears along with all their guests. You could truly feel in the air the unconditional love these two had for each other. They held their ceremony on the grass lawn surrounded by lush greenery, towering trees, and peaceful songbirds. Their gorgeous asymmetrical ceremony arc was covered in full greenery with delicate blush and and white florals throughout. Being in this space truly felt like being connected with nature in a private oasis. The couple made it a point to pay homage to the generations before them and recognized the individuals who brought them to where they are today in a number of different ways throughout the event. One of the most heartwarming touches was the groom's uncle coming up at the beginning of ceremony and singing a beautiful love song while playing his acoustic guitar. This was the same song played by the same uncle at the groom's parent's wedding years ago, which made this sentiment even more special. Straying from a traditional ceremony, the couple took it upon themselves to officiate themselves during the ceremony which added an even more personal touch. They sealed their love with a kiss, and then guests made their way to the courtyard for cocktail hour.

A stunning outdoor bar area and a number of hightop tables surrounding a magnificent towering tree set the scene for cocktail hour. Their welcome/card table held a display of framed wedding pictures of couples from both K & N's families. This was another way that the couple paid homage to the generations before them, recognizing the role each family member played in shaping them as individuals and bringing them together in unity. Guests sipped libations during cocktail hour, mingling and enjoying the captivating space. The couple even brought in a magician to go around and perform tricks for guests as they enjoyed their drinks and passed appetizers, provided by Spotted Hen Catering.

Guests then moved into the outdoor courtyard reception space. Long rectangular tables were situated in a family style setup with all tables connecting to one another surrounding a stunning fountain in the center. Just as they were in the ceremony and cocktail hour area, the guests were surrounded by lush greenery, chirping birds, and elegant florals. Delicate fairy string lights were draped above the tables creating an enchanting and romantic ambiance. The tables-scapes were nothing short of elegant and beautifully aesthetic. Ivory linens draped the tables and each individual table setting was complete with a soft sage green linen napkin and personalized name cards for each guest. A mixture of tall taper candles and shorter votive candles as well as dainty wildflowers created the perfect elegant centerpieces. Colorful and lively fruit bowls sat at the end of each table and added a colorful pop. When guests moved to the reception courtyard, salads were already placed and dinner service began shortly after. While guests enjoyed dinner, the couples family members gave touching and heartfelt speeches. As the night went on and the sun dipped below the horizon, the ambiance grew even more moody and romantic as the space was lit by the string lights above and the soft glow from the candles. After dinner, the dance floor was opened and the good vibes continued as their live entertainment for the night, Viva Band, came out ready to blow away the crowd. And boy did they! The couple did their first dance to the song "One Dance" by drake and then opened the dance floor to the rest of the guests. Our bride changed into her second outfit of the night, a fun and spicy two piece set that allowed her to break it down on the dance floor. The band kept the energy high, playing everything from Amy Wine House to CeeLo Green and other danceable classics. Wedding guests drank and danced the night away! One of my favorite final touches of the night was having Domino's Pizza delivered later in the night to provide guests who had late night drunk munchies something to snack on. Once the bar was closed and guests began trickling out, our team escorted the couple to their driver's car and sent them off with all the best wedding wishes. It was a memorable day for the books from start to finish!