Friday, March 2, 2012
Last year, RBW had the good fortune of being chosen by Ai and John to plan their (*deep breath in*) vintage-inspired, multi-cultural Japanese-Irish vegan wedding reception (and *exhale*) on board the glorious Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. A wedding planner outside the Los Angeles area recently mentioned to me how blessed Southern Californians are to have so many choices when it comes to wedding venues with character. She’s right, of course, and I’d have to say that this royal steamship turned hotel - rich in history, ornate in authentic décor and allegedly haunted - is one of the most intriguing of them all.
The Queen Mary departed on its maiden voyage in 1936, and Ai and John specifically requested to stay true to the era without going overboard (pardon the pun!) into costume party kitsch. The elaborate detail of the ballroom meant that less-was-more when it came to adding décor, so floral was kept minimal with a variety of non-floral touches added to both blend with and enhance the environment.
A vegan feast was custom prepared and followed by a selection of both vegan and non-vegan cupcakes, including a “green velvet” option chosen to honor the groom’s Irish roots.
To keep the entertainment in line with the time period, we brought a movie-set quality photo booth in, complete with a variety of vintage inspired props.
The evening’s festivities were rounded out by The Dustbowl Revival Band who provided high-energy, authentic, 1930’s style tunes that had guests up on their feet and dancing all night long.
The moment I first sat down to consult with Ai, she looked at me and stated: “I hate weddings.” When all was said and done and we parted ways, she wrote me a note that said, in part: “I loved my wedding!” That, my friends, is a good day at work here at RBW.
Happy Anniversary Ai and John! This St. Patrick’s day, I promise to raise a green cupcake and toast in your honor!
Photography by Ryan Williams, Rawtography
