After meeting through mutual friends, Jingyi and James chatted to each other on the phone for almost a month. Six months later, the two were engaged! California was the clear choice to host the wedding, as Jingyi was living in England and the unpredictable weather was a dampener on her dream of an outdoor wedding. James scouted out venues up and down the California Coast before deciding Serendipity Garden Weddings was the spot for them.
"The all-purpose built wedding venue had everything a fairytale wedding needed- gorgeous rose gardens, the amazing views, a rustic barn and of course, every princess' main mode of transport: her very own horse drawn carraige," says Jingyi. "It was definitely love at first sight for me when we went to visit it a few months later- honestly it was even more stunning and romantic than the pictures James sent me."
The couple decided to plan the wedding themselves insetad of hiring a wedding planner, despite James moving to the UK to be with Jingyi. The bride's love for art and the groom's talent with design led the duo to make their own invitations, menus, programs and place settings. A palette of rose gold, blush, gold and white set the project in motion. Jingyi hand painted each of the 125 invitations and menus as well as the adorable bride and groom clothespin placecard holders, with a frame found at a local market serving as the perfect place setting board.
Jingyi and her mother also bedazzled a pair of Louboutin heels with Swarovski crystals, resulting in a one-of-a-kind pair for the big day. The bride's mother also handmade the breathtaking veil from the perfect lace and tulle she spent weeks looking for in the markets of China. Bridesmaids dresses made specially in Hong Kong and a stunning red reception gown added beautiful traditional elements to the day.When sunset rolled around, Jingyi and James snuck off to capture some photos with Lin and Jirsa, who peferctly captured every angle of the wedding. The pretty reception showcased hues of pink and gold, and handmade paper pompoms added a fun touch to the design. Classic 90's hiphop and RnB got guests out on the dance floor to celebrate the bride and groom.
"I hear this over and over again but it really rings truth, the day flies by so fast, it is important to actually take it all in with your loved one," says Jingyi.
