Chic and Sophisticated Wedding at Hotel Californian

After stumbling across Hotel Californian on their way to dinner, Cassie Compton and Andrew Meyer fell in love with the venue’s architecture, the black and white palette and the picturesque view of the coast and the Santa Ynez Mountains. For their special day, the two amplified the already perfect backdrop with lush greenery, white anemones and a bridal party dressed predominately in black. As a nod to their places of origin, the couple put their own spin on the standard guestbook tradition by having friends and family write messages on postcards either from California (to honor Cassie’s roots) or New Jersey to honor Andrew (who was born and raised on the East Coast). Later, the postcards were bound together as a keepsake. Because both Cassie and Andrew tragically lost their fathers to illness when their dads were young adults, the couple wanted to incorporate the importance of family into the ceremony as much as possible. After Cassie walked down the aisle escorted by her two older brothers, the officiant read letters that the couple had written as tributes to their mothers’ enduring strength over the years. Before the night ended, one of Cassie’s brothers gave a speech on behalf of their father to wish the couple well. From the couple’s first song, “Die a Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett—which they often had found themselves grooving to in their kitchen—to the last dance of the night, “Living on a Prayer” by Jon Bon Jovi, the celebration was chock-full of revelry.