The Purr-fect Match: The Beautiful Wedding of Event Planner Kristeen LaBrot

Kristeen LaBrot, a wedding planner and event designer, met film director Dennis Widmyer on OkCupid. The two immediately connected over their love of movies and cats. (Kristeen has two: her beloved orange tabby Orangie and her Maine coon Oliver, and Dennis’ bud is Max.) After the two dated for almost a year, Dennis found the perfect place to propose, “Cat Rock” in New York City’s Central Park. As a New Yorker, Dennis wanted to seal the deal at a place they would be able to visit whenever they visit his family.  As a wedding planner, Kristeen immediately knew that the legendary Hollywood estate The Paramour was the place she wanted this chapter of their lives to begin. The expansive estate covers 4.5 acres atop the Moreno Highlands and features a curated kitschy yet glam setting. It includes objets d’art, such as taxidermy creatures, hand-stenciled wood beams and more. “I fell in love with it the first second I saw it,” says Kristeen. “I had even taken Dennis to an industry event there to drop hints.” And bringing it full circle, Kristeen’s dating profile was a photo of her at the venue kissing a taxidermy zebra.  Kristeen played off the venue’s dark and moody vibe and quirky touches by choosing a navy, burgundy and blush color palette accented with brass.

Since the couple is equally obsessed with their three cats, she incorporated bows to their feline friends in the cat cameo escort cards and table numbers. A church-like setting was created by dramatic light stands against wall-to-ceiling windows, a perfect backdrop for the Catholic priest officiating the ceremony.  As an homage to their mutual love of Sylvester Stallone, Kristeen created matches as favors that paid tribute to the movie Cobra. In addition, the music for their recessional and grand entrance to the reception were both from Rocky IV. Dennis also named his signature drink “The Cobretti.”  Unicorn lover Kristeen included brass figurines of the mythical creature to some of the floral arrangements and named her signature drink the “Amalthea” after the main character in her favorite movie, The Last Unicorn. Other unicorn details included a vintage brooch pinned to her bouquet, holographic unicorn nail polish; the bride even wore unicorn pajamas while getting ready.  

The couple’s initial connection was when Kristeen sent a message to Dennis because he mentioned a podcast featuring Sharon Tate. To celebrate that first connection, Kristeen had Tate’s wedding dress re-created and debuted it on the dance floor as a surprise for him. The unique cake topper of a lion and a unicorn was a nod to Dennis being a Leo and Kristeen’s self-proclaimed status as a unicorn freak.  To honor the couple’s mutual Italian roots, Contemporary Catering served handmade pasta from its pasta station—which included squid ink fettuccine.