A Stylish Speakeasy Celebration At The Estate On Second

Sara and Matthew first met at a Cal State–USC football game where they were introduced by a mutual friend, and the two never looked back. After four years of dating, Matthew proposed with the ring of Sara’s dream—a rare black diamond that he had custom designed by Itay Malkin. Sara said yes without a second thought and began planning the day of her dreams, inspired by her eye-catching black diamond.

Sara and Matthew immediately knew they wanted their wedding at The Estate on Second in Santa Ana, an old California gas station that was used as an underground speakeasy during the Prohibition. In homage to the building’s history, the couple worked with Perfectly Poised Events to design their own speakeasy-themed wedding, highlighted with dim lighting, moody colors, nostalgic music and lots of whiskey.

The color palette for this couple was far from the typical wedding choices. Paper goods were designed in emerald and burgundy watercolor with gold gilding to complement the modern edginess of their day. Sara’s bouquet, by Lavenders Flowers, incorporated a neutral color palette with pops of burgundy and plum. For a final nontraditional touch, the couple cut into an avant-garde black and gold cake designed by Sweet Emma Lou.

The night was filled with fun details that evoked the couple’s personalities, from interactive food stations where guests could build poke bowls and load plates of mac ’n’ cheese, to the reception where guests played games, such as cornhole, with live music ranging from the 1920s to the ’60s.

The Chiarini Fountain, outside of The Estate on Second and an icon of Santa Ana’s artist village was a landmark dedicated to Matthew’s grandfather, George C. Chiarini. The couple knew they wanted a photo from their wedding in front of it. And despite the “storm of the century,” they were able to capture their picture-perfect moment and pay tribute to Matthew’s family history in an unforgettable way.