Below description contributed by Mikala from Monge Amore Events:
Ninety-Seven years ago, the beautiful Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens was born. The Spanish Colonial Revival home not only watched the city grow over the years, but eventually became a historical and beloved landmark to the locals and truly everyone who has had the privilege to walk its grounds. In the late 1980s, Casa Romantica became a cultural arts center and botanical garden. It was the true representation of the California dream. In the Spring of 2023, California experienced an abundance of rain, ultimately leading to a devastating landslide that would cause Casa Romantica to briefly close its doors. To spread the word of its reopening, a team of local industry partners rallied together to show off Casa Romantica’s natural beauty in this beautiful styled wedding shoot.
It was important to the planners and designers of the shoot, Ashley, Mikala and Taylor of Monge Amore Events, to show how versatile Casa Romantica’s grounds are and that the stunning Spanish coastal backdrop that so many brides desire is not lost. The team’s vision for the shoot was “vintage coastal” highlighting the historic coastal components that represent Casa Romantica and the city of San Clemente. As quoted by Lynne Lucente Florals, one of the five talented florists who were part of the team, “The creative juices begin to flow, and the excitement builds. It’s like being given a beautiful painting and having the opportunity of bringing it to life in order to make it dance!” The color palette included coastal blues, soft peaches and pinks, ivory and natural greenery playing into the coastal elegance and California dream that Casa Romantica represents. Holly Sigafoos photographed this special day noting, “The combination of the ocean view, the Spanish architecture, and the lush gardens creates a truly magical setting for any wedding.” 24 Carrots’ raw bar featuring jumbo gulf shrimp, seasonal oysters, and lobster tail was placed in front of the newly-accessible fireplace “Grotto” at Casa Romantica.
The lovely Bride and Groom pictured here are a real-life husband and wife, Taylor and Daniel, who had actually booked Casa Romantica for their 2020 wedding. Due to the pandemic, their plans were inevitably changed, however this styled shoot was a beautiful opportunity for them to finally get to experience the Casa Romantica wedding of their dreams. From florists creating a uniquely stunning floral arch surrounding the iconic keyhole door, to utilizing the new ocean-view ceremony and cocktail hour space, to the color palette used for the bride’s makeup… it’s clear that the venue’s natural beauty still shines brighter than ever and that every challenge brings new possibilities for innovation and creativity at Casa Romantica.
