Kayla Perkoski and Carrissa Cochrane’s wedding was a celebration deeply rooted in community, personal connection and unique moments. “As a queer couple, we intentionally picked June 28, which is the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York,” says Kayla about their wedding date being chosen to honor a pivotal movement for LGBTQ rights. For their nuptials, Kayla and Carrissa found the perfect spot in downtown Los Angeles at Millwick. “We were drawn to the blend of the industrial look with the biophilic design,” says Kayla. “With both an outdoor courtyard for the ceremony and open-air ‘indoor’ area for the reception, it felt like the best of both worlds.”
Forgoing a traditional ceremony, the couple tied the knot with their guests seated around them, creating an intimate atmosphere in which they felt “held” by their loved ones. A beautiful floral meadow configured like “parentheses” surrounded the couple in the same fashion as the guest seating. They also included a “ring warming” tradition, when their guests passed the rings among themselves, sharing love, well wishes and good intentions. The couple’s custom-made jumpsuits featured beaded lace and a mandarin collar, a nod to Kayla’s Chinese heritage. Something’s Blooming created floral “tattoos” for their wrists, a whimsical touch that later led to the real thing with a tattoo artist on hand at the reception. Kayla and Carrissa got matching tattoos to commemorate the day as did some of their guests, who chose designs from a special flash sheet.
For dinner, a vegetarian buffet was served with a twist: Guests were invited to get their food based on their zodiac signs. “This was a cool way to get people connecting with other guests ... and was a great conversation starter,” says Kayla. “Our guests talked about this aspect a lot that night and even after.”
