Joanna and Ted’s spring wedding on the bluffs of Northern California unfolded like a cinematic dream. Set at Switzer Farm in Westport, their weekend-long celebration brought their closest people together in one place. They laughed, cried, and danced surrounded by windswept pines, crashing waves, and a cozy old house that looked like it was plucked straight out of the beloved film “Practical Magic”.
Location: Westport, California, USA
Style: Classic, Romantic, Earthy
Time of planning: 1,5 year
Number of guests: 70
Setting: Coast
Season: Spring
Joanna and Ted first met in 2017 at a house party in Los Angeles. A glance across the room was all it took. Years later, Ted proposed on a quiet Sunday morning in their bedroom—an intimate moment that set the tone for their wedding: relaxed, meaningful, and rooted in their shared love for the simple, the beautiful, and the heartfelt. They spent a year and a half planning their wedding, building it around the idea of hosting a weekend at home with their favorite people.
Getting Ready Moments
The morning of the wedding unfolded quietly. Joanna and Ted spent it in the house with their closest friends, drinking coffee, writing vows, and enjoying the calm before the celebration. Joanna wore a cute printed pajama from Printfresh — cheerful, cozy, and just whimsical enough to feel special without any fuss.
Fashion
Joanna wore a Rebecca Schoneveld gown with sculptural sleeves and a subtle floral pattern that nodded to vintage silhouettes while still feeling timeless. Her vision was somewhere between an ancient ghost and a coastal Princess Diana — ethereal, but grounded. She added Sezane heels, a custom veil, and her signature scent, Annabel’s Birthday Cake by Marissa Zappas.
She did her own hair and makeup, keeping the look personal. Her only bouquet: a small handful of baby’s breath.
Ted opted for a brown three-piece tweed suit by Oliver Wicks with flecks of color woven into the fabric. A vintage floral tie from Etsy added whimsy, and his boutonniere, made with a red anemone — their wedding flower — was lovingly assembled by Joanna’s mother.
First Look
Their first look happened just outside the house, overlooking the ocean. It was quiet, emotional, and exactly what they needed before stepping into the day together.
"It was a moment I’ll never forget.The emotions flooded me that this was actually happening."
Ceremony
The ceremony took place on the bluffs with the Pacific stretching out endlessly behind them. They kept it simple: no arch, no elaborate setup, just scattered white rose petals along the aisle and nature doing the rest.
The couple’s friend, who introduced them years ago, officiated the ceremony. There were tears, laughter, and a breeze that kept catching Joanna’s veil. The songs —“Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer for the processional and “Heaven is a Place on Earth” for the recessional — set just the right tone.
"She looked so beautiful with the wind picking up her veil every 5 seconds."
Lauren at Lovebug Pictures captured the day with a soft, emotional eye. Every frame feels natural and full of feeling — from quiet in-between moments to the way light moved across the space. The pacing lets the story breathe, showing the heart of the celebration without ever pushing too hard.
“It felt like a glimpse into our perfect day that we could relive over and over again. Lauren‘s filmmaking is both candid and honest and has a way of really communicating all of the emotions that were felt that day,” shared the couple.
As the ceremony ended, the energy gently shifted. Guests embraced, music picked up, and a warm, buoyant joy settled over the lawn. You could feel happiness hanging in the air.
Private Moment
After the ceremony, Joanna and Ted slipped away for a walk. The coastal fog started to roll in, softening the edges of the day. The two wandered across the field, hand in hand, surrounded by silence and mist. It was one of those moments that didn’t need music or words.
Alixann Loosle captured it all on film. Her photography felt effortless—never staged, never rushed. It was storytelling in its most natural form.
Decor & Setting
Much of the design was built around the idea of a home gathering. Joanna, a ceramicist, created over 20 hand-thrown vases for the tables. Her mother and aunt filled them with red anemones the night before the wedding. She also hand-dyed the linen napkins a pale blue and embroidered each one in red thread with custom details for the guests: tiny hearts, initials, and cat faces among them. Each one felt like a secret little note left just for the guest who found it—playful, thoughtful, and full of heart.
The couple worked closely with their coordinator, Karin Kamb, who helped bring their vision to life with calm guidance and an eye for meaningful details.
The dinner tables were set under glowing bistro lights, surrounded by patio heaters and enveloped in soft fog. The eclectic glassware and vintage china added a colorful, personal feel that echoed the couple’s creative spirit. Joanna had fallen in love with Switzer Farm because it reminded her of the house from “Practical Magic” — a home that feels like its own character.
Reception
Dinner by Black Dog Farm was served family-style to keep the vibe warm. Drinks flowed from a full open bar, and two signature cocktails, named after the couple’s senior cats, Maeby and Wizard. One was a lavender lemonade garnished with edible flowers; the other, a smoky maple old-fashioned.
The couple shared their first dance to Phil Collins’ “Groovy Kind of Love” before the party took off. One of the Maids of Honor sang “Time After Time” to kick off the dancing, with everyone joining her on the floor by the chorus. Speeches were equal parts touching and hilarious — no surprise with a guest list that included comedians, writers, and performers.
The cake? A simple white round from a local grocery store, Harvest Market, sweetened by love and topped with red flowers. The party continued on the dance floor under twinkling lights and a sky fading into mist.
This wedding wasn’t about trends or spectacle. It was about the kind of love that feels lived-in and genuine. The kind that finds beauty in fog rolling in over a coastal meadow and joy in homemade napkins. Lauren at Lovebug Pictures beautifully captured that spirit in their film—an honest, moving reflection of a wedding that felt like coming home.
Advice from the couple:
•Try to have it in as few locations as possible and just enjoy being around your loved ones. Less logistics, more partying.
VIDEOGRAPHER Lovebug Pictures | PHOTOGRAPHER Alixann Loosle | COORDINATOR Karin Kamb | FLORALS FiftyFlowers | CATERING Black Dog Farm Catering | CAKE Harvest Market | DRESS Rebecca Schoneveld | BRIDAL SHOP Fleurish LA | SHOES Sezane | EARRINGS Anthropologie | RINGS Gem Breakfast | SUIT Oliver Wicks | SHOES DSW | BOW Etsy | PAJAMAS Printfresh | PERFUME Marissa Zappas | BAR Mendocino Outland Bartending | RENTALS Matt Rowland Events | DJ Groundloop Events
