Kit and Kate, working with planner Ilana Rubin, built a wedding that was European in aesthetic, wine country in setting, and entirely composed in California. They transformed the celebration into a big family dinner, the ritual that had shaped their relationship from the start. Food was already on the table when guests arrived, the way they host at home.
Location: California, United States
Style: Romantic, Elegant, European Style
Time of planning: 8 months
Number of guests: 150
Setting: Vineyard Resort
Season: Fall
Kate was hosting her weekly family dinner on a September evening in 2018 when one of her friends brought Kitt along at the last minute. They met under her porch light and something clicked immediately, though neither of them rushed toward it. Over the next several years, they danced around dating each other: a few kisses, a few dates, but always returning to the ritual of family dinner as the thing that mattered most. Kitt made sure to attend whenever he could, even when circumstances pushed them apart.
When the pandemic forced the world to slow down, Kitt finally decided he was done waiting. He FaceTimed Kate while she was at a party and asked her out again, telling her that he thought they had unfinished business. He was right. When it came time to propose, he brought her back to the restaurant where they’d had their first date and he asked her to marry him. Then he arranged for a rooftop party where all their friends could celebrate under fireworks. Their wedding day was captured by Nicole Donnelly and Atlas and Rose Studios.
Bride's Morning & Fashion
Kate’s dress was a Kitty Chen Eugenia gown purchased from FleurishLA, and the choice was intentional. She wanted something with real presence that felt explicitly bridal but without the trappings of lace or beading that can clutter a silhouette.
The dress is a ball gown with the kind of volume that commands space, and the construction is visible in the way the skirt holds itself. Her shoes were Betty Johnson with matching sneakers for the reception, because she planned to dance.
The gloves are Cornelia James, handmade silk opera gloves from the UK with a custom ring window so she never had to take them off during the ceremony. They only arrived the night before the wedding after a shipping mishap, which means they arrived exactly on time in the way that stressed brides understand the term.
The earrings were a gift from Kitt the morning of the wedding, Jennifer Behr designs in her favorite color, the final pop that completed the composition. Then there was the bracelet, which had belonged to three generations of women in her family before her.
Groom’s Fashion
Kitt wanted classic black tie with a twist, which translated to a bespoke dark green tuxedo from Oliver Wicks. He wore a Shinola Vinton 38mm watch that Kate had given him after their first year of dating, engraved with the phrase “love you big time.“
His cufflinks were custom replicas of the playing cards they would give out as escort cards, designed and crafted by friends who know them well. The wedding band was custom from Luxmi Diamonds with their fingerprints embedded in the metal. The boutonniere came from Adornments Flowers and stayed subtle, a botanical match to Kate’s palette.
Ceremony
They wanted their ceremony to be short, romantic, and deeply personal, which meant filling it with the people they love doing the things that matter. Kate’s childhood best friend sang her down the aisle while another friend accompanied on guitar. Her uncle married them, the same uncle who had married her brother and sister in law. Kitt’s cousin did a reading of Union by Robert Fulghum, and he hand calligraphed it so beautifully that they framed it and it now hangs in their living room.
The moment everyone still talks about, though, is the wine blending ceremony with their mothers. Instead of having moms sit quietly in the audience like they sometimes do, Kitt and Kate found an old Italian tradition where mothers pour wines that represent different parts of the couple’s story.
Kate’s mom poured a white wine from Justin Winery, where they spent their first Valentine’s Day together. Kitt’s mom poured a red from Allegretto, their wedding venue. The wines mixed into a carafe and they interlocked their arms and drank, the blending symbolizing the blending of their lives. The drink tasted better than anyone expected, which felt like a good omen.
Moments Together
The cocktail hour unfolded like a warm European dinner party beneath candlelight and vineyard skies. Signature cocktails added personality while the florals from Adornments Flowers softened every surface without overwhelming the space.
The music carried the evening effortlessly from elevated dining straight into a packed dance floor. This is where Ilana’s planning became invisible — which is the whole point. Every detail had been thought through so thoroughly that Kitt and Kate could actually be present instead of managing logistics.
“Ilana was invaluable. The day ran flawlessly because of her, and we were able to be fully present and enjoy every moment. We truly cannot praise her enough.”
Photographer Nicole Donnelly was entirely aligned on the wedding vision: capture the day as it actually happened, with intention and presence, without forcing anything.
Reception
The reception unfolded like a warm European dinner party beneath candlelight and vineyard skies. The food was already on the tables when guests arrived, a direct reference to how Kitt and Kate host their own dinner parties at home, where the meal itself is the anchor of gathering. The printed materials, all designed by their friend Mary, created a cohesive visual language throughout the night.
The escort cards were playing cards, because playing cards together is such a core part of their relationship that it needed representation. Custom cookies shaped like Kate’s shoes, Kitt’s boots, and her dress appeared in the welcome bags, designed and baked by Kate’s own mother. Every detail functioned as a small story.
When it came time for the first dance, they opened with a playful snippet of the original KitKat theme song, turning their inside joke into a moment that made the whole room grin before the music shifted and the evening moved toward the dance floor.
The Slo Cakery cake was three tiers of white cake with subtle botanical line drawings, the kind of detail you have to lean in to notice. The toasts were heartfelt. Sounds Elevated managed the music, Atlas and Rose Studios captured video, and Nicole Donnelly photographed it all with the eye of someone shooting a magazine editorial rather than a wedding, which meant that every frame carried intention.
Advice from the couple:
• From Kate: Pick three things you really care about, let that guide your vision, and be flexible with everything else. There is so much that is outside of your control, but if you prioritize a few things that speak to who you are as a couple, you’ll walk away from the day feeling like it was a representation of you.
• From Kitt: Don’t go it alone. Hire a wedding planner if you can. Do not be afraid to delegate. The people around you want to support you, and letting them help creates a richer and more connected experience for everyone. And fellas, don’t be afraid to roll your sleeves up and build this event with your fiancee. It’s your wedding too.
PLANNING & DESIGN Ilana Rubin Events | PHOTOGRAPHER Nicole Donnelly | VIDEOGRAPHER Atlas & Rose Studios | VENUE Allegretto Resort and Vineyards | FLORALS Adornments Flowers | HAIR & MAKEUP Tami Bernard | BRIDE’S DRESS Kitty Chen via FleurishLA | BRIDE’S GLOVES Cornelia James | BRIDE’S EARRINGS Jennifer Behr | BRIDE’S SHOES Betty Johnson | GROOM’S SUIT Oliver Wicks | GROOM’S WATCH Shinola | CUSTOM JEWELRY Luxmi Diamonds | CAKE Slo Cakery | RENTALS All About Events | PRINTED MATERIALS Mary the Party | DJ Sounds Elevated | CEREMONY MUSICIANS Synchronicity Strings | LIVE MUSIC Mariachi Los Imperiales
