Location: Santa Barbara, California, USA
Setting: Beachside resort
Wedding season: Summer
How long did the couple plan the event: 1 year
The number of guests: 270
Wedding theme/style: Dramatic, glam, modern.
In the heart of West Hollywood, Scott, Pentatonix singer, and Mark’s love story began at a mutual friend’s birthday party in Los Angeles. Mark got a job at Amazon marketing and moved to the city a month or two before this fateful night. Scott was instantly charmed by Mark’s sweet smile and calming energy. From adding each other on Facebook to becoming best friends and eventually partners, their journey was full of deep connection and shared dreams.
Scott proposed to Mark under the pretense of a birthday celebration during their stay in the Bahamas, as that was the only way he could keep a secret. As they made a TikTok video at sunset, Scott asked the life-changing question, capturing their love and commitment in a beautifully orchestrated surprise. And it was the best trip they ever had.
Nestled in the sun-drenched landscapes of Santa Barbara, California, a beachside resort The Ritz-Carlton Bacara provided the perfect canvas for the coupls’s summer wedding. After a half year-long quest for the ideal venue, they transformed this chosen spot into a dramatic and modern glam setting.
The day began with Scott and Mark spending the morning together, embracing the joy of getting ready for their big day side by side. This intimate start, breaking away from traditional pre-wedding separations, highlighted their deep bond and shared excitement.
Before the ceremony, the couple enjoyed a private photo session, capturing their emotions in the beautiful backdrop of the beachside resort. In custom-tailored all-white tuxedos by Raf Swiader, they looked like a couple destined for a grand celebration. Scott’s longer-tailed suit complemented Mark’s shorter jacket, a masterful blend of classic and unique styles. Scott recalls: “Mark and I both wanted to go classic and wear just like really nice suits, but we wanted to be different somehow. And so he liked a shorter suit jacket, and I liked a longer tail, so they’d be different. We ended up being so happy with them. They were perfect.”
Guests arrived to a stunning oceanview location with a mirrored aisle that reflected the cloudless blue sky perfectly. The baby’s breath arrangements on both sides of the aisle looked like little clouds, what added a sense of ease and happiness to the whole atmosphere.
At the wedding ceremony, the bride walked down the aisle with her father, who escorted her to her eagerly awaiting beloved. Aaron looked with love and admiration at his bride as she approached him. The touching moment when the couple exchanged their vows left everyone deeply moved. It was a magical ceremony in a beautiful setting, reminiscent of an enchanted fairytale garden.
As Mark has a lot of friends singers and performers, he walked down the aisle to “Can’t Help Falling In Love with you” sung live by the impeccable Kina Grannis and their ceremony was officiated by singer Christina Perri who sang “A Thousand Years” live as Scott walked down the aisle.
For the reception, tons of all-white florals evolved to a blacked-out room, millions of twinkle lights overhead and mirrored surfaces to reflect all of the lights — partially inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Room series and the couples’ love for drama-theatrics-wow factors.
The couple was stunned: “We were originally thinking like all white everything. But then our fantastic planner’s team at Orange Blossom Special Events suggested the black and like put together, and we were just amazed by it! It was so cool to do black out the whole reception. It was just like nothing I’d ever seen before. And it felt like we were just in the middle of space dancing amongst the stars.”
The star-studded reception featured a vocal performance by the Loren Allred, who sang “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman, bringing the crowd to their feet. Additionally, a surprise dance performance by Scott included Instagram stars Cost n’ Mayor, pop and Broadway star Betty Who, and a group of celebrity choreographers. Scott also serenaded his groom with a song he specifically wrote for this moment, titled “Four.”
“We always wanted a big, grand wedding as we’re going big, we’re going epic, and we wanted to have the most beautiful, iconic wedding possible without any traditions and where we would do whatever we thought seemed most fun. And we succeeded with the help of Orange Blossom Special Events. Well, completely because of them! They’re amazing.”
To add more excitement, there was an immersive photobooth experience producing photos of couples and groups on faux magazine covers and a live tattoo artist. In a symbolic gesture of their unity and shared journey, Scott and Mark chose to get matching tattoos “777”, marking the end of their unforgettable wedding day.
Scott and Mark’s wedding was more than just an event: their wedding planner Orange Blossom Special Events managed to create a truly grandiose celebration. Going through the photos, we had tears in our eyes at how beautiful the day was. Every picture showed warm smiles, tender kisses, and all the wonderful surprises. The attention to detail was impressive, making everything look just right. It was clear that every moment of the day was perfect in its own way.
Advice from the couple:
• Go with go with Orange Blossom, work with Orange Blossom, have them plan your wedding. You’ll never ever work with anyone as iconic again, would be my top advice.
• We really liked to focus on every single aspect of the wedding. No matter what it was. We thought how can we make this beautiful and classic but a little bit different. We wanted a grand wedding and everything to be a little bit left of center. Because wedding happens just once in a life. It was really, really fun. Actually, we talked about how even if it’s like renewing vows or a party for a holiday, we want to throw some like black tie event each year just because it’s so fun.
PLANNING & DESIGN Orange Blossom Special Events | PHOTOGRAPHER Heather Kincaid | VENUE, CATERING & CAKE The Ritz-Carlton Bacara | VIDEOGRAPHER Sam Eng Films | ATTIRE R.Swiader | MUAH Pout Beauty Bar | FLORAL Knot Just Flowers & Butterfly Floral | DJ Second Song | RENTALS MTB Event Rentals | LIGHTING Bella Vista | PHOTO BOOTH Pixster Photo Booth | TATTOO ARTIST Maile Mildrexler | TRANSPORT Jump On The School Bus | BABYSITTING The Little Guest