Sometimes, the most stunning celebrations are the ones that don’t go as planned. Tess and Michael’s day was exactly that. Just five weeks before their original date, their dream venue became unavailable due to California wildfires. But instead of postponing, they pulled off an emotional, joy-filled celebration at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel. With a new venue, a refined Tuscan-inspired vision, and the closest ones, this wedding turned into a story of strength, love, and the magic of starting again. Captured in all its warmth and texture by Titus & Jocelyn, it was a day where meaning lingered in every detail.
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Style: Organic, Modern, Chic
Time of planning: 1 year, 1 month re-planning
Number of guests: 135
Setting: Hotel
Season: Winter
Tess and Michael’s journey began years ago with a fleeting connection in high school. Life took them in different directions: college in separate states, time apart, but their paths crossed again after Michael returned from the Air Force. The timing finally aligned, and their story unfolded quickly from there. Michael proposed on a beach in Fort Lauderdale, at their favorite spot with their dog Murphy, candles, roses, and a surprise celebration planned with family and friends. It was intimate, thoughtful, and filled with love, everything their wedding day would later reflect.
Fashion
Tess’s bridal look balanced romance and edge. She wore a lace gown by Alyne for Rita Vinieris with an exposed corset back, sculptural neckline, and detachable lace sleeves that she removed after the ceremony for a subtle transformation. “One of my favorite unique details was in my dress. I had a piece of my mom’s lace wedding dress sewn into the train of mine as my “something old”,” shared the bride. Her bouquet of classic white roses added a timeless touch.
Tess’s loose waves and natural glam, styled by Amber Nicole and Domonique Baez, paired effortlessly with her Mejuri jewelry and Badgley Mischka heels. Le Labo’s Santal 33 added the perfect final touch. After dinner, she changed her dress into a shimmering Retrofete gown that was made for the dance floor.
Michael kept his look timeless with a black Vera Wang tux, suspenders, and a bow tie. He skipped the boutonniere, leaning into a sleek, understated style that mirrored his easy confidence and steady presence throughout the day.
Throughout the last month of re-planning, Michael jokingly told Tess, “We could get married in a parking lot for all I care, I just want to marry you”.
"After the most stressful month of re-planning, the entire weekend felt like the finish line. As soon as we boarded our flight to California, we said, "No more stress, now we get to enjoy this together," and that's exactly what we did."
First Look
Their first look happened in the open-air courtyard of the Santa Monica Proper. Tess surprised Michael with a restored pendant once worn daily by his late father. With help from Michael’s sister, she’d found it, reset it on a new chain, and gifted it to him during that moment.
The reaction said everything: tears, laughter, and a pause that allowed it all to sink in. Titus & Jocelyn captured this instant in quiet, cinematic stills that now hold a special place in the couple’s hearts.
"I couldn't wait to marry Michael and to have the day that we had been talking about for so long together. It was the happiest, most exciting day of my life."
Ceremony
The ceremony on the Olea Terrace felt relaxed, refined, and full of soul. As guests stepped off the elevators, they were greeted with champagne and linen signage, all while a string trio played modern love songs in the background. Surrounded by market umbrellas, potted olive trees, and creamy white florals from Joy of Bloom Florals, the terrace brought a slice of Tuscan magic to Santa Monica.
The wedding party added a warm, grounding presence to the aisle. Bridesmaids chose gowns in various brown and beige tones and carried single white calla lilies, while Tess held a bouquet of classic white roses. A linen sign on the front row honored Michael’s father, and the ceremony itself, officiated by his best friend, felt personal, emotional, and beautifully real. Guests could feel the history between these two and the love that bound them.
"Looking out at our guests, there was no doubt of the overwhelming amount of love and emotions throughout everyone there."
Rooftop Cocktails and Sunset Views
For cocktail hour, everyone was invited upstairs to the rooftop Calabra Lounge, where the view stretched across the city. Guests sipped on espresso martinis and spicy margaritas under sculptural parasols while the setting sun cast a golden hue over the scene.
Everything felt effortless and sun-kissed, with guests laughing, mingling, and catching up in the glow of the moment.
Decor & Setting
Inside the Olea Ballroom, every detail told a story. Tess, having attended many weddings and knowing exactly what she wanted, leaned into texture and tonal layering over trends. With the help of their planner, Laila Aryan, who masterfully reimagined the entire event in just one month, the vision came to life with remarkable elegance. Tables mixed round and royal layouts, each covered in alternating linens in earthy patterns. Candlelight flickered between garden-inspired arrangements and bowls of fruit, grapes, pears, and figs that whispered of Tuscan feasts.
Each setting featured hand-torn fabric menus, silk ribbon name cards, and personal notes from the couple. Stone signage by Olivewood Creative added a sculptural touch, while cascading florals down the royal tables created depth and movement. Nothing felt cookie-cutter, every element was intentional.
"I really wanted to incorporate details of our relationship as much as possible. We had custom matchboxes with our date & initials, napkins with our dog Murphy's face on it, we had a table filled with different style gold frames – all with photos from a special moment or trip that we had gone on as a couple."
Reception
The evening unfolded with warmth, music, and nonstop energy. The couple shared the first dance to “When You’re Home” by Tyler Shaw, a song they’d chosen long before they were even engaged. From there, the dance floor took over.
The DJ, backed by live violin and saxophone, read the crowd perfectly, blending old favorites with new beats. The energy was high, glasses clinked, and the props from the couple’s custom photobooth—college flags, heart glasses, a cutout of their dog Murphy—began making their way onto the dance floor.
Toasts were heartfelt and full of laughter, with speeches from Tess’s father, her sisters, and Michael’s best man. Later, Tess surprised her mom with a mother-daughter dance. “In most weddings, it is mainly the father of the bride and the mother of the groom who are often honored, but the mother of the bride does so much too, and I felt like she deserved her own moment. That dance with her was such a highlight,” added the bride.
A standout moment was the cake from The Butter End, which combined almond funfetti flavor with almond cream cheese icing and sculptural wafer-paper details that looked like pressed florals mid-bloom. When late-night hunger hit, a burger and fries station became the crowd favorite, an homage to the original plan of an In-N-Out truck that had to be scrapped.
Their day at the Santa Monica Proper proved that love thrives in flexibility, in beauty shaped by challenge, and in the people who surround us. Through every frame, Titus & Jocelyn perfectly documented not just a wedding, but a deeply personal beginning.
Advice from the couple:
• Everyone says it, but it’s true — try to enjoy the process, no matter how stressful it feels. This is a time in your life you’ll never forget, and it truly goes by so quickly. Don’t sweat the small stuff; at the end of the day, it’s about the two of you and the love you share that makes it all so special.
•Throughout the day, stay present with each other. Take a moment to look around the room and soak it all in — all the people who love you, gathered in one place. It’s such a rare and beautiful thing to have friends and family from every stage of your lives come together to celebrate your story. Hold onto that feeling.
PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER & CONTENT CREATING Titus & Jocelyn | VENUE Santa Monica Proper | PLANNER Laila Aryan | FLORALS Joy of Bloom Florals | DJ, PHOTOBOOTH & LIVE INSTRUMENTS Second Song | SIGNAGE Olivewood Creative| LINENS BBJ La Tavola | CAKE The Butter End | HAIR Domonique Baez | MAKEUP Amber Nicole
