6 NATIVE FLOWERS PERFECT FOR YOUR L.A. WEDDING

Contributed by Olive Dawson

Whether you’re using a florist for your upcoming nuptials, or plan to grow your own bouquet, there are plenty of gorgeous native flowers to choose. Southern California is home to some of the most vibrant and unique styles of flowers not available to other brides across the country. Using native flowers, or those that already grow naturally in the L.A. area is the best option for your budget as well. Check out these six native flowers perfect for your L.A. wedding:

1. Monkey Flower

This bloom is a native staple in Southern California. There are plenty of varieties to choose from, ranging in colors from red and orange to yellow, and white. The flower has a long season from winter through summer, making it a natural choice for any L.A. wedding. Monkey flower would look stunning as an accent in a bridal bouquet as well as in centerpieces. It's easy to grow your own in the backyard. For best results, plant monkey flower in any type of well-drained soil in a partly shaded spot of the garden.

2. California Aster

This perennial herb is part of the sunflower family, making it a bright and cheery addition to your big day. The California aster is a small bloom that features a beautiful yellow center and slender white petals. It flowers in the summer and goes great in bouquets and in hairpieces. They grow fast, so plant them in the spring in a partly shaded area, and they'll be ready for your summer wedding.

3. Buckwheat

Who needs baby's breath or other fillers when California gardens are full ow buckwheat? There are so many varieties in the area, making it a great choice for any L.A. wedding. This delicate flower grows on a larger shrub that blooms from spring through fall. The flowers grow as a cluster and can come in a variety of colors from white, cream, pink, and yellow. Use any type of buckwheat as a delicate hair piece or in a flower girl bouquet. The intricate flowers can also fill in spots of your bridal bouquet. Make sure you give the flower plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil when planting your own buckwheat.

 4. Bush Poppy

This is the perfect California native for winter and early spring weddings. This delicate flower grows in a solitary bloom on a larger bush and features yellow teacup-sized flowers. Bush poppy may get folded or damaged in a bouquet, so it's best to use it in a large centerpiece or tablescape. It's a little tougher to grow at home and does best on rocky clay soils with excellent drainage.

 

5. Showy Penstemon

You'll find this native flower growing wild in woodland areas throughout Southern California. This gorgeous flower features elongated pinkish-lavender petals with erect stems. Showy penstemon is an excellent choice when cut long to make a rustic bouquet as well as cut short to fit into larger centerpieces. The flower packs a punch when in bloom because of all the flowers that line the stems. It prefers dry and arid conditions, but you can grow it in your L.A. garden as long as the soil is dry and fast draining.

6. Golden Yarrow

This native beauty features small bright yellow flowers for a stunning but simple bouquet. Golden Yarrow comes from the daisy family and can be either an annual or perennial plant. This gorgeous flower can make a statement in a centerpiece given the many blooms that cluster together at the end of the stems. Use it as a filler for a bridal bouquet or arrange a few stems together to add both height and drama to a reception centerpiece. Golden yarrow blooms in the winter through summer.

 Choosing the right flowers for your wedding can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be with these native options. From simple to dramatic, you'll find plenty of blooms to add to your big day.

Olive Dawson is a gardening and landscape design writer and environmentalist. She is always searching for new ways to reduce waste and grow food organically. She is most proud of her native flower and vegetable garden.

 

SYDNEY + NICK

Get ready for the most romantic, 1950’s nostalgia, absolutely iconic Grace Kelly inspired wedding we’re about to share with you! Our stylish bride Sydney wanted a classic wedding gown that would last past the trends and stay timeless. We loved working with her on this princess dress, and we’re so excited to finally share her incredible wedding shots by Nicole Kirshner Photography.

PS: peep that incredible getaway car!

Dress custom made by: L’ezu // Photography: Nicole Kirshner // Filmography by: Jake Weisler Films // Event design: Indie Dolls Event Design // Venue: Kimberly Crest //


HOW TO MAKE YOUR WEDDING POP

We’re days away from the official winter solstice (I may have just shivered as I typed that) and while we can expect to see the standard soft wedding palettes this season, there are no rules against a splash of color. No matter if you’re the one planning your wedding or just attending a few on your own, here are some ways to liven things up for an extra colorful ceremony.

Colorful Furniture

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You’ll need it anyway, why not add some bright furniture pieces to your event. You can have the furniture match your wedding palette or incorporate new hues to complement the chosen colors. Chairs might seem obvious, but vibrant pieces like this purple velvet loveseat from Wayfair or even a dramatic floral printed chaise for the bride. Plus, these colorful seating arrangements lend themselves to even nicer pictures!

Show Off Your Body Art

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Gone are the days of being ashamed of your tattoos! If you and/or your partner have tattoos, especially colorful ones, show them off on your wedding day! Some wedding dresses cover up more skin than others but depending on where your tattoos are located, find the wedding dress that will show them off. The same can go for the groom. If your partner is planning on wearing a suit and has tattoos on his arms, instead of wearing long sleeves, he can opt for short sleeves or rock rolled-up sleeves for the big day.

Amp Up Your Hair

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Who said your hair has to be predictable on your wedding day? Over at Rebellious Brides, they’ve given us plenty of non traditional wedding looks for inspiration. Don’t be afraid to add some color to your hair, companies like oVertone have created at-home hair color products that make it easy to dye your hair any color of the rainbow, as vibrant or as subtle as you’d like!

It’s in the Shoes

The shoes make the outfit (or so we’re told). Gone are the days of satin beige pumps, brides are going for sparkles, silver, gold, metallic, sneakers, etc… We particularly love it when a bride incorporates her “something blue” into her shoes, (like these ones!). Don’t be afraid to let your true personality shine through on your wedding day!

BACHELORETTE BASH ON A BUDGET

by Aimee Lyons 

Your BFF just called to tell you the news: he proposed! More importantly, she said yes. Now, as the maid of honor in her upcoming big day, you're taking your relationship to the next level.

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While the maid of honor's responsibilities run the gamut from emotional support to bouquet-holding, one of the most important traditions is the bachelorette party. Fortunately, there's no single right way to celebrate your friendship and her imminent nuptials. And contrary to popular fears, a raucous bash — or serene spa day, or wilderness weekend — doesn't need to cost a small fortune. From location to entertainment and more, keep these considerations in mind to give your girl a spectacular sendoff into the wild and wonderful world of marriage. 

Location, Location, Location

The single most important factor in your budget will be where the bachelorette party is held. A major city during the peak season will rack up bills much more quickly than a more overlooked destination, and the market for hotels may vary quite a bit by region. Do your research, and consider an option like renting an affordable vacation property where you can easily cook some of your own meals, or having the party during the local off-season.

While you can often save money by staying farther away from the center of a popular destination, keep in mind that you may end up spending more on transportation. Be sure to include this in your budget and take care of those arrangements in advance, if needed.

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Events and Entertainment

Every bride is different. For every bridal party that's dancing the night away, there's another exploring the art at the Met or escaping to nature on a weekend camping trip. You know your BFF better than anyone, so don't be afraid to ditch the usual suspects for the activities she'd enjoy the most. Of course, for some, indulging in the rowdiness of the traditional bachelorette party is half the fun. Keep the communication open in order to make sure you and your friend are on the same page so you can give her the party that will mean the most.

Regardless of the main event, however, you'll want to bring your own streaming device for endless entertainment options. Finding a device with an abundance of content options means you can keep the theme going with an afternoon marathon of The Bachelorette or celebrate with a film that mirrors your own friendship. Even if you only want some background tunes while getting ready, a streaming device can be your one-stop shop for all of your media needs, and you'll avoid having to pay for premium channels or movies offered by the hotel.

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 Don't Forget the Details!

It's easy to overlook the small things, but often it's the details that make the event. Banners and other decorations are a cheap and easy way of ramping up the party, while a sash, tiara, or other standout accessories for the bride-to-be will likely be the gift that keeps on giving throughout the night — no matter where the agenda takes you. If the guest list includes friends who haven't met before, consider fun and easy ways to help everyone learn names, whether that's an icebreaker at the beginning of the weekend or personalized hats.

 A bachelorette party holds the potential to be one of the most fun and symbolically significant events in your friendship. Whether you and the bride are tearing up the dance floor at the hottest club in Vegas or throwing an old-school slumber party, it's bound to be a night to remember — and it doesn't need to break the bank to bring everyone together.

 

L'EZU WAS FEATURED ON HEY WEDDING LADY

Happy Friday everyone! We’re so excited to share the news that our L’ezu bride Danni’s gorgeous Santa Barbara wedding was featured on popular wedding website, Hey Wedding Lady. We’re beaming with pride thinking about the collaborative work we did on Danni’s custom blush lace wedding gown. Check out the feature here, and congratulations again to Danni and Ben!

JESS + ALEX

Happy Friday everyone! We thought we’d celebrate the weekend a little early with our bride Jessica’s gorgeous Petaluma wedding! Between the lovely lavender hues and the dreamy golden hour shots, we are gently drifting off in the pictured canoe, instead of meticulously applying beading to lace in the office. We loved working with Jess, as you can see she’s just an infectiously joyful bride! Congratulations Jess and Alex!

Dress: L’ezu Bridal // Photography by: Aubree Lynn Photography // Venue: Olympia Valley Estates


ERIN + LUCAS

We’ve been anxiously waiting to share these pictures of our stunning bride Erin with you, and now we finally can! We always love designing custom dresses with our brides, but this process was especially wonderful, seeing as the fabric we used for Erin’s dress has been passed down for three generations of brides in her family. Erin and her event coordinators at All Occasions Event Planning, put together a gorgeous ranch wedding teeming with flowers, and rustic vibes. Congratulations Erin and Lucas!

Dress by: L’ezu Bridal // Photography by: Burgundy Blue Photography // Venue: McCormick Home Ranch // Florals: Yamaguchi’s Flowers // Event Coordinators: All Occasions Event Planning //

HOW TO GET YOUR WEDDING PARTY THE GIFTS THEY DESERVE

Gifts for your wedding party. It seems like a simple task, right? Well, in some cases, it can be difficult, from wondering what kind of gift to give and what you can afford, to whether or not they’ll like it. It can cause some unnecessary stress if you overthink it, so just make sure to give yourself plenty of time to decide and it’ll be smooth sailing all the way to the honeymoon!

For the ladies:

 First things first, think long and hard about the women in your wedding party. Are they girly girls, bohemian, adventurous, athletic? Would they appreciate a sentimental gift, a funny gift or something more classic? For a gift to be successful, it has to be as personal as possible, so consider tailoring your gifts to the women in your life.

Once you’ve thought about the personalities within your your wedding party, then it’s time to start looking for the appropriate gift. There’s so much to choose from, but here are a few ideas:

❖ A Customized Candle - Original and sentimental, it’s something they will cherish!

❖ A Pair of Sunglasses - A unique gift, sunglasses are something they will get excited about!

❖ A Knot Ring - You’ll be tying the knot, with your fiancé and your bridesmaids!

❖ A Wine Glass - Fun and useful for a toast on the wedding day!

For the Gents

 When it comes to gifting the groomsmen, it’s a little more simple; just try to think of something that they will find useful. In most cases, the guys will appreciate something unique and practical, rather than sentimental. These original gifts will show your buddies how much thought you put into showing them with your appreciation:

❖ A Customized Flask - Something they will love to use all of the time!

❖ A Watch - Something stylish that they will be excited to wear!

❖ A Belt - An accessory they can use on the big day and every day after!

❖ A Personalized Cooler - A unique gift that they’ll use all year round!

There’s something perfect out there for any wedding party; you simply need to take the time to figure out what is right for yours! Just remember that no matter what you give them, they will love the gesture as it’s a wonderful way to ensure they feel appreciated for supporting you on your big day! Happy shopping!

 

TARA + BJORN

The summer solstice may be ending, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the outdoors, especially when our L’ezu bride Tara sends us these gorgeous shots from her intimate Yosemite wedding! We love adding pops of color or print to a design, so when Tara came to us with her vision, we were thrilled to help her put it together. An outdoor wedding in the rough terrain of a national park had it’s challenges: we had to make sure it was comfortable (for hiking to the gorgeous spots below), durable (for walking through meadows and mulch) and still form flattering and magical! We’re happy to report that we checked all of Tara’s boxes and the dress was a huge success. Check out her beautiful #somethingblue dress as well as these dreamy Yosemite shots below. Congratulations Tara and Bjorn!

Dress by: L’ezu Bridal // Photography by: Mark Janzen //


ANTI BRIDE TRIBE

[SOURCE: Marie Claire]Who says you need to wear a dress to your wedding? If you want to go straight from your wedding to an informal picnic reception, you can wear something like Lela Rose’s white straight pants and peplum dress. Just pair it with y…

[SOURCE: Marie Claire]

Who says you need to wear a dress to your wedding? If you want to go straight from your wedding to an informal picnic reception, you can wear something like Lela Rose’s white straight pants and peplum dress. Just pair it with your favorite stilettos, add a few bold accessories and you’re all set. A romper like Viktor&Rolf’s is also a great idea. Simply have your designer create a short train to add some extra elegance.

T-shirt and Tulle Skirts

We absolutely fell in love with body-positive blogger Laurie Brucker when she wore the L’ezu bridal gown that incorporates a short front and a longer train in the back. The short dress perfectly highlighted her lovely strappy Valentino shoes that co…

We absolutely fell in love with body-positive blogger Laurie Brucker when she wore the L’ezu bridal gown that incorporates a short front and a longer train in the back. The short dress perfectly highlighted her lovely strappy Valentino shoes that complimented her entire look.

There are so many other ways to ‘rebel’ against the traditional wedding looks and themes. For one, you don’t have to choose white for your wedding gown and your motif can include non-traditional colors like black. It all boils down to the little details that tie all the big elements together. If you want some more wedding ideas be sure to check out the different designs at L’ezu Bridal Atelier.

Article by: Caroline Diners

More and more couples are steering away from the traditional colors and themes of weddings, opting instead for more casual affairs. Statistics from The Knot show that the number of formal weddings is declining while non-traditional reception venues …

More and more couples are steering away from the traditional colors and themes of weddings, opting instead for more casual affairs. Statistics from The Knot show that the number of formal weddings is declining while non-traditional reception venues are already on the rise. There are already fewer formal and black-tie weddings, as couples are choosing more minimalist and rustic wedding themes. If you’re one of those non-traditional brides, here are a few wedding looks from which you can choose.

Silk and Satin Long Gowns

[SOURCE: Martha Stewart Weddings]Wearing a denim jacket with a bridal gown may seem strange, but it’s a growing trend that a lot of brides are using for their weddings. Styles range from road trip-inspired designs to western and rustic themes. In fa…

[SOURCE: Martha Stewart Weddings]

Wearing a denim jacket with a bridal gown may seem strange, but it’s a growing trend that a lot of brides are using for their weddings. Styles range from road trip-inspired designs to western and rustic themes. In fact, Pretty Me notes that a denim jacket can be thrown over a maxi dress or skirt if you want the finished look to be less formal. You can even add your own touch of embellishments to customize them. Martha Stewart Weddings details how denim jackets can
be easily customized to include patches. This adds a personal touch that will make your wedding even more special.

Layered Lace and Strappy Shoes



[SOURCE: Refinery29]Wedding dresses are often huge, layered, textured, and fully beaded. But if you’re aiming for simplicity and elegance, you can go for silk-satin gowns like the Theia V-neck spaghetti strap satin trumpet wedding dress. It’s not as…

[SOURCE: Refinery29]

Wedding dresses are often huge, layered, textured, and fully beaded. But if you’re aiming for simplicity and elegance, you can go for silk-satin gowns like the Theia V-neck spaghetti strap satin trumpet wedding dress. It’s not as big as your traditional wedding dresses but it’s just as sophisticated. It will also show off your great figure, not to mention it’s easy to wear and accessorize for the after-party.

Jumpsuits and pants

[SOURCE: Cosmopolitan]This is another breaker of the you-should-be-in-a-dress look. If you’ve always dreamed of wearing a t-shirt for your wedding, now you can by pairing it with a maxi tulle skirt. You can even customize the t-shirt or choose a dif…

[SOURCE: Cosmopolitan]

This is another breaker of the you-should-be-in-a-dress look. If you’ve always dreamed of wearing a t-shirt for your wedding, now you can by pairing it with a maxi tulle skirt. You can even customize the t-shirt or choose a different color for your skirt other than the traditional white. You can also go for a crop top and a shorter skirt, or an oversized shirt with a short tulle skirt.

Denim and Leather

TO SCAN OR NOT TO SCAN? WEDDING REGISTRY TIPS AND TRICKS.

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When you think of planning your wedding, your mind automatically goes to the bigger items like what you’re going to wear, the venue, who will be in your bridal party and choosing a photographer. There are so many other small details to keep in mind though.

One easy place to start on your wedding planning list is with your registry. Believe it or not, your wedding registry actually plays a huge role in your life after marriage and is not something that should be glossed over. It’s purpose is to set you up with the things you’ll need most for a successful newlywed life.

 Remember, your wedding is about you as a couple and celebrating your separate lives joining together. Therefore any decisions being made regarding your wedding should be done together, and this is especially true when it comes to your registry. These are items for the home you will both share after all, so you want to make sure you’ll both be happy with them.

It’s also important to know what you should and shouldn’t register for, especially if you’re short on storage space. Your registry is the perfect excuse to replace an item you have that might have seen better days or could use an upgrade. Finding your bed uncomfortable lately? Register for a new mattress to help sleep come easier. Just make sure it’s something you’ll both love!

 The thing about registries is that the options are endless. You could theoretically add anything you want. But before you go scanner gun crazy, take a second to think. Carefully curated and thought-out registries are better in the long run because they contain things you really want and need, and your guests will feel like they’re making a valuable contribution to your shared lives.

LAURIE + MIKE

Our beautiful, body positive blogger L’ezu bride babe (enough alliteration for you?) Laurie Brucker, just sent us her wedding photos and of course we’re head over heels for them. We loved designing this form flattering layered lace gown for Laurie. We wanted to make sure to incorporate the shorter length in the front and longer train in the back in order to showcase those killer Valentino shoes! Laurie couldn’t have been more wonderful to work with and she’s emanating absolute joy and beauty in these gorgeous pictures by Nicole Leever Photography. Congratulations Laurie and Mike on your beautiful day!

Dress by: L’ezu bridal // Photography by: Nicole Leever // Location: Bel-Air Bay Club- Upper Club // Shoes: Valentino // Jewelry: Kendra Scott // Florals: Peony & Plum Floral Design // Cake: Vanilla Bake Shop // Hair: Maven Salon, Danai // Makeup: Phoebe Dawson //