Katherine and CJ’s La Maquette wedding was the party of the year and they still somehow managed to keep it intimate and timeless.
How did you end up choosing your venue?
We actually happened upon La Maquette by a lucky series of events! Our initial venue was the Berkeley Bicycle Club, which is another venue in the Berkeley Events group. Unfortunately, Covid had taken quite the toll on the event industry, and the landlord that owned the Bicycle Club decided to sell the venue on short notice about 8 months before our wedding date. Berkeley was awesome and suggested La Maquette, which was by some stroke of luck, available on our originally planned date. Both of us aren’t really the banquet hall type, and we loved the unique, French-inspired feel, and how the venue felt much more like an upscale resto-bistro than a wedding venue. As planning unfolded, we realized that this La Maquette wedding was the perfect fit for our personalities and vision. We wanted a bright wedding with lots of natural light, and the beautiful solarium and French doors to the outdoor patio gave us that. Having a slightly larger venue also allowed us to invite all the people that mean the world to us.
What was the most memorable part of the day for you?
The most memorable part of the day were the speeches, which really were the love letters to us. written by the most important people in our lives. And looking around the room at the dinner reception and seeing so many smiling faces. Having all the people we love in one room having a ball of a time was just awesome to see.
Talk about your wedding day fashion look!
I’ve always pictured myself wearing a mermaid-type gown, and wanted something that was less “traditional”. For my dress, I loved the large lace applique rather than the typical vintage lace; and the mauve undertone over the white and ivory. The cathedral veil was more traditional, but kept it modern with the raw cut edges. CJ wanted to go for that SUITS vibe. Harvey Specter inspired; classic, tailored and mature. Photos I could look back on and say “that look stood the test of time.”
Advice for anyone planning a wedding?
Don’t be afraid to DIY! They can be really fun and rewarding projects, but give yourself enough time as DIY components can get crazy. Invest in a good wedding planner or month-of coordinator. We couldn’t have made it through the day without ours! Also invest in your dream photographer and meet with them in person if you can, to make sure that they share your vision and that you have a connection. These will be memories that you display around your house, show your children and grandchildren, and look at year after year. For your actual wedding day, there will be things that don’t go as planned, and that’s totally okay! Enjoy the day and savour every beautiful moment. It’s so easy to get caught up in the hecticness of the day, but don’t forget to sit and take some time with your new husband and wife to take in the day.
Vendor List
Planner – Eternal Bliss Events
Hair & Makeup – Annimations Makeup
Wedding Dress – Blu Ivory
Entertainment – Musically in Motion (DJ and photobooth), Violinist (Yegee Lee)
Florist – Bouquets (DIY by Katherine) & Venue/Ceremony floral decor (Rosaline Touches)
Cake – Makayla Edwards (CJ’s sister!)
