Melanie came to me last September and was so excited because she had just gotten engaged to the love of her life and they wanted to get married that upcoming December! Can we plan a wedding in four months? was her question. And my answer: Absolutely! Melanie was from La Jolla and, though she currently lives outside San Francisco, wanted to plan a La Jolla wedding. She chose our quintessential perfect (and pink) wedding venue, the La Valencia Hotel. And though Melanie wanted to create a Christmas style wedding, she didn’t want a traditional green and red color scheme. We decided to opt for rich purples and plums contrasted against ivory and gold. Check out the gorgeous bouquet that Chris from Indulge Weddings created for her. And look at her gorgeous lace dress! I died when I saw it!
I adore these sweet getting ready photos of the bride and groom! Check out gorgeous mom and sister in floor length black gowns above –so appropriate for a formal December wedding. And love the dapper groomsmen below!
Melanie really wanted a church wedding, and since she had a smaller guest count (approx. 70), she chose the chapel at La Jolla Presbyterian Church for the wedding ceremony. We decided we would do all green and white for our ceremony décor, to create a very clean look.
Following the ceremony, Sara of France Photography captured these gorgeous beach moments. I adore the sunset silhouette! 
Following the ceremony, it was on to the La Valencia for the party! I was so excited about our ballroom décor! We started with ivory linens and gold chivari chairs then added these super rich deep purples and pinks in the centerpieces. As guests entered, they were met by a huge ornament tree, crafted out of wood and accented with flowers. Suspended from the tree were gorgeous ornaments in purple, burgundy, gold, and ivory with tags listing each guest’s name and indicating their table assignment. It was a perfect Christmas touch! Melanie adores literature so we also came up with the idea of doing book mark table numbers and found these Christmas Carol books in burgundy and gold–so perfect! Guests were encouraged to take them home at the end of the night!
It was a perfect night! JP Hunten Music entertained guests and kept them dancing all evening! Michele Coulon crafted a scrumptious cake and also made Scandinavian cookie favors, a nod to Melanie’s family roots. It was such a blessing to be part of such an amazing event and I loved every minute I got to hang out with this fabulous family! 
Cynthia Zatkin Events 
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