california wedding

Punk Rock & Baseball Influenced Wedding

Holiday + Ruben’s Punk Rock & Baseball Influenced Spring Wedding in Long Beach at Recreation Park Golf Course 18

March 12, 2016

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Holiday (yes, that really is her name!) and Ruben came to us about six months prior to their wedding with mostly everything planned. They just had their finishing touches left on their to-do list. As we sat down and had our initial consultation with them, we realized they were happy to be almost at the finished line with the planning but we could sense something was missing. You know that spark you are supposed to get in your eyes when you talk about your wedding? Yeah, that was missing!

We asked, well what made you two fall in love? What interests did you both have that led to dating? When the wedding is all done and you go back to normal weekends, what do you plan on doing? And that is when it hit them! They were planning a wedding keeping in mind what they thought their families and friends wanted and not what they wanted.


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Holiday and Ruben thought about it and they mentioned they love going to punk rock shows and baseball games and it was all uphill from there! Our creative juices started flowing and we got to thinking what do we love when we go to punk shows. Handmade made flyers, custom pins, cool artwork. The same thought process went into pulling ideas from baseball games. A fly ball, catchers mitt, jerseys, rally towels.

The couple decided to make flyer type invitations, custom pins as favors, and instead of table numbers they put the names of their favorite albums to show off their punk influences. To highlight the baseball aspect they got an Angels jersey with their last name on the back for guests to sign and Ruben got some really cool cuff links. Now they were all ready to get the show on the road!


Holiday got to get ready in the upstairs bridal suite at Recreation Park Golf Course 18, and let me tell you, it is fit for a queen!

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Ruben didn’t do too bad himself and cleaned up very well. A really touching moment was when Holiday wrote her groom-to-be a heart felt letter and Ruben teared up while reading it! Awww!

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Angels baseball cufflinks

As it became time for the ceremony to begin all the vendors and guests arriving could not help but realize what a beautiful Spring day it was. The colors Holiday and Ruben chose really complimented the season too.

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You can see Silvia and my hand poking out from behind the bush! Silvia is laying out the veil and I am trying to crack a smile out of the Bride.

You can see Silvia and my hand poking out from behind the bush! Silvia is laying out the veil and I am trying to crack a smile out of the Bride.

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It is easy to see why a lot of Angelinos choose Spring as the season for their wedding. The couple had their portrait session done with a gorgeous sunset in the background.

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Their wedding party was pretty hilarious! What started off as a nice posed photo session quickly turned into a high energy, off the ground (literally) experience!

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For Cocktail Hour the couple had simple vases with photos from their childhood and from various moments in their relationship over the years.

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cocktail hour
cocktail hour

Ruben got to take over the seating chart project and executed it beyond belief! He took inspiration from our first conversation when we mentioned to them to find ways to bring out their interests through their wedding. Instead of plain table numbers, he named each table after his favorite rock albums saving his favorite for the Sweetheart Table of course. Paying homage to their hometown of Long Beach, Ruben had the Queen Mary in the back of the chart. He even had a great idea to have the actual table numbers be mini records! How cool!

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As the reception was under way Holiday and Ruben started off with their grand entrance and moved into their first dance and a couple of toasts.

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After dinner Holiday participated in the Father-Daughter dance while Ruben had the opportunity to dance with his Mother.

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They paid tribute to a family member who had passed

They paid tribute to a family member who had passed


Holiday’s bouquet toss proved to be super exciting!

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Before heading on the dance floor they cut and served their first slice of cake as a married couple.

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Holiday’s Mother had the extreme honor of putting together the candy table and it was definitely a hit with a the guests!

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The couple welcomed guests on to the dance floor with the traditional Money Dance in which some of the guests totally had a blast participating in.

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happily ever after

Three years later Holiday + Ruben have moved in to their own place, adopted a dog named Otto, and Ruben has started his own brewing company Burning Bridge Brewing! We are always so proud of each and every accomplishment our couples accumulate and we know the future is bright for these two right here! Congrats Mr and Mrs Leon and Happy Anniversary!!


The dream team

Coordinator: Rock n’ Willow Events // Photography: LA Digital Photo // Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18 // DJ: DJ Tempoe // Flowers: Christina’s Flowers // Cake: Rossmoor Bakery


Vintage Summer Garden Wedding in the Middle of Long Beach

Briana and Riley's Vintage Summer Wedding in the Middle of Long Beach at Recreation Park Golf Course 18, 07.11.2014

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Briana and Riley Peck came to us as a refferal (don't you just love when that happens!) and we had about eight months to put the entire wedding together. They were in search of a garden wedding venue local to them in the South Bay. After touring several properties we found a gem of a venue located in Long Beach called Recreation Park Golf Course 18.


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This venue provided their ceremony space, cocktail hour, and reception ballroom while also including on site catering and bartending. That is not all! Most golf courses may include tables, banquet or garden chairs, and house linen. What a steal!!



When Briana and Riley came to us and described how they envisioned their wedding day they expressed how they wanted the perfect garden wedding but with hints of their English and Irish culture and of course incorporating aspects of their nerdiness! They had an English Knot ordered via Etsy straight from England, a sixpence inside the bride's shoe, Harry Potter cufflinks, and a Dr. Who garter belt.



Briana's brother-in-law made a custom wood sign in shadow box entirely from scratch, even going to a nearby glass manufacturer to get the glass part cut and fit to shape. These can be seen all over Pinterest these days and even in some craft stores but back in 2014 this was ahead of its time!


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Looking back, Briana and Riley had one of my most favorite first dance 'til this day. They selected "How Long Will I Love You" by Ellie Goulding. 


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Since this warm sunny day the couple has welcomed the birth of their son, Atticus, who just celebrated his second birthday! Fun fact, the grooms Uncle was actor Gregory Peck from the motion picture To Kill A Mockingbird. Briana and Riley selected their sons name as a way to pay homage to the character he played in the movie, Atticus Finch.


Planning + Coordination: Rock n' Willow Events, Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18, Photography: Wedding 64, Flowers: Romero's Orchids, Cake: Torrance Bakery, Dress: David's Bridal