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Quirky Shenanigans Wedding - Featured on Offbeat Bride

Anna + Kliment’s Quirky Shenanigans Wedding at Recreation Park Golf Course 18 in Long Beach August 30, 2015

Featured on Offbeat Bride

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Anna was referred to us by Katie Lowder, the former venue director at Recreation Park Golf Course 18 in Long Beach, California. She decided to reach out to us a barely a month prior to her big day!! She had a clear vision for her wedding and had already titled it “quirky shenanigans”. All she needed was for someone to come in and clean up her vision. She wanted to combine all of her childhood interests mixed with her eccentric personality and eye for fashion to pull off one of the most epic weddings we have been a part of to date!

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uniqueweddinginvitation

Anna, a former beauty queen, was set to marry Kliment and wanted to incorporate his Bulgarian traditions on top of all her ideas she already had in place. That is where we stepped in. Balancing all the ideas and executing them seamlessly. We organized her thoughts of a fairytale ceremony, quirky reception and a nod to Bulgaria all around. A prime example of this is when Anna ordered table numbers off Etsy in Bulgarian and “cheers” laser cut signs.

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bulgarianweddingtablenumbers

Anna got ready on the newly remodeled bridal suite at the venue. The lights and mirrors worked wonders and enhanced her natural beauty!

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Downstairs Kliment got ready and relaxed on the patio as we prepared for the start of the wedding.

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Then as an array of Beatles songs started to play, one of the most magical ceremonies was underway. When the words “ Here comes the sun” were sang Kliment looked up and saw Anna walking towards him as if it was an angel .

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Their wedding ceremony was truly magical and the first time I cried during the vows! Anna said something that has stuck with me over the years. She said “You get me. You get all of me.” They are truly soulmates!!

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But first, let me take a selfie!

But first, let me take a selfie!

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Instead of having one item being thrown at the couple as they walked back up the aisle, Anna prepared an assortment of fun things to blow, throw, shake, and wave.

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Anna and Kliment were such a humorous couple that we knew their couples portraits would be hilarious!

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couplesportraits

As you can see, they were a hoot!

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couples portraits
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There was no detail left out, even when it came to the cocktail hour. There was a gold globe for the guests to sign, gumboil machines, a quote from The Princess Bride, and a pinwheel seating chart.

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In keeping with the Bulgarian traditions Kliment’s Mother was a part of the bread ritual. She broke off a piece of bread that has salt on it and gives it to the Bride and Groom to symbolize when life is “salty” and does the same with a piece of bread that has sugar on it symbolize the “sweetness” in life. It is also a metaphor for when there are going to be good and bad times the couple will face in their marriage.

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Then the Bride proceeds in one of the best traditions we have ever seen at a wedding, the water pot! This water pot represents two things: 1) wishing “smooth sailing” for the couple in their marriage and 2) the sex of their first born!!

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The red flower represents if their future child will be a girl and the white flower represents if it will be a boy

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Everyone was pleased to find out that Baby Gounev would hopefully one day be a BOY!


Before continuing with the reception celebrations we have to share more of Anna’s creative and fun decor! Tons of signage, a princess card box, a gold wishing tree, sunflower seed favors, and glow sticks. Who doesn’t love to light up the night!

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The couple took dance classes and choreographed their first dance

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Of course Kliment had to have with their first dance!


A little dress change for Anna and then it was on to cake cutting!

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Cake cutter and server by Kate Spade

Cake cutter and server by Kate Spade

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The couple tried to reenact this pose to look like their bobble heads


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cake cutting
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Anna surprised Kliment with a tres leches grooms cake but the surprise was on her when the cake accidentally said “Congrats MRS Gounev” instead of MR!!


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Bouquet toss winner


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Garter toss winner


After all the festivities were over it was time to dance!

Traditional Bulgarian folklore dance called the Horo

Traditional Bulgarian folklore dance called the Horo

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Guests got to take a break from dancing and enjoy a tasty treat from Urban Espresso


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Not a single guest was sitting down at the end of the night, partly because of the amazing DJ Trego and partly because Anna and Kliment had such a great group of family and friends!


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It has been 3 and 1/2 years since the Gounev wedding and we are so happy to report that Anna and Kliment welcomed a baby boy Hemingway Hunnicutt in 2017. Looks like their prediction on this day when Anna kicked the water pot and out flew the white carnation came true after all!


The Dream Team:

Coordination: Rock n’ Willow Events // Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18 // Photographer: Taylored Photo Memories // DJ: DJ Trego, Vox DJ’s // Cake: Rossmoor Pastries // Cake cutter & server: Kate Spade // Florist: Good Flower Shop // Linen: Dream Decor & Hobby Lobby // Coffee: Urban Espresso // Wedding Dress: Marchesa // All signs and decor: Etsy

Featured on Offbeat Bride —> www.offbeatbride.com

FEATURED on Bespoke Bride!

Hip hip, Hooray! Our Punk Rock inspired styled shoot tittled "Love is not Dead" was featured on Bespoke Bride!!

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What an honor it is to have been featured by Bespoke Bride, a blog from the UK that started in 2011 as a personal way to journal quirky and creative wedding photography, decor, and DIY's. The colorful duo behind the blog focus on creating a blog that will inspire couples to design a wedding that is creative, crafty, and full of character. Our styled shoot definetly screams color and tons of character!!

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Jade Elora from Jade Elora Photography and Angela Mortez from Rock n' Willow Events (tee-hee, that's ME!) came up with the idea of a bright, colorful, punk rock inspired styled shoot concept that was quickly dubbed "Love is not Dead" - a play on the slogan "Punk is not Dead". Along with Alexis Farris from Alexis Designs Things we came up with fictional character names for our Bride and Groom. Kim and Thurston were a real life married couple from the 1984 punk band Sonic Youth! Alexis totally ROCKED the stationary department and Jade flatlay slayed!!


We started off the shoot with a couple of intimate shots of our Bride and Make-up artist, oh AND hair stylist Autumn Skibinski and her real life boyfriend and model Aaron Garrett. 

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And then moved outside to The York Manor's outside ceremony or cocktail hour option and of course their iconic red doors!


We started adding florals from Nadia Guzman at The Flower Shop and showcasing our mock table with tons of goodies from DaviD at La Pinata Party Rentals. Jade and her crafty husband made the custom table number "one" that matched Alexis designs and typograhy so well! All together with that killer table runner made by our assistant (shout out to Pearl Bash!) we think our visions really came to life!

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Vincent and Iveth from LA Speakeasy made sure everyone at the shoot were properly hydrated with their yummy and so so fresh cocktails. They make their own mixers and are so innovative with their ingridiants. Plus, these two are so warm and approachable and will leave your guests with a great laSting impression!

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Nicole from Nicole Bakes Cakes added the sweetest cake that contributed to the overall theme perfectly. Our couple loved pretending it was their actual wedding day with this grafiti inspired design.

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Jade had some left over temporary tattooes that she ended up not using at her wedding so we decided to throw those into the shoot by having a DIytattoo station! Our Groom got to place one on his new Bride and it was such a fun moment!

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Let's not forget to mention the generous venue that allowed us to host our styled shoot. The York Manor is a gem located in Highland Park (Los Angeles, California). Its white walls, large natural light windows, awesome stage are all wonderful qualities of this venue but we were particuraly excited for their new speakeasy underneath the venue. It is perfect to host an after party there!

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Highland Park did not disappoint with its eclecticness. Check out these fun graffiti walls around the neighborhood!


On behalf of myself and my team of awesome vendors that turned up and rocked out, we would like to thank Jess and Emily from Bespoke Bride again for the amazing oportunity to featured on your blog! 

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Check out the blog post here at Bespoke Bride!


Planning & Coordination: Rock n' Willow Events || Photography: Jade Elora Photography || Venue: The York Manor || Rentals: La Pinata Party Rentals || Stationary: Alexis Designs Things || Florals: The Flower Shop || Cake: Nicole Bakes Cakes || Cocktails: LA Speakeasy || Hair/Make-up/Bride: Autumn Skibinski || Groom: Aaron Garrett