A Quiet Luxury San Diego Wedding at Jeune Perche

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

After exploring different color palettes, we chose a monochromatic base with bold accents of sunset hues to reflect the journey of our love story—showing that opposites not only attract but can in fact come together to create something truly beautiful.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

The inspiration behind our design was rooted in both culture and spirituality. Despite being a “secret” hopeless romantic, I did not have a vision of my dream wedding tucked away. There was even a time when I didn’t think I’d get married at all—until I met Miles. He made marriage feel not only possible but worthwhile. So when it came to planning our wedding, it was important and intentional to weave symbolic details of our story into the day. From the contrasting colors, ceramic pottery, and Spanish architecture to a home-cooked dinner, music-inspired seating chart, and bougainvillea, picked for its ability to grow strong even in unexpected places, every detail was chosen with purpose. Two worlds, one union with God at the center of it all. The Vision. In the heart of our love story, the fusion of two vibrant cultures paints the canvas of our wedding day. From salsa rhythms and colorful florals to gospel hymns and Southern-inspired cuisine, it is a celebration where the richness of Latin tradition meets Black joy. Set against a monochromatic backdrop of ivory, champagne, and linen, quiet luxury envelops the space. These pure tones symbolize our spiritual foundation, while the sunset hues of our flowers represent warmth, growth, and the resilience of our love. And music, the very language that brought us together, will be the heartbeat of our celebration. From the rhythmic beats to the soulful melodies that tell our story, every song will reflect the timeless power of love and sound.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

The proposal took place in Joshua Tree, California, on Saturday, December 2nd, 2023, the day before my 27th birthday. I was completely distracted with planning the weekend, organizing an al fresco dinner under the stars with my family and closest friends, not realizing Miles had something special up his sleeve. The dinner had a “Purple Solstice” theme, celebrating not just my birthday but also a milestone in my artistry, as I had released my first song that year. Everyone was dressed in shades of purple, and I had put together a detailed menu and designed the dinner table—truly a reflection of my love for details and all things poetic. Long story short, as I was walking downstairs to join everyone, I noticed how strangely quiet it was. My cousin came inside and handed me a mic, and at that moment, I panicked, thinking they were about to make me sing in front of everyone! She then covered my eyes and led me outside, where it was still way too quiet. As I walked down the steps, unaware that everyone could hear me, she finally said, “Open your eyes.” In front of me stood all my family, Miles’ family, and our friends, and I was completely confused. Then someone shouted, “Turn around!” When I did, there was Miles, standing at the end of a walkway under a beautiful flower arch, dressed in purple and waiting for me. Tears filled my eyes as I walked toward him, overwhelmed with awe and surprise—and of course, I said yes.

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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

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[board_carousel title=”First Look”]

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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

Similar to my venue search, I visited quite a few different bridal shops, each time leaving a little more disheartened and told that the dress in my mind did not exist. More than anything, I wanted my dress to evoke the kind of joy that would bring my grandma, who passed away two and a half years ago, to tears if she saw me in it. My mom suggested Lovella Bridal in Glendale, California, the same boutique where she, my grandma, and I accompanied my sister six years ago. From the moment we arrived, I was paired with a seasoned bridal stylist who had an intuitive sense of what would complement me. By the time I slipped into the second dress she picked, I knew it was the one. It was the perfect balance of sophistication, romanticism, and fairytale charm—everything I had been told did not exist.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

For our wedding party attire, I wanted the colors to complement the monochromatic side of our color palette. For the bridesmaids (family), I selected satin light champagne dresses, while our best ladies (close friends) wore chiffon white alabaster dresses to create a textured contrast. I’m a fan of online boutiques, so I chose Billy J and Azazie for the bridesmaids’ dresses due to their high-quality fabrics, timeless designs, and affordability. I also gave my bridesmaids the freedom to choose styles they felt beautiful and confident in.

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[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]

The groomsmen and best men (family and close friends) wore beige suits with champagne accents to tie everything together. For the groomsmen, their attire needed to complement the ladies’ looks, and Men’s Wearhouse made the process seamless with their versatile color options and reliable reservation process.

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[board_carousel title=”Wedding Party”]

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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

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[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]

When it came to the food, we wanted the experience to feel like a warm, intimate dinner at home. In my family, cooking and sharing meals are a way of life, so it was a no-brainer to ask my uncle, a talented chef from the Bay Area and owner of Catering Cafe Oasis, to cater our wedding. This gave us the special chance to sit down with him and thoughtfully curate a menu that felt personal. For cocktail hour, we set up grazing boards with charcuterie for appetizers, offering guests an array of flavors to enjoy. For the main courses, we landed on a Southern fusion menu with two types of jambalaya—vegetarian and chicken andouille sausage—along with Caribbean-glazed jerk chicken over yellow rice for that perfect balance of spice and comfort. We paired these with sweet dinner rolls, braised green beans, and a fresh garden spring salad. For drinks, we offered a full bar with signature cocktails. Miles chose a classic strawberry margarita, while I went with an espresso martini, inspired by our shared love for sweets and coffee. They were also named after our artist personas—2Miiles and Solara.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

For both our florals and decor, the vision was rooted in symbolism, as previously mentioned. Our wedding planner, Helen of Ah, Love, referenced our wedding vision deck to create floral arrangements and decor sketches that beautifully complemented our floor plan and guest tables. Our decor included distinct yet harmonious elements, including gold and mirrored acrylic picture and menu frames, a linen guest book beside a gold-accented card box, ceramic pottery, vase, and cake holder, white taper and votive candles, lounge pillows in our sunset hues, and a DIY music-inspired seating chart. The venue’s Spanish architecture, adorned with chandeliers and drapery over the guest tables, also added character and elegance to the overall ambiance. When it came to selecting our florist, they needed to have a deep appreciation for art and storytelling. I came across Blooming Fern and felt an instant connection with Anastasiia, the florist. I completely trusted her to bring our vision to life—something garden-inspired and sunset-hued, minimalist yet bold, with bougainvillea as my only must-have. On our wedding day, we were blown away by her choice of flowers, especially marigolds. This addition was a beautiful nod to our culture and traditions.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

Our wedding cake was three-tiered, each layer bringing its delicious flair to the party. The top was a vegan latte macchiato, the middle layer was a vegan vanilla buttercream, and the bottom layer was a classic red velvet—because who doesn’t want a little indulgence on their big day? We wanted flavors that would satisfy everyone’s palate while keeping dietary restrictions in mind. And while the design didn’t exactly match our Pinterest dreams, it delivered on taste!

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

As music lovers, curating the playlists for our wedding was one of the most exciting parts of planning. We wanted the music to be a central part of the day, capturing the essence of our love story and our multicultural family. This also provided our DJ, DJ Dosa from RedShoeL, with plenty of options to showcase his talent and creativity throughout the celebration. Pre-ceremony, we played a curated mix of alternative R&B love songs to set a soulful and relaxed atmosphere. For the ceremony, we selected some deeply personal tracks: a rendition of “Godspeed” by Joseph Solomon for our parents’ entrance, “Sweet Symphony” by Joy Oladokun featuring Chris Stapleton for the wedding party, and “I Wanna Know” by Joe for the groom’s entrance. For my bridal entrance, I chose a film score titled “Garden Conversation (Love Theme)” from the 2001 film The Wedding Planner. Additionally, we chose the live session version of “Kindness” by Mark Barlow and Isla Vista Worship to play softly in the background during our counselor’s blessing, and ” Eyes Closed” by Majid Jordan as our recessional song. For cocktail hour, we introduced an alternative indie/electronic mix—one of my favorite genres—to get guests excited and set the celebrity mood. And lastly, for the reception, we kicked things off with “Where’s the Party At?” by Jagged Edge, followed by an old-school R&B playlist to keep things familiar and classic. Once the dance floor opened, the DJ brought the energy with a genre-blending mix of new school hits, Afrobeats, and Cumbia that had everyone on their feet.

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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

Seating Chart With the support of my father and Maid of Honor, we designed our music seating chart, titled “Music Sounds Better with You,” inspired by a Pinterest photo. After countless hours working with six-foot wooden panels, gold screws and wood cutouts, vinyl records, acrylic frames, spray paint, and pearlescent ivory-gold paper, the final result turned out to be one of our favorite decor elements of the day.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]

Menus, I enlisted the help of a graphic designer to bring our signage and decor elements to life. After talking through our wedding vision deck, she formatted everything beautifully—from the welcome sign and table numbers to title cards and menus. To add texture to our guest tables, I printed our dinner menus on white, deckle-edge cotton paper and placed an ivory seal in the corner to tie in the sentiment of love notes.

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

Bridal Bouquet and Groom Boutonniere My aunt, with her talent for flower arrangements, designed my bridal bouquet and my husband’s boutonniere. Her creativity and personal touch not only added a layer of beauty to our day but also made our wedding ceremony feel incredibly meaningful.

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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

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