Anna Hewson, a partner and executive director of brand social impact at independent creative company Omelet, and Charlie Hewson, an actor—most recently on Netflix’s Spinning Out—swiped right on each other on Tinder. After dating for four years, he proposed as they were crossing the Black Bridge in the inner canyon of Grand Canyon National Park.
For their four-year anniversary, they went on a road trip through Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon. While her back was turned on the bridge, he got down on one knee with a pair of earrings they’d purchased at a roadside Navajo stand the day before. “I think it’s fair to say the proposal made completing the rest of the 18.5 mile hike a little sweeter,” Anna says. A few weeks after they returned to Los Angeles, he gave her a beautiful solitaire diamond, handed down from his mother.
Even before they got engaged, the pair knew they wanted to get married someplace that could accommodate all their guests for a whole weekend. “We both grew up going to summer camp on the East Coast, and we sort of fell in love with the idea of sharing that experience with everyone,” Anna says. “We knew it was a bit unconventional but were hopeful our guests would be along for the ride.” They chose Timber Lake West, a few hours outside of New York City, for their celebration and planned for a rustic yet elevated aesthetic.
For the welcome dinner, Anna chose a vintage design from Happy Isles to wear with Loeffler Randall Penny knot slides and Lele Sadoughi pearl earrings; however, the weather forced her to change plans, and she ended up wearing a long dress from Recess and checkered Vans.
Anna’s wedding dress was actually picked out by her future sister-in-law, Tory, while they were casually shopping without an appointment. Since the plan was to be married on the lawn of the camp, in front of the lake, the bride chose Tory Burch block heel sandals to pair with the gown. Her “something borrowed” was her veil, which was loaned from her dear friend, Staley.
Charlie custom-made a suit with High Society, who showed him their whole stock of fabric before a roll of sage green linen-silk-wool fabric jumped out at him. “It felt like a risky choice, but boy did it pay off,” he says. And while they didn’t have a wedding party, they requested their guests wear fun patterns and bright colors.
On the morning-of, Anna’s cousin led a pre-wedding yoga class for 25 people, and then the bride got ready with natural makeup artist Jessa Blades and hairstylist Nackie Karcher. And then because of the rain, they made their way to the camp’s main hall, where the ceremony had been moved.
As Anna and her father walked down the aisle, Charlie played guitar and sang a rendition of Cat Power’s “Sea of Love.” Their dear friend, Colin, officiated the personal service, and at one point, their friend, Conor, led a Quaker session, allowing guests to share words of wisdom and well wishes. The couple was married on a rug gifted by their friends, Michael and Nick, and once they shared personal vows, their other friends, Chris, Chloe, and Bob, played them out with folk music.
Cocktail hour took place in the cafeteria with an upbeat jazz trio and signature cocktails featuring a friend’s gin company, Future Gin, and wines from Spear and Upstream Wine & Spirits. After an hour or so, everyone moved upstairs for dinner with tables full of florals by Earthgirl Flowers.
Early Bird Cookery served a local, seasonal, family-style spread, and during the meal, the newlyweds’ parents gave traditional Polish vodka toasts with porcelain, monogrammed shot glasses that Charlie’s cousin, Kari, had created. For dessert, guests brought home-baked pies, which were then judged by the new Mr. and Mrs. “I awarded my grand prize, a monogrammed canvas pie tote that said ‘FIRST ANNUAL CAMP CHANKA PIE CONTEST WINNER,’ to a perfect apple pie, if I remember correctly,” the groom says. Once all trophies were given out, they headed to the dance floor with the 10-piece band Kinky Spigot and The Welders.
Sometime after the Horah, Anna’s bustle broke, so she changed into a silk slip dress from Mara Hoffman. “I’m obsessed with that dress and can’t wait to wear it again!” she says. For the remainder of the night, Anna and Charlie danced and merrily drank, as there were whispers of a late night swim to cap off the best summer camp night.
