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What Was Served for Dinner at This California Wedding? Pizza!

By Alexandra Macon

Alex Yeske, an art director for fashion brand Lou & Grey, started dating Grant Lipschultz, a branded content producer, during their very first month of college at Syracuse University. “We lived on the same floor of our freshman year dorm,” she says. “We’ve been together ever since!”

Fast forward nine years later, when they took a trip out to the North Fork of Long Island for what Alex believed was going to be a relaxing weekend at a friend’s house. The first day, Alex and Grant arrived at the Wölffer Estate, when their friends called to say they were having car trouble and would be running a little late. While they waited, the couple wandered out to the vineyard and when they were alone, Grant proposed and caught Alex completely by surprise.

“When we pictured our wedding, we wanted it to feel like a dinner party outside an amazing home,” says Alex. The couple eventually chose to tie the knot at Hummingbird Nest Ranch, located just outside of Los Angeles, where one of Alex’s bridesmaids had gotten married a few years earlier. The bride took wedding planning duties on her own (although they hired Leslie Kaplan from Encore Events as a day-of coordinator) and chose an aesthetic grounded in neutrals to highlight the venue’s natural rustic Italian feel. Alex designed all of the couple’s stationery, too, and used Presshaus LA to help make her paper vision come to life.

While she knew she wanted something elegant and timeless, Alex was drawn to textural dresses than traditional lace ones. She first spotted her Elizabeth Fillmore dress on Moda Operandi, but she wasn’t particularly into its long sleeves. Months later, she attended the designer’s trunk show at Saks and tried it on, but before she came out to show her friends and family, she tucked up the sleeves. “Everyone cried and knew it was the one,” she says. “I was so fortunate to meet Elizabeth herself and finish my dress process at her studio, customizing every part of the gown. It was a dream!” Alex accessorized her dress with her black scallop block heels from Loeffler Randall, maternal grandmother’s veil, and an opal bracelet her father gave her that once belonged to her paternal grandmother. “I loved getting to have a piece from both of my grandmothers with me on such a special day,” she says.

Grant, meanwhile, wore a tailored tux from J.Crew. Bridesmaids were in simple silk gowns from Natalie Deayala and groomsmen wore peak lapel tuxedos from The Black Tux.

The day of the ceremony, the couple was married by Alex’s brother, Ric, who delivered a non-religious ceremony. “He did an incredible job,” says Alex. “People were asking him afterward if he did it for a living!” Afterwards, a reception in a cobblestone courtyard under the stars was held, where old trees with strung twinkle lights added to the romantic vibe of the evening. All four of the newlyweds’s parents gave toasts during dinner, as did the best man and maid of honor, and even the groom managed to squeeze in a few words. “My favorite moment was a little toast that I made to kick off the reception,” says Grant. “Alex knew that I wanted to say a few words and thank everyone for coming, but then I took a moment to toast her. I practiced that toast more than my vows!”

For dinner, the newlyweds chose to serve a crowd favorite but rarely a wedding dinner staple: pizza. “Guests were able to choose from four different gourmet pizzas along with pastas and salads,” explains Alex. “We had been to so many weddings with your traditional wedding food, we wanted to do something different that incorporated more personality into the evening. Everyone loved it.”

When it came time to hit the dance floor, the couple chose The Head & The Heart’s song, “Let’s Be Still,” which the couple found very appropriate for the evening. “We loved the sentiment of this song for the first dance,” she says. “Stopping for a moment to take everything in.”