Jared “J.T.” Swierczek and Justin Fix, business partners for their live events and production company called Just Fix It Productions, connected over tater-tots at a Friendsgiving in 2006 at Lance Bass’s house. “Where all gay love stories begin,” they both joke. The two were together for roughly 10 years before they surprised each other at the same time with rings on the Amalfi Coast. “Little did we know, we both got each other the same ring too.”
Since the engaged couple had been producing shows at ROW DTLA for two years, they already knew that they loved the cityscape it showcased outdoors for their wedding. “It was sentimental as we built a business here but also felt it best represented the dreams of this town,” Justin says. To help plan everything, they hired Michelle Selko of Creative Light.
Friends and family arrived an hour before the ceremony to transition the evening from a rooftop day party to an evening under the stars. To walk through their crowd of guests—as an alternative to an aisle— JT wore a tailored tuxedo jacket and pants from The Black Tux, while Justin chose a Bonobos jacket in a complementary side of blue. The sunset ceremony lasted around 45-minutes, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Once declared as a married couple, everyone moved into the party portion of the night with cocktails from Sweet & Chilli and music from No Chaperone. “The overall [reception] vibe felt like SoHo House meets Restoration Hardware—masculine BUT welcoming,” Justin says. “Two political parties, 16 states, five countries, and six religions were represented, and yet that night, all you felt was love. While there were 350 people there, never did it feel large; it felt connected.”
A charcuterie feast of jams, dips, fruits, and various Italian cheeses by Haute Chefs L.A. was served throughout the night, and as it got darker, fried chicken sandwiches, burgers, and tater-tots from The Fix on Wheels helped keep everyone well fed.
J.T.’s favorite moment of the night was when sparkler-wielding guests surrounded the newlyweds with a perfect DTLA backdrop while the Gavin James version of “City of Stars” played. “It was perfection and a sight and feeling I will never forget,” J.T. says.
The after-party was hosted at The Queensbury—a speakeasy with a dance floor “straight out of Saturday Night Fever,” Justin says. “This underground disco club we thought may have five or six stragglers attend, but as we entered, the security guard whisked us into the room where 170 people from our wedding had already checked in and welcomed us with cheers and a dance party on a disco dance floor. It was magical.”
JT & Justin // Wedding 06.15.19 from Just Fix It Productions.
