On the day Lauren Vanlandingham moved to Los Angeles from her home state of Kansas, she was introduced to Jacob Greenberg by mutual friends while at Manhattan Beach. Afterward, Lauren admits she slid into his DMs and asked to hang out again. A few weeks later, they had their first date at Moonshadows in Malibu.
After four years together and a move to New York City, Jacob proposed in their first apartment together. The engaged pair celebrated in a classic Manhattan way, with JG Melon burgers and champagne. “It was perfect!” Lauren exclaims. “I loved being caught completely off guard and it being such an intimate moment for both of us.”
Jacob’s family built a home in Big Sky, Montana, more than 20 years ago, and over time, it became a special place for the couple. After feeling somewhat defeated by not finding the perfect venue, however, the pair returned to the Greenberg residence and collectively asked each other, “Why don’t we have it here?” It was settled.
The wedding’s aesthetic was romantic and elegant, and planners Darci and Arden Greenwood of Greenwood Events recommended building a deck off the side of their tent as a “viewing area” with couches, cocktail tables, and amazing views of Lone Peak and the Spanish Peaks mountain range. Studio Luzance set the tone for the weekend with a beautiful mountain-inspired invitation suite.
The rehearsal dinner was hosted at The Yellowstone Club Golf Clubhouse with Lady Lou and The Bird Dogs provided the most delightful music. The bride wore a chic Oscar de la Renta dress and earrings and Manolo Blahniks for the occasion, while the groom looked handsome in a custom Thomas Mason shirt, custom Loro Piana pants, a blazer by Knot Standard, and Gucci shoes.
Lauren tried on more than 100 wedding dress. “God bless my friends and family that sat through all my bridal appointments,” she states. Finally, at Bergdorf Goodman, she fell in love with a Sareh Nouri’s Olga dress and asked the shop to hold it, so her mother could accompany her for a true “say yes to the dress” moment. However, the next week, it had been sent out for a trunk show.
The bride emailed the designer, who got her a spot in a trunk show at Kleinfeld’s a few weeks later. “It was a very special moment, as I not only officially decided on the dress, but was also able to meet Sareh in person!” Lauren exclaims.
On the wedding day, the bride got ready with the beauty team from Christian Zomora Studio and styled her gown with Sophie Bille Brahe earrings, an Adina Reyter necklace, and Manolo Blahniks.
Because her ceremony gown was more classic, the bride wanted to spice things up with her outfit change for the reception. She chose Naeem Khan’s Gatsby-inspired dress and paired the look with white cowboy boots. “I grew up in small town Kansas on a cattle ranch, and this was an ode to my upbringing and my inner cowgirl!” the bride exclaims.
Bridesmaids complemented Lauren well in pink gowns, and the maid of honor (Lauren’s sister) wore Needle & Thread’s Genevieve Rose gown. And all the groomsmen donned matching custom Loro Piana pants and blazers by Knot Standard to match the groom’s custom suit.
On August 28, 2021, the couple’s interfaith ceremony began in the Greenbergs’ backyard. “I am Catholic and Jacob is Jewish, and we were able to have a joint wedding with a rabbi and deacon,” Lauren explains. “It was really special for both of us to have both religions represented and equal parts within the ceremony.”
The bride was excited and emotional throughout the service, as they had postponed their wedding date by a year due to the pandemic. “Being able to exchange vows and saying ‘I do’ surrounded by our closest friends and family—along with a beautiful backdrop—was a moment we’d been waiting for for a long time!” she exclaims.
After finally being announced as a married couple, cocktail hour began. Then guests made their way under the Sperry tent for a dinner of locally farmed mixed greens, grilled beef tenderloin, wild Alaskan salmon, and vegan polenta with summer vegetables, plated by Bravo Catering. The pair romantically cut into their wedding cake by Buttercream Design Co.
The newlyweds took to the dance floor for their first dance to “It Just Comes Natural” by George Strait. “Jacob and I were in Big Sky at The Riverhouse—a local bar—and it came on the sound system,” Lauren remembers. “We both looked at each other and were like, ‘This is the song!’”
The party continued with Rhythm Collective of Élan Artists and their extensive roster of country songs. After the reception, individual beer, taco, and mac and cheese trucks parked to supply late-night energy. Then the Mike Murray Tunes duo kicked off the after-party with their guitars—proving to be a highlight for a lot of the guests.
After the wedding day commenced, the new mister and missus headed to Italy. “Lauren helped with wedding planning, and my job was [coordinating] the honeymoon,” Jacob chimes in. They spent three nights in Capri, three nights at Caruso on the Amalfi Coast, and ended their journey with five nights at Castiglion del Bosco in Tuscany. Their favorite part of the honeymoon was their eight-hour boat trip from Capri to Amalfi. They periodically anchored to jump in the ocean, sunbathe, and view the coastline—la dolce vita!
