I immediately began to get to work and draw a few concepts for what I wanted the actual wedding ceremony and reception to look like, but in the meanwhile I needed to make immediate changes for Katie and her bridal Party. First on my list of changes was the bridesmaid dresses. I wanted to accent the color red, and keep the dark of night black, so I had the girls try on different variations of the color scheme at Unique Vintage in Burbank, CA. They looked stellar. Some even had lacey gloves that gave an elegant, but risqué feel. Katie seemed to be happy in the direction I was taking the girls, but now it was her turn to truly feel like a Bride. Amongst the theme of death needed to emerge a breath of life, and regardless of what inspires a wedding, all of my brides should be able to look back on their day and feel like royalty. We went over to Pasadena, CA to the Ivory Suite and saw three different and unique dresses that Katie looked amazing in. She really was able to understand what each dress did for her body type and know why which dress accented which attribute, which is very important for brides to know. It can be challenging to be receptive for such a big decision as a dress and how it looks on you, but with my guidance, I will never steer you to the graveyard! I saw everything I needed to, but I wanted to do a few special things for Katie.

She and Josh shared with me about their engagement and due to Josh’s fear, he accidentally gave her the ring in the kitchen of their home. How romantic? Well fortunately she accepted because she loves him regardless, but I wanted to put another memory into their mind, so not only when they look back they will see a remarkable wedding, but also a fantastic engagement. I took Katie to the Roosevelt Hotel in the Marilyn Monroe suite in Hollywood, CA where she had no idea what would be happening. She was greeted by a team of stylists, as well as a new dress and shoes, and was pampered like all my brides should be. Meanwhile, I snuck over to Beverly Hills where I met Josh at Jean Dousette Diamonds where together we picked out a platinum diamond engagement ring for Katie. If that wasn’t enough for my couple, I had a team of people hurriedly preparing a cathedral called Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles, where Katie would be surprised with candles and a done up Josh with ring in hand. I have NEVER done this for one of my brides and I was SO excited. No amount of ghouls or goblins could keep me down, because I was just as excited as Josh. Katie was picked up by a limo and taken to the venue where she immediately in tears walked to Josh and accepted his second proposal. This was a spectacular sight to see. Candelabras, candles, and harpist and violinist playing gorgeous music as the two shared a moment.

Now, it was time for the big day. I had thought long and hard about how to celebrate death in the most positive light. Because I believe that you can find good and beauty in almost everything, no matter what the subject matter may be. With that being said, I had Katie meet me at Union Station in Downtown LA, where she was greeted by her fabulous bridesmaids and a team of more stylists. As she was getting ready, my team was hard at work on the ceremony and reception area. For ceremony I had an outdoor wedding with red roses everywhere in the courtyard of Union Station. There was a square archway at the alter with greenery and more red roses. The reception area was filled with many things going on at once. The tables each had red underlay’s and black lace overlays and for the centerpieces, were giant black trees that had bloomed a few roses, and the branches dripped strings of crystals and candles down. The dance floor was black and white checkers, and at each corner was a magnificently large twisted brown trees. A live band which had it’s own surprises was performing along with interpretive dancers, to give the night a ghastly howl!

The stage was set and Katie and Josh were married. They both looked marvelous and it was exciting to see these wonderful people I have gotten to know in the past three weeks officially come together to say I do. All of the bridesmaids looked flawless in the black dresses with red roses print, and Katie looked stunning in her now accentuating, fitted, and unique dress that exemplified Katie’s personality. Now was time for the reception and the skeleton band troupe began to play. They were beyond overjoyed and tears came to theirs and my eyes. Even the middle of the cake was shaped like a skull and the dancers on stilts had painted their faces in deadly designs. It was so over the top and romantic, and fit perfectly for these two. It is important to incorporate the things important to you most and tell a story through your wedding, that best related people to the relationship of the bride and groom. And for this, Day of the Dead, became something full of life. And I know it will be a long and happy life between Katie and Josh and they kicked off the celebration of a lifetime, starting their new life together, and leaving their past of being single behind them.