1. Real Weddings

An Eclectic Chic Wedding at Big Daddy's Antiques in Los Angeles, California

Danielle Tenner (30 and an attorney) and David Foley (30 and a financial professional) planned a fun, rustic chic affair for their wedding at Big Dadd

Danielle Tenner (30 and an attorney) and David Foley (30 and a financial professional) planned a fun, rustic chic affair for their wedding at Big Daddy’s Antiques in Los Angeles, Calif. with a color palette of gray, yellow and white hues, clean lines and plenty of quirky details. The unique warehouse venue in Culver City instantly won the couple over with its one-of-a-kind antique furnishings and non-traditional feel. “We wanted our wedding to combine our modern aesthetic with the antique mood of our venue,” says Danielle. From Danielle’s a capella performance of Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” during the ceremony to the wooden laser cut place cards and unconventional menu, every detail felt distinctly Danielle and David.

Before kicking off the evening’s lively festivities, the pair gathered their families and friends outdoors for a short, sweet and lighthearted ceremony. David’s sister shared an excerpt from the children’s book, “Days with Frog and Toad” and David and Danielle exchanged heartfelt vows they’d written themselves. “We wrote the final sentence together and surprised each other with the rest,” says Danielle, “which turned out to be mirror image promises to each other, each with a good dose of humor.”

Big Daddy’s eclectic indoor event space played host to the reception. Wooden laser cut place mats and place cards injected the table tops with a decidedly modern feel, while simple white table runners and bud vases filled with playful yellow craspedia spoke to the venue’s rustic, old world vibe. “Each centerpiece had a number and a framed picture of each of us at that age,” says Danielle. “I feel terrible for everyone who had to sit at table 15-17 — our collectively awkward years.” Ensuring their wedding felt truly reflective of who they are, Danielle and David decided to ditch tradition when it came to things like the menu. Instead of the standard chicken and steak, they served fancy burgers and churros and cookies took the place of traditional wedding cake. A fun dance party was high on the couple’s must-have list and Dart DJs made sure they got it, spinning plenty of 90s hip hop that kept the dance floor packed all night long. “By the end of the evening several gentlemen were down to undershirts because they danced too hard, which was exactly what we wanted.” A tip for the taking from Danielle: “We tried to make our wedding a party that we would want to attend, even at the risk of not pleasing all of our guests in every way. If you didn't like burgers and you really wanted cake, you might not have been excited. But this was our day, and we wanted it to be authentically us — quirks and all. Afterwards, everyone commented how ‘us’ the day had been, from the quirky vows to the whiskey lineup and the song selections. Because our friends and family tend to like us, everyone also had a great time.”

The chevron heart motif adorning the front of Danielle and David’s ceremony programs had a fingerprint-inspired look, a fitting choice for the couple’s ultra-personalized celebration.
Before kicking off the evening’s festivities, Danielle and David exchanged vows in a touching outdoor ceremony. The pair personalized the event to truly reflect their personalities and relationship, from the inclusion of readings from the children’s book “Days with Frog and Toad” to Danielle serenading David with Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” and heartfelt, humor-laced vows they wrote themselves.
Like Danielle, David took his wedding day look in a more modern direction, selecting a sleek gray suit by Topman and black tie for his walk down the aisle. His two groomsmen donned similar styles, which they accessorized with white pocket squares and striped ties.
Danielle’s wedding dress was the perfect complement to the wedding’s modern-meets-rustic-chic aesthetic. The gown featured a classic A-line silhouette, a strapless sweetheart neckline and decorative scalloped seams along the bodice that added depth and dimension to the design. “I fell in love with the lines and the structure of the dress,” says Danielle. “I bought it as a sample, so I did some major tailoring and editing to make it fit my body just perfectly.”
Standard chicken and beef entrees just weren’t going to cut it for Danielle and David. The pair ditched the idea of traditional offerings and instead served up a selection of gourmet burgers and sides, followed by fresh churros and a variety of cookies. “We tried to make our wedding a party that we would want to attend, even at the risk of not pleasing all of our guests in every way,” says Danielle. “If you didn't like burgers and you really wanted cake, you might not have been excited. But this was our day and we wanted it to be authentically us — quirks and all.”
David added a pop of bright color to his cool gray suit with a boutonniere comprised of cheerful yellow craspedias, white veronica and dusty miller.
A killer dance party was a must for both Danielle and David and Dart DJs didn’t disappoint. “We started off with our first dance to ‘You Gotta Be’ by Desiree, making utter fools of ourselves, and continue the evening with all sorts of 90s hip hop,” says Danielle. “By the end of the evening, several gentlemen were down to undershirts because danced to hard, which was exactly what we wanted.”
The fun-loving couple put their personal stamp on the table numbers, filling frames with pictures of themselves at the age corresponding to the table’s number. “I felt terrible for everyone who had to sit at table 15 – 17 during our collectively awkward years,” says Danielle.
Playing up the venue’s palette of gray, yellow and white hues, the couple wove bright blooms, like playful craspedias displayed in vintage bottles, throughout the room.
With its eclectic decor and subtle industrial feel, Big Daddy’s Antiques in Los Angeles offered the ultimate backdrop for Danielle and David’s ultra-personalized affair. Details like wooden farm tables, simple white linens and bud vases filled with sunny yellow crapedias played into the venue’s rustic vibe, while peonies displayed atop black pedestals and laser cut accents brought a note of modernity to the decor.
Instead of classic charger plates and place cards, Danielle and David decked out their tables with webbed wooden placemats and laser cut wooden name tags to mark each guest’s seat, striking the ultimate balance of rustic and modern aesthetics. “Everyone loved feeling like they were an important part of our special day, which, of course, they were, and folks tell us that they still have their names prominently displayed at home or work,” says Danielle.
In lieu of a classic guest book, the newlyweds had their guests write their well wishes and advice (or playful illustrations) on painted wooden tiles.
Playing off the venue’s quirky, eclectic vibe, the couple used vintage gift tags and numbered yellow and gray button pins to help guests find their way to their seats.