1. Real Weddings

An Elegant Ballroom Wedding at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California

The outdoor ceremony site with surrounding ocean views, combined with the indoor ballroom embodying elegance and charm, provided

The outdoor ceremony site with surrounding ocean views, combined with the indoor ballroom embodying elegance and charm, provided the best of both worlds for this romantic wedding at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The venue was the perfect location for Jill Clouse (31 and an administrative assistant/travel coordinator) and Peter Henderson (31 and a pastor) to get married at, since they were looking for a private waterfront spot for a spiritual ceremony and a gorgeous reception space to comfortably seat their 200 guests. Melissa Yocum Photography captured their outdoor ceremony with breathtaking views of the water. The serene backdrop at the stone and iron archway was accented with flower arrangements by Village Florist. Jill wore an off-the-shoulder dress with the bodice accented in lace that matched the skirt's lace overlay, embodying a romantic look for the wedding day. Lush arrangements of pink and white roses accented with bells of Ireland, leaves and branches decorated many corners of the ballroom reception space—from the white fireplace mantels to the dining table centerpieces—including the four-tier wedding cake. Right outside the ballroom, a replica Eiffel Tower was set up for guests to pose with and take pictures in front of, but we loved the deeper meaning of the photo prop shared between Jill and Peter. "On our way home from Ethiopia, we had a six-hour layover in Paris," the couple says. "We had just enough time to rush to the Eiffel Tower and capture some engagement pictures."

Jill wore an elegant off-the-shoulder, A-line wedding dress, which had a bodice and skirt overlay accented in lace. The dress's long train trailed behind Jill throughout the day.
"Jill wanted her best friends to feel beautiful and romantic," the couple says. "With sparkly shoes and crystal earrings, they each looked like a vision of Cinderella. Jill’s matrons of honor, her sister-in-law and best friend, wore sparkly belts to set them apart."
Lush arrangements of greens and blooms decorated the indoor-outdoor spaces at the venue throughout the day. Pink and white roses were arranged with bells of Ireland, stock, branches and leafy greens.
"Our three flower girls and nieces were decked out in dresses and accessories with tulle, lace, feathers and pearls," the couple says. "All three flower girls were under age 5, and they did so well walking down the aisle."
Jill and Peter shared their first kiss as a married couple during the outdoor ceremony at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. They kissed in front of the stone pillars with an iron arch that was accented in flower arrangements on top.
Jill held a bouquet filled with yellow and white roses accented with hypericum berries, Queen Anne's lace and other greens.
"Peter chose a modern-style tuxedo with a slim fit that he knew would look sharp on his groomsmen," the couple says. "Peter wore a classic black bow tie—while the groomsmen wore neckties—and his grandfather's Navy pin."
A model Eiffel Tower was available for guests to take pictures in front of. This piece was important to the couple because during one of their vacation trips, they stopped quickly at the Eiffel Tower and took engagement photos (with one displayed in the back).
The four-tier white wedding cake was wrapped with silver at the bottom of each tier. The cake was accented with fresh flowers on top and on the sides, and was positioned on a silver cake stand.
Peter had a single ivory rose boutonniere pinned to the lapel of his classic black tuxedo, which he wore throughout the day. Peter paired his formal look with a black bow tie on top of his white collared dress shirt.