1. Real Weddings

An Intimate, Rustic-Chic Wedding at Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu, California

Sarah Orzechowski (26 and an aesthetician) and Brendon Urie (26 and a musician) planned an intimate affair in Malibu, California, with a palette of cl

Sarah Orzechowski (26 and an aesthetician) and Brendon Urie (26 and a musician) planned an intimate affair in Malibu, California, with a palette of classic cream and playful pink, warm metallics and plenty of rustic touches. “I wanted it to feel very intimate, romantic, whimsical,” Sarah says. 

While searching for a venue to say their I-dos, they were awed by the natural beauty of Saddlerock Ranch, with its views of the Santa Monica Mountains, acres of rolling hills lined with vineyards, ancient oaks, rose gardens and ribbons of white fences. 
The day started with a ceremony at Saddlerock’s Chateau Le Dome, where the couple exchanged vows under a lush floral wedding arch overlooking the expansive property. For the reception, the pair—along with the help of the planners at Bash Please and the florists at Honey & Poppies—infused the outdoor space at Saddlerock Ranch with romance and ambiance using strings of bistro lights, textured, cream-colored linens and warm candlelight. “Working with Megan from Honey & Poppies was a dream. She is and forever will be my favorite florist out there. She's a genius,” Sarah says. “She really helped me narrow down my ideas, since I loved pretty much everything she'd ever done.”

The couple curated a selection of vintage furnishings from Found Vintage Rentals to incorporate throughout the day, while gilded accents made the tabletops regal. An old-school photo booth provided a few playful way for the couple and their guests to show off their personalities. 

A tip from Sarah: “Take a moment during the planning process to breathe, and remember that it's your day and no one can take that away from you two. Being the overthinker that I am, I had a couple of stressed-out moments where B reminded me of what the day was truly about—simply our love—and that the rest would all fall into place. It totally did. When I saw everything the day of, I took a giant sigh of relief and was blown away by how gorgeous it turned out. Trust your gut. Have courage behind your convictions.” —Libby MacCarthy

Honey & Poppies created simple, modern boutonnieres with white anemones and olive leaves for Brendon and his groomsmen to wear with their classic black suits. For a subtle hit of color and to tie in with the wedding’s palette, the boutonnieres were accented with short lengths of navy ribbon.
The ceremony was held at Saddlerock Ranch’s Chateau Le Dome site, overlooking the rolling hills of Malibu, California, and the Santa Monica Mountains in the distance. To match the Tuscan-like setting, the couple lined the aisles with rustic country chairs, hurricane vases filled with white pillar candles and arrangements of eucalyptus and white peonies.
Saddlerock Ranch’s Chateau Le Dome offered the ideal backdrop for Sarah and Brendon’s wedding with its beautiful scenery and breathtaking views. The couple exchanged vows under a garland of vines, greenery and bright pink peonies. White pillar candles lined the aisles, adding warmth and ambiance to the hilltop setting.
“I had to make the bar area a special highlight because Brendon loves and appreciates beer and whiskey a great deal,” Sarah says. The pair found a dresser at Found Vintage Rentals and knew they had to incorporate it into their bar. The pair served a selection of their favorite beers, including Samuel Smith's Pale Ale and Bass, as well as several varieties of Saddlerock’s own wines. Honey & Poppies filled the drawers with eucalyptus and white wildflowers.
For the reception decor, Sarah and Brendon channeled Parisian elegance via French dining chairs, textured linens and “perfectly imperfect” arrangements of cream and pink seasonal blooms. On the tabletops, gilded cutlery and white china provided understated glamour.
Megan from Honey & Poppies created a series of textured, full arrangements of dahlias, peonies, garden roses, ferns, lilacs and hydrangeas in shades of pink, ivory and peach that brought the reception tables to life. “Flowers really add a big romance factor to a wedding’s atmosphere,” Sarah says.
Table linens from La Tavola tied the elements of the tablescapes together, and textured, lace-inspired linens played up the English-garden feel of the florals and the glamorous cutlery and dinnerware.
Since Sarah is a lover of sweets, a standout dessert menu was an absolute must. Sweet and Saucy Shop whipped up a two-tier cake for the event with ivory fondant dusted in glittery gold sanding sugar and disco dust. The bottom layer was filled with chocolate, ganache, cream and strawberries, while the upper layer was a mix of vanilla, lemon and raspberry.
“I love desserts an insane amount, so we went pretty hard in that area,” Sarah says. In addition to a delicious two-tier cake by Sweet and Saucy Shop, Sarah and Brendon offered a dessert bar packed with cake pops, cupcakes, mini tarts, mini pies, cookies and mousse shooters.
To ensure a few private moments together throughout the evening, Sarah and Brendon opted for a sweetheart table at the reception. It featured the same textured, lacy table linens as the reception’s main tables and was decorated with romantic blooms displayed in a gold-footed vase and a garland of silvery eucalyptus dotted with pink garden roses.
During cocktail hour and the reception, guests struck a pose at Sarah and Brendan’s vintage-inspired photo booth. The setup offered a fun way to remember the evening and was the perfect distraction when they needed to rest their dancing feet.
After dinner and a few sweet treats, Sarah and Brendan took to the dance floor for the traditional first dance. “One of my favorite memories from the party was Brendon serenading me with our song, ‘Faithfully’ by Journey, as we danced our first dance together as husband and wife,” Sarah says.