Ilger Backyard

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Ilger Family Backyard

Reception

Our Wedding

<p style="text-align: left;">Dylan and Laura grew up together. Both introduced to church at young ages, they were raised and poured into by their church family at Hope Chapel of the Valley. As teenagers, they both in their own ways had profoundly life altering encounters with God that would shape their future pursuits and then as young adults, they were called in different directions; Dylan to study at Bethel School in Redding, California, pursuing a life in ministry and Laura to missions, teaching children in India. However in 2012, God led them both back to Hope to minister to youth. Spending much of their time with teenagers was at once a challenging, exciting, and fulfilling experience. Dylan preached, taught and encouraged, Laura sang, discipled girls over coffee or frozen yogurt and drove everyone home and they bonded over a deep love of adventure, literature, history, folk music, good movies, good food and seeing God transform young lives in their city. The friendship was immediately strong, but just a friendship. Dylan supported Laura as she soon after got married and struggled to find a career and Laura supported Dylan as he grew in leadership and pursued his dream of becoming a Pastor. And as they grew older, life was both fruitful and challenging.  Young people grew up and new ones came in and they saw God move. And seasons got more difficult as Laura’s marriage struggled and they moved to serve at other churches. All the while Dylan and Laura treasured their friendship. In the pandemic, Laura cared for her father until his death in 2021 and lost her marriage. After a season of loss and pain, there was so much more for these two. God began a beautiful healing work in them that ultimately brought them back to the same place, to serve together again, to deepen their friendship and to blossom that friendship into love. Dylan helped Laura believe there was such a bigger story for their lives, a new adventure where they could love others and their city together and build a family. Today they are celebrating all of the hope and redemption that comes when you trust God through a dark season and they are looking forward to being a family known for serving their community with love, faithfulness and creativity. They are both so excited for you to join them in celebrating this remarkably happy plot twist and sharing in their joy as they start their life together.</p>

Our Story

Photos

Jansen Lefever

Sarah Davis

Josh Bailey

Michelle Solares

Sebron Tucker

Jordan Franco

Hannah Franco

Chase Franco

Wedding Party

Q + A

DoubleTree by Hilton

Holiday Inn Express

Hilton Woodland Hills

<p style="text-align: left;">Some of our closest family and friends live so far away and are so graciously taking the time and effort to travel here to us! If you’re not staying with family and traveling into town for a few days, these are a few nearby hotels. We are also big fans of AirBNB and would encourage you to check that out for the west hills/west San Fernando Valley area in general- you may find a really cool spot!</p>

Travel

There are SO MANY good hikes in the area! Also check out: Santa Susanna Pass near Rocky Peak, the Mockingbird Loop in Simi Valley and the Tuna Canyon trailhead in Topanga Canyon (where you can see the Valley and the Ocean from the same overlook!)

Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Overlook Trail

The Malibu area is filled with strange little shops and gorgeous coastline. We especially like some of the seafood spots and enjoy just parking the car on PCH and wandering around down by the water. Zuma is definitely the best swimming/surfing beach close by with good parking, bathrooms and lots of space to hang out, but driving through this area is also just so lovely.

Zuma Beach And Malibu

It’s in Sherman Oaks (about 30 mins from the where we’re at) and it’s just as it sounds— a good time. We’re in our 30’s and still love it. Cheap, big, lots to do. Bonus? It’s where my sister and her husband had their first date so obviously it’s magical

Castle Park Minigolf, Arcade, Batting Cages

Many great museums in LA (including the Getty, which is closer and has great art and views!) but this one is our favorite— don’t miss the contemporary art exhibits which is our personal favorite- the Picasso’s and Andy Warhols- and get a good cup of coffee or bite on the premises or at LA Farmer’s Market down the street and wander around Fairfax, one of our favorite old Jewish neighborhoods!

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

While driving on the Arroyo Seco Pass of the 110 (one of the oldest roads in Los Angeles) headed toward Highland Park, you’ll spot this gorgeous collection of 100-150 year old homes and structures and they are actually a museum. As neighborhoods like Bunker Hill in downtown or south Pasadena evolved into more modern financial and business districts, the glorious (yet mostly rundown) homes of the past were all scheduled to be torn down by the late 1960’s if it weren’t for the efforts of the Los Angeles Historical Society who raised money to have the homes carefully removed from their original locations and transported to this tiny old LA neighborhood where they spent decades restoring them to their former glory with period appropriate wall paper, furnishings and finishes. Now you can explore the handful of saved structures on the weekends in a $7 docent (dressed in period attire, of course)-led tour. We are nerds about our city so of course this is a favorite of ours, but we think you’d also enjoy these treasures that allow you to go back in time for a little while and be literally immersed in some Los Angeles history!

Heritage Square Museum

Don’t get us started on this New Orleans style fried chicken. From the down to earth, friendly owners (NOT in fact sisters but 3 amazing women from Louisiana who’ve run it for almost 40 years) to the shrimp jambalaya to the house-made beignets (only on Sundays!), we’re obsessed. Go to orders? Smothered fried chicken or their fried chicken Sammie’s (Popeyes could never), cornbread muffins, Mac n cheese.

Laura & Dylan

Laura & Dylan

L&D

Wedding Day

2:30 PM

Ceremony

5:30 PM

Reception