1. Real Weddings

A Formal, Glam Wedding at the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point, California

Sean Dowling, 27, a web news host and editor for Zazoom Media Group and Darren Davis, 42, President of iHeartMedia met through Facebook when Sean sent

Sean Dowling, 27, a web news host and editor for Zazoom Media Group and Darren Davis, 42, President of iHeartMedia met through Facebook when Sean sent a random friend request to Darren after seeing they had a mutual friend -- "and after seeing his handsome profile picture!" says Sean. Since Facebook was an integral part of the start of their relationship, Darren knew he had to include it in his proposal, so one night when Sean walked in the door, he was greeted with a room full of flowers, a hug and a directive to check the social media site. "I refreshed my feed and the first thing I saw was a collage of the two of us from various trips, and a big, bold caption that read, 'Sean, Will you marry me? Love, Darren.' It was truly special," says Sean. "And since all of our friends know the story of how we met, it was special to them too, being able to instantly see the moment it happened -- in real time!" They planned their wedding with the help of A Good Affair Weddings & Events at the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point. A romantic scene of cherry blossom trees, hydrangea clusters, white wooden folding chairs and a diaphanous wedding arbor greeted guests on the botanic lawn for the ceremony, while the reception was held in indoor-outdoor space, Club 19. Throughout the day, the couple's favorite color, purple, was added subtly to the white, silver and black color palette in the couple's attire, the unity ceremony and the reception's uplighting.

Each centerpiece at the reception was different -- a mix of high and low floral arrangements in combinations of hydrangeas, roses, ranunculus and cherry blossoms. Dark silver tablecloths created a base for deep purple napkin linens and silver place settings at each guest's seat.rn
"We chose the rings because they make a statement and the design is too beautiful for words," says Sean. "Every time we look down at our rings we both smile from ear to ear."
Darren and Sean decided to wear matching Hugo Boss tuxedos on their wedding day, adding a bit of personality with different tones of purple in their ties, pocket squares and vests. "We purposefully went with a classic black suit, a sophisticated Rolex on each hand, Hugo Boss shoes and -- you guessed it! -- purple socks," says Sean.
Grand Staircase Couple Photo Session
The ceremony took place on the Botanical Lawn at the St. Regis Monarch Beach. The entrance to the aisle was marked with six large cherry blossom trees anchored by clusters of white hydrangeas, while the aisle itself was decorated in a blanket of white rose petals.
"Our wedding planner, A Good Affair Weddings & Events suggested adding the fresh cherry blossom trees to the ceremony and in our reception centerpieces," says Sean. "They provided the extra element we needed to accomplish our vision."
Outdoor Bar and Lounge Cocktail Hour
Circular White, Silver and Black Lounge Decor
The cocktail hour took place on the Botanical Lawn immediately after the ceremony as the sun set. "Our signature drink was the cosmopolitan. Since we both live in New York, we figured selecting this specific drink would be a hat tip to where we’re from," says Sean.
Modern Mirrored Outdoor Cocktail Bar
Ivory Rose and Hydrangea Low Centerpieces
On top of each guest's silver place setting, a circular menu card was printed with their personalized meal in silver and black font.
Dual Toned Sand Unity Ceremony
All-White Escort Card Display
Cherry Blossom and Hydrangea Tall Centerpieces
Hydrangea, Rose and Ranunculus Centerpieces
Sean and Darren knew they wanted a crisp four-tier circular wedding cake and the cascading arrangement of purple flowers was also a no-brainer. "Our cake designer, Sweet Art, made our cake come to life and even added pearl beading on each layer to make the cake look rich and elegant," says Sean.
The reception's draped ceilings and crystal chandeliers were accented with the cozy lighting of Club 19's fireplace and the added lavender accent lighting around the room.
Personalized Guest Welcome Boxes