1. Real Weddings

An Art Deco Formal Wedding at Cicada Restaurant in Los Angeles, California

Gabriela Um (24) and David Um (24) started dating their junior year of high school and went to college together at University of California, Los Angel

Gabriela Um (24) and David Um (24) started dating their junior year of high school and went to college together at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). For their seven-year anniversary, David surprised Gabriela with a trip to Ojai, California. To make the trip even more special, David proposed during their trip while watching the sunset. The couple had their wedding at Cicada restaurant located in Downtown Los Angeles, where they both went to school and made many everlasting memories. Aiming for a classic and elegant look, Gabriela and David stuck with a black, gold, silver and white palette that created the formal celebration they had envisioned. The restaurant was known for it’s spectacular cuisine and was proved true with a dinner menu complete with a ravioli dish, a beet and goat cheese salad and a choice of filet mignon, wild mushrooms wrapped in filo or stuffed chicken for the main course. Aside from the excellent food, Gabriela and Um incorporated their Korean and El Salvadoran cultural backgrounds into the wedding day to reflect them perfectly as a couple on their wedding day.

Elegant Engagement and Wedding Rings
Tawny Tsang Calligraphy designed the elegant white wedding invitations with classic black script letterpress.
“My shoes were probably my favorite accessory (and my something blue), besides the gorgeous jewelry David gave me that day,” says Gabriela. rn
Back of Laced Wedding Dress
“My wedding dress was a beautiful Pronovias dress,” says Gabriela. “I wanted lace and a dramatic glamorous bottom, and this dress was the perfect combination of both.”
Bride Wearing Ivory Pronovias Wedding Dress
The bride stood with her bridesmaids, who were wearing long floor-length black strapless dresses with sweetheart cuts, purchased from The Dessy Group. The bridal party all held their ivory rose and hydrangea bouquets made by Lavenders Flowers.
David and his groomsmen all wore fitted black tuxedos by Vera Wang with black bow ties, creating a classic look for the wedding day.
Elegant Ceremony Space at Cicada Restaurant
Bride and Groom at Wedding Ceremony
Couple Holding Hands at Ceremonial Altar
Huddled Bride and Groom With Wedding Party
Married Couple Kissing in Downtown Los Angeles
Bride and Groom Wedding Outfits
“It was really important to us to keep things classic and elegant,” says Gabriela. “We both saw it as the one time in our life truly deserving of a formal, black tie celebration. Sticking to that overall style, we went with black, gold, silver and white details.” rn
Married Couple Entering the Reception
Reception dining tables were set with black linens and gold dinnerware, surrounding the tall centerpieces filled with ivory roses and hydrangeas created by Lavenders Flowers.
“For our guests, we had bottles of wine as thank you gifts,” says Gabriela. “Joseph Filippi Winery, a local winery from our hometown of Rancho Cucamonga, made us some awesome custom labels.”
Elegant Head Table at Cicada Restaurant
Wedding Party Toasting to Married Couple
The four-tiered ivory wedding cake was designed by Joanie & Leigh's Cakes, accented with ivory roses and daisies.
“From start to finish the day was absolutely perfect,” says Gabriela. “We took traditions from both his Korean side and my El Salvadoran side, and I think that was most reflective of us as a couple. Our traditions blended together into what we felt to be the most perfect day.”