Minimal Décor Ensured The Houdini Estate Dazzled at This Los Angeles, California, Wedding

Dre Smith and Dan Jones believe in magic. Not only did they meet by the magic of “booze and serendipity,” as Dre calls it, but five years later, they planned a magical wedding—in the most literal sense of the word—at The Houdini Estate, picked for its “quirkiness and history,” Dre says. The pair let the century-old venue call the shots, choosing minimal décor. “We’re not matchy-matchy,” Dre says. “We just wanted everything to look polished and gorgeous.” After the ceremony at the wishing well, guests from California, Dre’s home state, and the United Kingdom, Dan’s home country, snacked on barbecue and tacos, sipped cocktails as they listened to a live band and, in the spirit of Houdini, enjoyed magic tricks courtesy of California-based magician Jax Ridd.
For the ceremony, Dre wore a custom lace gown and veil, plus a vintage Cartier brooch. After Dre struggled not to trip over her shoe and bustle, she got help from Dan for the recessional, when he threw her over his shoulder as guests cheered.
As a fun detail, Dan stitched the neck of his suit with a joke: “If you are reading this on September 15, then I guess the visa was approved.”
As a surprise for guests, Dre and Dan express-printed a photo of their first look onto copies of The Sun, the British newspaper where Dan works. 
Dre carried white lisianthus, garden roses and delphiniums down the aisle, but she calls the “main star” of the bouquet the king protea. 
Instead of a traditional first dance, Dre and Dan surprised Dre’s parents, who eloped due to racial tensions, by serenading them with Al Green’s classic “Let’s Stay Together.”