offbeat wedding

Punk Rock & Baseball Influenced Wedding

Holiday + Ruben’s Punk Rock & Baseball Influenced Spring Wedding in Long Beach at Recreation Park Golf Course 18

March 12, 2016

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Holiday (yes, that really is her name!) and Ruben came to us about six months prior to their wedding with mostly everything planned. They just had their finishing touches left on their to-do list. As we sat down and had our initial consultation with them, we realized they were happy to be almost at the finished line with the planning but we could sense something was missing. You know that spark you are supposed to get in your eyes when you talk about your wedding? Yeah, that was missing!

We asked, well what made you two fall in love? What interests did you both have that led to dating? When the wedding is all done and you go back to normal weekends, what do you plan on doing? And that is when it hit them! They were planning a wedding keeping in mind what they thought their families and friends wanted and not what they wanted.


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Holiday and Ruben thought about it and they mentioned they love going to punk rock shows and baseball games and it was all uphill from there! Our creative juices started flowing and we got to thinking what do we love when we go to punk shows. Handmade made flyers, custom pins, cool artwork. The same thought process went into pulling ideas from baseball games. A fly ball, catchers mitt, jerseys, rally towels.

The couple decided to make flyer type invitations, custom pins as favors, and instead of table numbers they put the names of their favorite albums to show off their punk influences. To highlight the baseball aspect they got an Angels jersey with their last name on the back for guests to sign and Ruben got some really cool cuff links. Now they were all ready to get the show on the road!


Holiday got to get ready in the upstairs bridal suite at Recreation Park Golf Course 18, and let me tell you, it is fit for a queen!

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Ruben didn’t do too bad himself and cleaned up very well. A really touching moment was when Holiday wrote her groom-to-be a heart felt letter and Ruben teared up while reading it! Awww!

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groom getting ready
groom getting ready for wedding
Angels baseball cufflinks

As it became time for the ceremony to begin all the vendors and guests arriving could not help but realize what a beautiful Spring day it was. The colors Holiday and Ruben chose really complimented the season too.

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wedding party
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wedding processional
You can see Silvia and my hand poking out from behind the bush! Silvia is laying out the veil and I am trying to crack a smile out of the Bride.

You can see Silvia and my hand poking out from behind the bush! Silvia is laying out the veil and I am trying to crack a smile out of the Bride.

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It is easy to see why a lot of Angelinos choose Spring as the season for their wedding. The couple had their portrait session done with a gorgeous sunset in the background.

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Their wedding party was pretty hilarious! What started off as a nice posed photo session quickly turned into a high energy, off the ground (literally) experience!

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For Cocktail Hour the couple had simple vases with photos from their childhood and from various moments in their relationship over the years.

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cocktail hour
cocktail hour

Ruben got to take over the seating chart project and executed it beyond belief! He took inspiration from our first conversation when we mentioned to them to find ways to bring out their interests through their wedding. Instead of plain table numbers, he named each table after his favorite rock albums saving his favorite for the Sweetheart Table of course. Paying homage to their hometown of Long Beach, Ruben had the Queen Mary in the back of the chart. He even had a great idea to have the actual table numbers be mini records! How cool!

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table numbers

As the reception was under way Holiday and Ruben started off with their grand entrance and moved into their first dance and a couple of toasts.

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toast

After dinner Holiday participated in the Father-Daughter dance while Ruben had the opportunity to dance with his Mother.

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father daughter dance
father daughter dance
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mother son dance
mother son dance
They paid tribute to a family member who had passed

They paid tribute to a family member who had passed


Holiday’s bouquet toss proved to be super exciting!

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bouquet toss
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bouquet toss fight
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Before heading on the dance floor they cut and served their first slice of cake as a married couple.

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Holiday’s Mother had the extreme honor of putting together the candy table and it was definitely a hit with a the guests!

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candy table
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The couple welcomed guests on to the dance floor with the traditional Money Dance in which some of the guests totally had a blast participating in.

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money dance

happily ever after

Three years later Holiday + Ruben have moved in to their own place, adopted a dog named Otto, and Ruben has started his own brewing company Burning Bridge Brewing! We are always so proud of each and every accomplishment our couples accumulate and we know the future is bright for these two right here! Congrats Mr and Mrs Leon and Happy Anniversary!!


The dream team

Coordinator: Rock n’ Willow Events // Photography: LA Digital Photo // Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18 // DJ: DJ Tempoe // Flowers: Christina’s Flowers // Cake: Rossmoor Bakery


Quirky Shenanigans Wedding - Featured on Offbeat Bride

Anna + Kliment’s Quirky Shenanigans Wedding at Recreation Park Golf Course 18 in Long Beach August 30, 2015

Featured on Offbeat Bride

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Anna was referred to us by Katie Lowder, the former venue director at Recreation Park Golf Course 18 in Long Beach, California. She decided to reach out to us a barely a month prior to her big day!! She had a clear vision for her wedding and had already titled it “quirky shenanigans”. All she needed was for someone to come in and clean up her vision. She wanted to combine all of her childhood interests mixed with her eccentric personality and eye for fashion to pull off one of the most epic weddings we have been a part of to date!

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uniqueweddinginvitation

Anna, a former beauty queen, was set to marry Kliment and wanted to incorporate his Bulgarian traditions on top of all her ideas she already had in place. That is where we stepped in. Balancing all the ideas and executing them seamlessly. We organized her thoughts of a fairytale ceremony, quirky reception and a nod to Bulgaria all around. A prime example of this is when Anna ordered table numbers off Etsy in Bulgarian and “cheers” laser cut signs.

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Anna got ready on the newly remodeled bridal suite at the venue. The lights and mirrors worked wonders and enhanced her natural beauty!

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Downstairs Kliment got ready and relaxed on the patio as we prepared for the start of the wedding.

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Then as an array of Beatles songs started to play, one of the most magical ceremonies was underway. When the words “ Here comes the sun” were sang Kliment looked up and saw Anna walking towards him as if it was an angel .

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Their wedding ceremony was truly magical and the first time I cried during the vows! Anna said something that has stuck with me over the years. She said “You get me. You get all of me.” They are truly soulmates!!

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But first, let me take a selfie!

But first, let me take a selfie!

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Instead of having one item being thrown at the couple as they walked back up the aisle, Anna prepared an assortment of fun things to blow, throw, shake, and wave.

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Anna and Kliment were such a humorous couple that we knew their couples portraits would be hilarious!

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couplesportraits

As you can see, they were a hoot!

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couples portraits
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There was no detail left out, even when it came to the cocktail hour. There was a gold globe for the guests to sign, gumboil machines, a quote from The Princess Bride, and a pinwheel seating chart.

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In keeping with the Bulgarian traditions Kliment’s Mother was a part of the bread ritual. She broke off a piece of bread that has salt on it and gives it to the Bride and Groom to symbolize when life is “salty” and does the same with a piece of bread that has sugar on it symbolize the “sweetness” in life. It is also a metaphor for when there are going to be good and bad times the couple will face in their marriage.

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Then the Bride proceeds in one of the best traditions we have ever seen at a wedding, the water pot! This water pot represents two things: 1) wishing “smooth sailing” for the couple in their marriage and 2) the sex of their first born!!

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The red flower represents if their future child will be a girl and the white flower represents if it will be a boy

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Everyone was pleased to find out that Baby Gounev would hopefully one day be a BOY!


Before continuing with the reception celebrations we have to share more of Anna’s creative and fun decor! Tons of signage, a princess card box, a gold wishing tree, sunflower seed favors, and glow sticks. Who doesn’t love to light up the night!

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The couple took dance classes and choreographed their first dance

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Of course Kliment had to have with their first dance!


A little dress change for Anna and then it was on to cake cutting!

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Cake cutter and server by Kate Spade

Cake cutter and server by Kate Spade

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bobble head cake topper
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The couple tried to reenact this pose to look like their bobble heads


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cake cutting
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Anna surprised Kliment with a tres leches grooms cake but the surprise was on her when the cake accidentally said “Congrats MRS Gounev” instead of MR!!


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Bouquet toss winner


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Garter toss winner


After all the festivities were over it was time to dance!

Traditional Bulgarian folklore dance called the Horo

Traditional Bulgarian folklore dance called the Horo

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Guests got to take a break from dancing and enjoy a tasty treat from Urban Espresso


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Not a single guest was sitting down at the end of the night, partly because of the amazing DJ Trego and partly because Anna and Kliment had such a great group of family and friends!


moon photo prop

It has been 3 and 1/2 years since the Gounev wedding and we are so happy to report that Anna and Kliment welcomed a baby boy Hemingway Hunnicutt in 2017. Looks like their prediction on this day when Anna kicked the water pot and out flew the white carnation came true after all!


The Dream Team:

Coordination: Rock n’ Willow Events // Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18 // Photographer: Taylored Photo Memories // DJ: DJ Trego, Vox DJ’s // Cake: Rossmoor Pastries // Cake cutter & server: Kate Spade // Florist: Good Flower Shop // Linen: Dream Decor & Hobby Lobby // Coffee: Urban Espresso // Wedding Dress: Marchesa // All signs and decor: Etsy

Featured on Offbeat Bride —> www.offbeatbride.com

Welcome to Rock n' Willow Events!

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Photos by Rachel Madrigal Photography

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to our brand spankin new website! It has definetly been a labor of love trying to to put together a complete new rebrand this past year but we did it!  Notice the name change? That's right, we were formally known as Different Events for the past four years but as a way to highlight our true essence we are now Rock n' Willow Events - complete with a new logo, web design, and color concept.

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"Rock"

Angela is the "Rock" since it shows her love for Rock n' Roll and all things dark and wicked! 

A huge shout out to Nicole Orona from Nicole Danielle Design who underwent the challenge of trying to understand our vision and constant revisions but we are so pleased with the outcome!

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"Willow"

Silvia is the "Willow" because it represents her love of nature and whimsical elements

This is also our first ever blog post, say whaaatttt!!! I know, I know, how could we not have come around to blogging sooner?! Any recommendations for us? (be kind puhleease!)

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We hope you enjoy our new look and stay tuned for what we have up our sleeves!