Adeline and Hunter hosted a mid-century inspired warehouse wedding in Los Angeles that deviated from standard wedding norms. The couple, both working in creative industries, opted for a private elopement in Big Sur followed by a large reception at Mica Studios. They spent $15,000 on the event, with a significant portion of that budget allocated to the venue itself. Because furniture hire costs were high, they rented a storage unit and sourced mid-century furniture mostly from Facebook Marketplace. After the party, they sold the items to break even, keeping the costs manageable while maintaining a specific aesthetic.
Custom Details and DIY Execution
The design choices reflected the couple’s professions in art and tattooing. Adeline, a tattoo artist, and Hunter, who works in film production, incorporated elements that felt authentic to their relationship. They designed custom flash sheets that became temporary tattoos for guests, and Adeline hand-painted their surname onto a vintage placemat for the guest table. Hunter handled the construction, building 17 high-top tables and installing the overhead lighting. Their DIY approach extended to the floral arrangements, which they assembled late into the night with the help of a friend. The guest tables featured framed photos from their relationship, and Adeline’s father-in-law printed the custom matchbooks she had designed.
Adeline and Hunter also tackled the logistics of their event with a unique approach to fashion. Rather than purchasing expensive attire, they focused on styling themselves to fit the retro theme. For those planning a similar event, detailed guidance on achieving a cohesive look can be found at retro wedding DIY fashion bingo.
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A Non-Traditional Ceremony and Celebration
The ceremony itself broke with tradition. Hunter’s father officiated the Big Sur elopement, where the couple wrote their own vows. Adeline’s mother walked her down a dirt hiking trail. Upon returning to the warehouse for the party, Adeline and Hunter traveled up in the venue’s freight elevator to surprise their guests. The reception featured an open seating policy, allowing guests to move freely and choose their own spots. There were no speeches to avoid awkward pauses before the open bar, and no cake cutting because Adeline dislikes the dessert. The evening ended with the groomsmen dancing shirtless on the floor, while Adeline and Hunter exchanged tattoos of each other’s initials on their ring fingers.
Most guests would likely agree that the most memorable part of the evening was the open bar. The party atmosphere was so relaxed that Hunter and his groomsmen ended the night shirtless, belting out Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” Several days later, the couple received videos of friends attempting the limbo with a microphone stand, an activity neither of them had noticed at the time. Despite the immense workload involved in planning every aspect of the day, the couple felt the result was worth the effort. Making their own decisions about the decor and seating ensured the event matched their specific vision. “There shouldn’t be any rules to begin with,” Adeline said. “Every couple is unique in their own way, and I feel like weddings should reflect that.”
