A surprise proposal and a wedding in the same day?!
Crystal + Persis’s LA engagement/wedding day is proof that you can plan an entire wedding without your partner catching on, and we are absolutely obsessed. Here’s how it happened:
So first of all, the start of this love story seems like total kismet to us. Seven years ago, Persis—living in Vancouver at the time—won tickets to a taping of The Ellen Show in Los Angeles. While she was in line outside the studio she popped onto a dating app and matched with Crystal, who was based in LA. Instagram DMs were exchanged. A long distance romance blossomed. Their first kiss? Midnight on NYE.
A few months into their relationship, Persis started secretly dreaming up an epic proposal that eventually took shape over the years as the unique proposal-meets-surprise-wedding it became. She teamed up with planner + event designer Brooke Nicole Events, providing her with a short list of must-haves and giving her the freedom to dream up a spectacular wedding day with a “relaxed, fun atmosphere” for the brides and their loved ones to enjoy. “My sole focus was ensuring that Crystal arrived at her own wedding without suspecting it was her wedding,” remembers Persis. “With Brooke and the vendors on board, the wedding vision came to life.”
With the gorgeous Hummingbird Temple in the Hollywood Hills as the venue, the stage was set. Crystal showed up thinking she was a guest at a friend’s wedding. But it wasn’t long before she realized she was in for a major surprise.
“When she saw Janey Pakpahan, the photographer, she realized that something special was happening,” remembers the couple. “Crystal had always said that if she ever got married, she would hire Janey to capture her big day. This moment made her realize that something was about to unfold.”
Let’s take a look!
The Proposal
During the time that Crystal + Persis spent long distance the song “Girl In L.A.” by Us The Duo became super meaningful for them both. The first big surprise of the day? Persis had arranged for Us The Duo to be there in person, singing their song.
“Just after I realized something special was happening upon seeing Janey, I encountered Us The Duo, and one of them greeted me with a warm ‘Hi, Crystal.’ In that touching moment, I found myself holding back tears,” says Crystal. “I remember thinking, ‘Okay, this is going to be a proposal. Don’t cry while Us the Duo is serenading me.’”
What better way to pitch your same-day proposal + wedding than with a massive “MARRY ME TODAY” sign from Alpha-Lit Marquee Letters!
“One of the most cherished memories from the wedding was when Crystal was proposed to,” say the brides. “Persis asked her, “Will you marry me today?” Crystal said yes, thinking that an officiant was about to marry them right then and there…”
“Little did she know that the surprise was far from over! As her friends and family suddenly rushed out, it dawned on her that this was not just a proposal but a fully planned wedding. Overwhelmed by the joy and surprise, she couldn’t hold back her tears anymore.”
An Hour-Long Engagement
Persis looked stunning in this embellished plunge neck lace wedding dress.
Wondering how Persis pulled off getting a secret wedding dress that would be a good fit for her future wife, size-wise and style-wise? “We share similar sizes,” says the couple, “which offered the opportunity to present Crystal with two exquisite wedding gown options for her special day. This arrangement ensured that whichever gown Crystal didn’t select would be worn by Persis.”
“Crystal chose a breathtaking Milla Nova sheath-style gown, with its elegant deep V neckline and delicate lace skirt overlay,” the brides remember. “And Persis wore an embroidered backless mermaid gown designed by Kitty Chen.”
A Colorful Outdoor Ceremony
This shimmery, iridescent wedding welcome sign magically captured all of the colors in this wedding’s bright + joyful color palette.
Palm trees + sunshine: SoCal ceremony perfection.
How phenomenal are these vibrant floral creations by Noonan’s Wine Country Designs??
Rolling up in style! This might be one of the most adorable ceremony entrances we have ever seen. Love the idea of having your pets present for your “I do’s” like Persis + Crystal did? Check out our list of creative ways to include your dog in your wedding day!
“Crystal holds another cherished memory close to her heart—the vows,” the brides say. “She was astounded that Persis had written and delivered such heartfelt words. Since Persis is not known for not showcasing her love in words. While Persis is pleased that Crystal enjoyed the vows, she herself cannot bear to listen to her own voice and promptly leaves the room whenever Crystal plays a recording of it now. Reflecting on the entire wedding experience, Persis admits that despite the absence of stress in planning a secret wedding, reading the vows was undeniably the most nerve-wracking part for her so she is glad that Crystal liked it so much.”
Persis planned the ceremony to be a perfect balance of silly + sweet. The “vows” she had pre-written for Crystal to share? They were actually the lyrics to “Love You Like a Love Song” by Selena Gomez.
And as far as processionals go: Persis entered to a cover of “Lose Yourself” by Eminem, and Crystal walked down the aisle to a version of “A Whole New World” from Disney’s Aladdin (one of the couple’s go-to karaoke songs).
The one and only vow these two exchanged? “To watch every single episode of Friends, a wish of Persis’s that has been with us since the beginning of our relationship. As our readings came to a close, we exited to the Friends theme song; a fitting conclusion.”
Flair Project manned this adorable pink + white bar (complete with lyrics from Us the Duo’s “Girl in L.A.”), serving up adorable wedding cocktails named after Crystal + Persis’s pups.
These glittering disco balls over the tiled courtyard dance floor? One of Persis’s favorite bits of brilliance from Brooke Nicole Events.
Second Song provided the tunes that kept Crystal + Persis’s guests dancing all night long, and lighting from Bella Vista Designs kept those disco balls shimmering.
Our Advice To Those Planning Now From Persis: "My top planning advice is to consider hiring someone to alleviate the load if you can. It truly allowed me to concentrate on savoring the day with Crystal and focusing on having fun. I recommend participating in the planning process, while also being open to your planner's advice and guidance, as they possess invaluable insights and knowledge in orchestrating a seamless event."
Teehan Cake Design created this soft pastel wedding cake complete with glimmers of gold leaf and gorgeous edible florals.
Some thoughts on marriage from the happy couple? “One great piece of advice is to keep living together just like you did before getting married. It means that there should be no distinction between the dynamics of being in a committed relationship and being married, so when people ask how’s married life? you can say, “the same.” The love, respect, and understanding between you should stay the same, whether you’re in a committed relationship or officially married.”
This proposal-turned-wedding was a stunning surprise of a lifetime, Crystal + Persis! What an exciting, colorful, and joy filled day! We’ll be watching every single episode of Friends in your honor.
visual identifiers: Persis (leather pants/pony tail) is the one who you’ll see standing in front of the “Marry Me Today” letters to propose to Crystal (green romper/hair down). They kept their same hair looks throughout the day as they changed, so that’s a good identifier as they wore matching outfits later too! // photography: Janey Pakpahan // venue name: Hummingbird Temple // event design: Brooke Nicole Events // planning: Brooke Nicole Events // florals: Noonan’s Wine Country Designs // wedding dress: Milla Nova and Kitty Chen // videography: West Imagery Video // paper goods: Lovelyfest // catering: Tres LA // cake: Teehan Cake Design // music: Us the Duo // officiant: Julia Duong // lighting: Bella Vista Designs // cocktails: Flair Proiect // rentals: Catalog Atelier // rentals: Adore Folklore // rentals: Hostess Haven // rentals: Bright Event Rentals // boba cart: Loose Leaf Boba Co. // caricature artist: Art by Grant // churro cart: Heavenly Gourmet Churros // music: Second Song // marquee letters: Alpha Lit // audio guest book: After the Tone Co. // transportation: Riz Transportation // reception dresses: Azeeza