This Italian-inspired garden wedding was a midsummer night’s dream

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Shant and Tanya's paths had crossed a handful of times before they formally met at a friend's wedding in 2014. The night he proposed, he managed to unknowingly get her to agree to go with him to what ended up being a private residence with rose petals covering the floor and leading to the backyard where the proposal was set up. Tanya's sister and her sister's fiance had set up the proposal ambiance with florals and decor gifted by their families and friends. When Tanya and Shant started wedding planning and toured Hummingbird Nest Ranch with Shakeh from Laurel Events LA, they instantly knew that this venue would be the perfect backdrop for their timeless Italian-inspired wedding. Their vision was "Old World Italian Romance," and their special day definitely delivered!

Keep scrolling to see photography by Andrew James Abajian of this wedding day at Hummingbird Nest Ranch, featuring florals by Celio’s Design, catering by Command Performance Catering and Rafi’s Cakes, and planning by Laurel Events LA. We promise you won't want to miss clicking here to check out the full gallery of photos, also linked at the bottom of this page!

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To find the perfect dress, the bridal shop shared a dress not out on the floor yet

For her wedding day, the bride's dress was Ines di Santo from Lovella Bridal in Glendale, California. When Tanya went dress shopping, she shared that she wanted a classic and clean look with a big bow and (possibly) a slit - the bridal shop assistant brought out the perfect dress that wasn't even in the showroom yet! Her veil was by LT Couture Atelier on Etsy, while her shoes were Amina Muaddi and gifted to her by her bridesmaids. Tanya's bag was a beautiful embellished Rosantica bag gifted to her by her younger sister (also her maid of honor!).

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classic Italian-inspired wedding dress

Custom jewelry was the best bridal accessory!

For her accessories, the bride wore a graduated diamond tennis choker and diamond studs by Adiamor Jewelers, as well as a Van Cleef and Arpels alhambra bracelet in mother of pearl. To complement her engagement ring featuring an emerald center stone flanked by baguettes in a 14k gold split prong setting, Tanya's wedding band was an eternity band featuring east-west baguettes set in 14k gold with a matching 14k gold spacer band, all made by Adiamor Jewelers. The groom, Shant, wore a custom black tuxedo, black bow tie, and custom shirt made by William and Co. accessorized with Louboutin shoes and a gold and diamond bracelet by Mardo K Jewelers.

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The couple created an unique floral design that looked like it had been there forever

Ultimately, the vision for this wedding was to a midsummer night's dream-inspired reception in a garden setting. Tanya wanted all the florals and decor to look as if they had been there already, so their ceremony featured wrought iron benches and chairs, as well as terracotta planters with roses. The couple had the option to create an arch for the ceremony that would be moveable to the reception, but with Celio’s advice, they opted to do two separate arches because they really wanted that "been there for years" look. The delicate, feminine flowers against the rustic, wrought iron chairs and exposed brick were the perfect combination of organic, romantic, and elegant.

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Custom details, like traditional Middle Eastern candies, were used throughout

Customized elements were evident throughout the entire wedding day! The bride's grandmother and her best friends made little sachets of Jordan almonds, which her late uncle Armand (owner of Nory Locum, a traditional Middle Eastern candy) sourced for them. Shant's suit also had his name embroidered inside the jacket, and his initials were embroidered on the sleeve. Presence Shoppe custom-designed the floral crest on the couple's invitations to mimic the florals that were used in the arches, and they chose a variegated silk ribbon to wrap the invitations that played up the floral tones Celio used throughout the ceremony and reception.

champagne tower

A clear tent helped maintain that starry twinkle-light vibe for the reception

The reception, just steps away from the ceremony, was draped in twinkle lights to set a beautiful starry night scenery for the rest of the evening. To accommodate for any weather, they opted for a light tent that covered the entire candle-lit reception area. Guests danced the night away under this twinkly skyscape for what felt like a night in the Italian countryside. How was the planning process?

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After-the-fact reflections from the bride

The bride shared, "I enjoyed every moment of the wedding day, but if I had to choose a favorite moment, it would have to be getting ready with the bridal party in the bridal suite. We had music and food, and I got to enjoy a stress-free morning watching the venue transform throughout the day to exactly what I envisioned it to be. Another favorite moment was seeing Shant for our first look in the ceremony area. And what really made the day special was seeing my family and friends arrive with my nephews, my flower girl (who got ready with us in the bridal suite), my half-brother, my cousins, and my best friend's baby... basically all the kids of the family because they bring so much life and joy to our world!"

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