When Lindsay and Gonzo started planning their special day, they knew they wanted to create an atmosphere that felt like a European backyard wedding. From the baguettes on the tablescapes to the cocktails named after streets they've lived on, every detail was carefully chosen to represent their individuality as a couple. In this interview, Lindsay shares the inspiration behind their wedding concept and how they brought it to life in a private residence in Ojai, CA.
Tell us a little about yourselves.
Gonzalo & I actually met in our high school drama class. I was a freshman and he was a junior, and we were both taking drama as our elective that year. Gonzo was one of the most outgoing students in the class, friends with everyone & always talking up the teacher. I, on the other hand, stuck to the people I knew and was a little shyer. For our end of the year project, our teacher put us in groups to choreograph & perform a musical of our choice. Gonzo and I were put in the same group & we chose Grease. Gonzo played Danny & I played Sandy, so we were partnered up and started spending every class together. I developed a little crush early on, but never ever told Gonzo. Fast forward to my senior year of college at LMU in LA & Gonzo's first year of Chiropractic school in Orange County, we were reconnected through one of Gonzo's closest friends. His friend's brother happened to be at the same bar as I was in our hometown and somehow my number was sent to Gonzo. We immediately started talking everyday and would visit one another on the weekends. Reconnecting with Gonzalo felt instantly comfortable and exciting. We both knew we had something undeniably special.
I work in Marketing for a digital publishing company & Gonzalo has a Chiropractic office. We are currently living on the North Shore of Oahu, HI. We enjoy long beach days, cooking to Bossa Nova in our tiny kitchen, sunset picnics, vintage shopping & a good DIY art project.
What was the concept behind your wedding and how did you find your inspiration?
We really wanted it to feel like a European backyard wedding. I found a lot of inspiration through the music we listen to while cooking and how they made us feel. We also drew inspiration from the places we've lived so far (Fullerton, Redondo Beach & Oahu) and the surf culture. I knew we wanted it to feel romantic and timeless, while also sprinkling in little notes of our individual personalities. We added baguettes to the tablescapes as a nod to Gonzo's Argentinian culture of always having a baguette present at every meal, there were Mother of Pearl shells filled with chimichurri to represent our Hawaiian lifestyle, all of the cocktails were named after streets we have previously lived on, and our best friend officiated our ceremony. We stayed true to our style as a couple and we loved how it turned out! Our wedding planner, Steph, coupled with our florist Kelsey really saw our vision and brought it to life more magical than we could have ever expected!
Where was your wedding? Why did you choose this venue?
We got married in Ojai, CA at a private residence we booked through VRBO called Casa Grande. We knew we wanted to have a backyard wedding on a beautiful property that we could stay on with our families. As soon as I saw this home, I knew it was the one. It had all the elements we were looking for - beautiful on its own, so minimal decor would be needed, European inspired architecture, room for our families to stay & the sweetest pool house that made for the perfect backdrop. We were so happy with our decision to have our wedding on the same property we were staying at, so we could relish in the beauty of it for more than just a few hours. The house manager, Stephanie, was beyond helpful and kind throughout our entire planning process.
How many guests did you have?
We ended up having about 70 guests. We loved the intimacy of our day & getting to connect with each one of our guests.
Tell us about your outfits.
I wore a ready-to-wear Galia Lahav satin dress. It was the first dress I tried on, and I knew it was the one even before walking into the atelier. It was classic, yet had some interesting design details that made it feel even more special. I paired it with Manolo Blahniks as a nod to Gonzo's late father, Manolo. My veil was my "something borrowed" from one of my MOHs, Ali. She wore it on 10.2.20, and I wore it a few years later on 10.22.22. My mom gifted me a locket with Gonzo & I's fathers' photos in it who have passed away. We felt them there with us the entire day, but it felt extra special carrying them both with me down the aisle.
Gonzo wore a classic black tux with a crisp white shirt & a black bowtie. He also wanted his look to feel timeless and classic. He added a fun pair of floral socks, which is his usual M.O. Gonzo wore his father's watch & was also gifted a pocket locket by his mom with photos of our fathers.
For our reception, I changed into a custom dress I designed. It was brought to life by one of my dearest friends, Gia. It featured a classic cowl neck, low back, statement sleeve, a little sparkle & the bow from my mom's wedding dress. I am so proud of what we created, and it was so fun to dance in all night!
What was your first dance song?
We chose "Fairytale" by Milky Chance for our first dance. Gonzo sent me this song after our first time hanging out. It felt so surreal to dance to it on our wedding day.
What flowers did you choose for the bride's bouquet, and why?
I really gave my florist full reign on designing my bouquet. I fully trusted her designs and talent and knew that anything she created would be stunning. She added in mostly white florals with leafy greenery. My only request was that it would feel organic and whimsical. I used Kelsey from Antheia Floral and had the best time working with her!
What was your wedding cake like? And where did you order it?
Gonzo's mom actually made our cake! The cake was not our featured dessert, so it was being used just for a cake-cutting moment between the two of us. My MIL makes the most delicious desserts, so I knew asking her to make our wedding cake was a special and perfect choice. She made a vanilla cake filled with dulce de leche & covered it in white vanilla frosting. On the top, she wrote out "LINZO 4EVER" in pearl sugar buttons. Our florist lined the cake stand with baby's breath flowers to complement our tablescape. The cake sat upon a vintage French tablecloth that I found on Etsy. It was perfect and provided for some of our favorite wedding photos!
Are there any vendors you would like to highlight?
I truly believe I had the best vendors around! Stephanie from JoyanDesigns was my literal backbone throughout the entire process, and our photographer Ali Beck was an absolute icon who captured every moment organically. The videographers from 204 Weddings were sweet and made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera, creating the wedding video of my dreams. Cali Sol Cocktails provided fabulous bar service with all organic ingredients and delicious cocktails that our guests are still talking about. And the paella cooked up fresh for our guests tableside by Arroz was so delicious and a fun twist on traditional catering. We truly got so lucky with each and every one of our vendors, and we would choose them all again if we had to do it all over!
Bride: @linds.pineiro
Groom: @gonzo0o0
Photo: @alibeckphoto
Florals: @antheia.floralanddesign
Designer: @joyandesigns
Bridal outfit: @galialahav, @shopgudesigns
