Driving along the verdant cliffs and winding passes of Southern California’s Newport Coast, a stretch of idyllic landscape suddenly looms ahead. Pelican Hill Resort is an extraordinary piece of architecture inspired by 16th century Italian design, and the overall vision is anything but understated. But that is precisely the word that Julie Schkud and Garen Hartunian had in mind when scouring the Pacific for just the right venue to host their summer celebration. “Pelican Hill was the most beautiful of all the locations we visited,” says Julie. The al fresco ceremony site, incredible ocean views and “ballroom that didn’t feel like a ballroom” sealed the deal for the California couple.
For their summer wedding of nearly 200 attendees, the cosmopolitan couple successfully avoided formality and fuss, opting for an affair that reflected their personal aesthetic: cool, elegant and fun. “From the start, we wanted a very clean look but not completely minimalist,” the bride says. Julie turned to coordinator Alex Alexander of Alex Events to handle all of the fine details of the stylish event. “A color palette of ivory and black gave us the opportunity to create a wedding that was feminine and lush while maintaining clean lines and a bit of a modern edge,” Alex says. “The architecture of the Mar Vista Ballroom lends itself more to champagne and gold tones, so we ultimately added blush into the mix for both the ceremony and reception.”
Julie has a fondness for towering designer heels and couldn’t resist a pair of show-stopping Christian Louboutins from Barneys. “They were the most perfect, sparkly, girly wedding shoes!” she says. After trying on countless bridal dresses at Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta, Julie returned to the first dress she tried on at the Monique Lhuillier boutique in Beverly Hills. The gown was a breathtaking work of art with an ivory embroidered corset and signature hand tufted skirt. Julie’s seven bridesmaids wore Jim Hjelm black cocktail dresses, while the groomsmen were clad in Hugo Boss suits.
As the owner of L.A. fashion boutique, Fred Segal Man, Garen is a purveyor of exquisite taste, in charge of selecting designers that are the perfect combination of classic and cool. When it comes to his personal approach to fashion, he prefers a clean silhouette, opting for a Dolce & Gabbana suit above the rest. His wedding day called for just that.
Garen’s groomsmen were gifted monogrammed crystal Tiffany & Co. decanters.
A bevy of stylish bridesmaids arrived to the manicured oval lawn for the afternoon ceremony. The hotel’s signature Italian rotunda adorned with champagne and ivory roses marked the ceremony site 300 feet above the ocean. Floral designer Nancy Kaye of Mark’s Garden designed striking arrangements of lush roses displayed in modern rectangular boxes that lined the petal-strewn aisle. The bride says, “We wanted tons of flowers, but we didn’t want it to look overdone. Mark’s Garden did a great job—the flowers were amazing!” An adorable pair of flower girls in darling ballet slippers walked hand-in-hand toward the rotunda. The bride and groom reveled in standing before their loved ones to recite vows from the heart. Julie exclaims, “It had been such a long time coming—it was a special moment for us!”
Floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of cypress and pine tree groves in the distance awaited guests in the Mar Vista Ballroom. In conceptualizing the décor with florist Nancy Kaye, coordinator Alex considered the black chiavari chairs as a starting point for the round tables. Luxurious floral arrangements of blush-colored roses sat in sleek glass vases atop ivory satin linens. The inveterate designer infused warm lighting and glamorous drapery into the soaring space with the expertise of Pelican Hill’s Director of Weddings, George Nickles. The ballroom’s terrace accommodated a cigar bar for the gentlemen, as well as an ice luge for all manner of spirits.
Though the party-goers were dressed in their finery, the fete wasn't the least bit stuffy. “More than anything, we wanted our friends to feel comfortable, casual and really enjoy themselves,” the bride says. Dessert featured a decadent five-tier wedding cake that tasted as good as it looked. Guests carried home personalized boxes filled with the bride’s favorite scented candles. James Gang and Soul Quartet took to the stage to entertain the celebrants, playing the father-of-the- groom’s favorite Motown and Rat Pack jams. “Everyone was literally dancing all night long!” Julie exclaims. “And we were right along with them—we didn’t want the night to end.”
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