Jessie and Ken’s intimate Smog Shoppe wedding was a quintessential laid-back Southern California celebration…all about fun, friends, and family. A peaceful oasis amidst the city sounds just outside its walls, The Smog Shoppe was the perfect wedding venue for the occasion. Growing ever more lush over the years, the Smog Shoppe’s living succulent walls provided a tranquil garden setting for the wedding which was officiated by a very close family friend. After the ceremony finished and Ken and Jessie had made everything official, the couple spent the rest of the afternoon with family and friends; eating hors d’oeuvres, laughing a LOT, and enjoying the gorgeous afternoon catching up with their most important people. Ken’s Mother and Jessie’s Grandmother were unable to attend the festivities but in the spirit of inclusiveness, their were plenty of mobile devices set up to keep them connected. As the sun dipped and the evening cool set in, the party shifted inside for dancing to a solid set of 80’s classics.
About the Couple
How they met
Their story begins when Jessie and Ken were preparing for the 2013 San Francisco marathon with Team in Training. They didn’t know each other during their 5 months of training, but as there were only 3 males on the team, Jessie knew who Ken was. They happened to be on the same flight to San Francisco on their way to the marathon, when Jessie said hi to Ken at the airport. As they were headed to the same hotel, they decided to share a cab…then dinner…then, they spent the rest of the weekend together before the marathon. They have basically been inseparable ever since.
Three words that describe them as a couple
Balanced, playful, happy
Unique wedding facts
Before the ceremony, when we took the couple on a light walking tour/portrait session of La Cienega via a few back alleys, the couple was gifted a chicken kebab by the neighborhood halal-bbq-catering-master. Ken promptly accepted the offering. During the ceremony, “private vows” were exchanged absent of any any microphones to keep that moment more personal for them. The cocktail hour featured not only a roving magician, but tray-passed mini-chicken and waffles amongst other tasty treats. During the cocktail hour, Jessie changed into a non-traditional, comfortable “wedding reception dress”, which was a t-shirt with “Feminist AF” written on it. Rad. There was no cake cutting nor a bouquet toss. Ken decided that the first person to ask about the bouquet toss after the ceremony will be the recipient. In a telling show of the emphasis being put on their guests and not on the couple themselves, there was a candle-lit birthday cupcake presented to her good friend.
