Cynthia + Grady by Speakvia Photography - Together Journal

We found a perfect middle ground: an intimate, family-only dinner party that included a few timeless wedding traditions.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

We live in San Francisco with our handsome cat, Brody. Cynthia, a Los Angeles native, made the move up north in 2016. She’s a distribution manager in the home furnishings world, has a love for all things luxurious, and can carry an entire conversation using only Friends references. Grady, a born-and-raised San Franciscan, sold his soul to big tech as a software engineer. He enjoys struggle and, ironically, now can’t stand Friends. It’s a match like no other. On weekends, you’ll find us sipping coffee at our favorite local spots, discovering new restaurants, or just enjoying a cozy night in with Brody.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met the old-fashioned way—on Hinge—back in late 2019, just before the world turned upside down with Covid. After matching, we swapped numbers and kept in touch while I was backpacking through Europe. My nickname was Amsterdam for years. Grady was effortlessly easy to talk to—funny, warm, and grounded in a way that felt instantly comforting. Cynthia had a spark for adventure and a voice as crisp as her passport stamps.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling
elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).
Grady envisioned a small, low-key wedding, while I had always dreamed of something more formal and elegant. In the end, we found a perfect middle ground: an intimate, family-only dinner party that included a few timeless wedding traditions—a ceremony, first dance, and cake cutting—wrapped in a refined and personal atmosphere.I wanted the event to feel sophisticated, modern, and slightly untraditional, with a design that was both trendy and timeless. Rather than starting with a blank-slate venue that needed to be transformed, I was drawn to a space where the design was already part of the story. The Santa Monica Proper Hotel was exactly that—its neutral, earth-toned interiors and modern aesthetic set the perfect tone for the evening. For florals, I chose a palette of lush greens and crisp whites to complement the venue’s natural color scheme. I wanted the arrangements to feel distinctive—far from the typical round, symmetrical bouquets. I told Katie from Frond Florals, “asymmetrical and the weirder, the better,” and she absolutely delivered. To bring in a touch of traditional elegance, I added silver candleholders and used cursive fonts for the signage—just enough to create a beautiful balance between classic and contemporary.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

The space where we hosted our dinner and reception couldn’t have worked out better for our intimate celebration. It perfectly accommodated our long dining table, featured a beautiful bar, offered multiple cozy lounge seating areas, and had dimmable lighting that set just the right mood. It was spacious enough for everyone to feel comfortable, yet intimate enough to keep us all connected throughout the evening. Originally, the event was planned for the rooftop, but unexpected rain brought us indoors to the lounge area—and honestly, it may have been a blessing in disguise. The indoor setting created a warm, inviting atmosphere that felt effortlessly elegant and perfectly suited to our vision of a relaxed yet refined evening of dinner, cocktails, and conversation.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

Planning the wedding myself was incredibly fulfilling—it was so satisfying to see all the details come together after months of decision-making. Some design choices I had second-guessed during the planning stage turned out beautifully, and I also felt confident in the things I chose to skip. That said, I would still highly recommend budgeting for a wedding planner or stylist if possible. Having professional guidance would have made the process far less stressful and time-consuming, and would’ve helped us narrow down design options much more efficiently. There are so many choices out there, and it can quickly become overwhelming. Looking back, it would have been invaluable to have someone who could cut through the noise and curate ideas for us—rather than spending countless hours scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest trying to piece it all together ourselves.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

Your vendor team truly shapes your wedding day experience, and we spent a lot of time finding people who not only understood our vision but elevated it. We couldn’t have been happier with the team we brought together—they made the day feel seamless, beautiful, and uniquely ours.
Photography – SpeakViaPhoto: Christine captured the emotion and magic of our day so effortlessly. Her eye for detail and storytelling was exactly what we were hoping for, and we still receive so many compliments on the photos. Every image feels timeless.
Content Creator – Content by Kailee: We weren’t interested in a traditional videographer, but still wanted a way to relive the day. Kailee’s content creation approach was perfect—natural, fun, and totally in line with the kind of video content we love. We’re so glad we booked her!
Signage & Invitations – Goods Gang: The moment I stumbled across Katrina’s work on Instagram, I knew I had to work with her. Her designs are refreshingly untraditional, bold, and completely aligned with our wedding vibe. The signage and invitations were a dream.
Hair & Makeup – Rachelle Games Beauty: Rachelle absolutely understood the assignment. I wanted a clean, sleek look that still felt elevated and special—not plain— and she nailed it. Her work made me feel confident and effortlessly polished all day.
Bridal Shop – Unveiled Bridal: The team at Unveiled Bridal was amazing. I needed a dress on short notice (less than three months!), and they made it happen—working directly with the designer to ensure everything was perfect and on time. Their support and responsiveness made the experience stress-free.
Day-of Coordination – Fitzgerald Floral Events: Rain shifted our original rooftop plans, but Natasha and her team stepped in and truly saved the day. I handed over full creative control for the last-minute changes, and they executed everything beautifully. They transformed the indoor space
into something magical.
Florals – Frond Floral: I have to make a special mention of Katie from Frond Floral—she was an absolute dream to work with. Every meeting was
professional, collaborative, and full of creative energy. A week before the wedding, I decided to increase our floral coverage due to a potential space change, and Katie handled it with grace and strategy. She created altar florals in modular pieces, which we later repurposed in the indoor lounge for the dinner. Her attention to detail was next level—every tendril was placed with care. The end result was stunning. Choosing her as our florist was one of the best decisions we made.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

Cynthia: My dress was by designer Prea James, purchased from Unveiled Bridal in San Francisco. It was a three-piece ensemble: a structured silk corset top, a flowing silk godet skirt, and a sheer organza off-the-shoulder coat. The combination felt like the perfect blend of modern minimalism and soft romance. I kept my accessories simple and timeless—Malone Souliers heels, a classic diamond tennis necklace, and mini diamond studs from Tiffany & Co. that my mom gifted me on my 16th birthday. I finished the look with a simple cathedral-length veil that added just the right amount of drama.
Grady: Grady went for a sleek, modern-cut tuxedo from Suit Supply. He kept things classic and minimal—no waistcoat or vest— just a sharp jacket, a black bow tie, and polished patent leather dress shoes. The look was clean, understated, and exactly as I envisioned.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
My engagement ring is an emerald-cut solitaire diamond set on a pavé band with a classic cathedral setting. I had been researching rings for what felt like forever, so by the time we started shopping, I knew exactly what I wanted. The emerald cut felt like the perfect choice—timeless, refined, and something I knew would age gracefully with me. To complement it, I chose a simple pavé wedding band that matched seamlessly without competing with the engagement ring. Grady kept things minimal and classic with a 5mm flat wedding band in 14k white gold—understated, no fuss, and very him.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Florals: Because I chose not to incorporate many large-scale décor elements, I really wanted the florals to take center stage. When we had to move the event indoors due to rain, I made a last-minute decision to increase the floral budget to better suit the new space—and I have zero regrets. Without that adjustment, the flowers wouldn’t have had nearly the same impact on the overall atmosphere. They ended up being one of the most memorable and defining parts of the day’s aesthetic.

My Outfit: I’ve dreamed about my wedding for as long as I can remember, and I always knew I didn’t want to cut corners when it came to what I wore. It was important to me that I loved every detail of my outfit—not just in the moment, but when looking back at photos years from now. I didn’t want to make compromises just for the sake of saving a bit. It took time, research, and a few extra dollars, but it all came together exactly how I imagined. Choosing a minimalist look definitely helped everything feel timeless and cohesive.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

Our first dance as husband and wife was a moment we’ll never forget. Surrounded by our closest family, we swayed together in a quiet embrace to La Vie en Rose. Years ago, we were sitting together at a coffee shop on a sunny weekend afternoon when the song came on over the speakers. I didn’t think much of it at the time—but Grady did. Something about it stuck with him. He remembered that simple, happy moment so clearly that when it came time to choose our first dance song, he knew exactly what he wanted. It felt full-circle—nostalgic, romantic, and perfectly us.