This Sowden House wedding in Los Angeles had MY JAW ON THE FLOOR! Let me tell you why.

What made this wedding so special

Ron + Blake found me through their incredible wedding planner and caterer, Mel of GourMel Catering & Events. On our very first FaceTime call, the two grooms shared a Pinterest board with me of photo ideas to share the style and vibe they were hoping to create with their wedding portraits.

Already, I was completely sold! It’s actually somewhat rare for a couple to come to me with an artistic vision for their photos, but I absolutely LOVE it and welcome the collaboration. They also told me on our first call that they definitely wanted to include their rescue dog Bowie in their wedding photos and mentioned that he may be dressed up for the pictures. At this point, I was practically bouncing in my chair, I was so excited 🙂

Before the day arrived, I went for a tour of the venue to get a feel for the space. The famous Sowden House is a 6,000 square-foot neo-Mayan mansion designed by renowned architect, Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright), in the heart of modern Hollywood. It’s privately owned by friends of Ron and Blake who offered to host their wedding reception. It was really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of us! 

When I finally met Ron and Blake on the day of their wedding, we hugged like we were old friends! All of us were so excited to see the day finally come together. Ron chose a velvet green tux while Blake wore a pink suit jacket. Bowie wore a bespoke dog tuxedo from Paris. They looked AMAZING! The coordination team filled the house with candles and foraged greenery, and guests enjoyed a grazing table and tray-passed appetizers. Even as photographers, it was a blast to celebrate and join in the fun! 

A custom menu full of rich flavors!

Ron and Blake worked with their vendors to create an intimate, elegant, unique celebration that really honored their relationship. They chose to integrate their different cultures in a menu that combined Filipino-Canadian and Cajun-Creole flavors in dishes like poutine topped with gumbo and ube ice cream sandwiches.

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Opting for a private ceremony several days before the celebration, they instead created a skit for their guests that told the history of their relationship set to a soundtrack of their favorite tunes! 

Overall, my experience with Blake and Ron encouraged me that many couples now are choosing to plan their weddings their way. It’s 2020, and you should be able to include (or throw out) any traditions you want!

Not interested in a chicken and veggies plated meal? Opt for food trucks or a custom farm-to-table menu served family style! Don’t want to say your vows in a church? Find a unique location (or one that’s special to you) and have your ceremony! Weddings are for you, and I am so excited to see many more creative celebrations like this one!

The Dream Team (Ron + Blake’s wedding vendors):

Photographer: Erin Marton Photography

Venue: The Sowden House in Los Angeles

Planning + Catering: GourMel Catering & Events 

Florist: Royal Bee Flower Co. 

DJ: DJ Buddy 

Invitations: Shawn LeBlanc 

Suits: Indochino 

Makeup: Elide Samperio 

Hair: Pony Lee Musgraves and David Bailey 

In their words…

“Our photos came out so much better than we had hoped for, and I believe it’s because Erin made a genuine connection with us and was able to make us feel more than just comfortable – it felt like we were old friends. She captured so many moments that truly tell a story, and this is exactly what we wanted. Erin, thank you so much for making this experience so much better than we could have ever expected!”

Check out their wedding feature on Junebug Weddings!

Want to see more from this incredible wedding? Check out the full gallery from this Sowden House wedding in Los Angeles!