A Chic Restaurant Wedding in Los Angeles

After meeting online in June 2014, Kacie Higginbotham, a marketing executive, and Adam Griffin, a talent manager, met IRL at the rooftop lounge at Hotel Erwin in Los Angeles. Then, after a year and half of dating, Adam brought Kacie back to their first date location for a big surprise! "He proposed at sunset overlooking the ocean," Kacie remembers. "He actually rented out the whole place and invited our closest family and friends to arrive a few minutes later to celebrate!"

That's why, after a very Los Angeles proposal and engagement party, it was a given that Kacie and Adam would say "I do" there, too. "We met in L.A., got engaged in L.A., and Adam works in the industry the city's known for, so we wanted our wedding to be right in the center of the city," she says. On October 1, 2016, the couple, along with their 150 guests, celebrated at Hinoki & the Bird in Century City with an "untraditional" restaurant wedding. "Our vision was to have the most fun party with a casual vibe, amazing food, and dancing," Kacie says. Keep reading to see how Allison and Brian Callaway of Callaway Gable Studios captured Kacie and Adam's big day!

The couple set the mood for their modern wedding with a chic black-and-white invitation suite by Minted.

Kacie found her Jonathan Simkhai dress online and fell in love immediately. "I loved that it was not a wedding dress but that it still felt super special," she says. She paired the stunner with sparkly shoes by Jimmy Choo, which were a perfect choice since you could actually see them! After dinner, Kacie changed into another statement-making look: this time, a Stella McCartney jumpsuit paired with Saint Laurent heels. "I saw Kate Hudson wearing the jumpsuit at the 2016 People's Choice Awards and tracked it down to the boutique in West Hollywood," she says. "I had to have it!

And, following her rep as a self-proclaimed "untraditional bride," Kacie admits that she actually went dress shopping with her groom! "Adam knew everything I was wearing all night—from the dress to the jumpsuit and both pairs of shoes," she says. "He was super involved, which I loved."

For their wedding, Kacie and Adam switched things up and started the event with cocktails and passed apps before the ceremony. "We wanted to be a part of the whole night of celebrating and not focus on the big 'unveiling' moment," she says. "But many people came up to us and asked if they had missed the ceremony."

But they hadn't! At 7:30 p.m., the couple's officiant asked guests to make their way to the front of the restaurant and gather around the base of the main staircase. There, he recited original poetry written for Kacie and Adam, and then had the couple join him on the stairs for the vow exchange. (Kacie's personalized vows included a poem she had heard in yoga class a few months prior, while Adam's more comedic vows made everyone laugh out loud!)

The bride and groom originally selected their venue for its food, so dinner was obviously a huge part of the night. "Hinoki & the Bird was the perfect spot—amazing food, phenomenal drinks, modern atmosphere, an indoor-outdoor space," Kacie says. Guests dined on the restaurant's signature black cod, roasted yam, and short ribs at tables inside and outside the space. To complement dinner, the couple created three signature cocktails: His "Vodka Maid," Her "Spicy Margarita," and the "Paper Plane," which served as their "Ours" beverage.

Long wooden tables were dressed with arrangements of pink dahlias and berry-hued flowers, and a menu (featuring a monogrammed wax seal!) was set at each place. For added decor, the bride and groom filled the restaurant's existing outdoor fireplaces with moss and succulents.

After dinner, the DJ started playing "You Shine" by Andrew Simple to get everyone on the dance floor. Afterwards, Kacie (in her very chic jumpsuit!) and Adam took center stage as Kodaline's "The One" played for their first dance.

After planning her sophisticated restaurant wedding, Kacie has this advice for brides-to-be: "It goes by so quick. Embrace all the memories—and be sure to eat the night of the wedding!"