TV Host Keltie Knight's Wedding was the Coolest Dinner Party Ever

When going to big-time events is part of your job description, what do you do to make your wedding feel extra-special? If you're Keltie Knight, TV Host and correspondent for The Insider (and host of Brides Live Wedding!), who wed music manager Chris Knight on August 17, 2013, you go the complete opposite direction and throw an edgy, eclectic bash in a Los Angeles backyard. "I didn't want our wedding to feel like work, so we focused on creating the coolest dinner party ever," says the bride.

To bring that vision to life, Keltie turned to planner Tori Hendrix of Sitting in a Tree. "I fell in love with her on Instagram because we have very similar styles, and wasn't surprised at all when almost everything on my Pinterest board had been designed by her, too," says Keltie. "So for our wedding, we sat back and let Tori work her magic."

Keep reading to take a look at the edgy backyard bash, photographed by Studio Castillero. And check out the February/March 2015 issue of BRIDES for even more details — and to see how they did it all on a crazy-impressive budget!

Photo: Studio Castillero

No stranger to formalwear, Keltie chose a layered lace gown with off-the-shoulder details from Watters. "I wanted something relaxed and a little sexy," she says. Her loose bouquet included soft peach roses and lots of texture.

Chris wore a custom suit he'd purchased in Thailand a few years earlier. "He's 6'6", so custom is the way to go," says Keltie.

Photo: Studio Castillero

The bride is surrounded by incredibly talented and generous ladies who came together to make her wedding-day look a success. "I didn't have any bridesmaids," she says. "Instead, one friend did my hair, another did my makeup, and a third loaned me her shimmering Jimmy Choo wedges!"

Photo: Studio Castillero

Close friend Christina Perri serenaded the bride with her hit "A Thousand Years" as she walked down the aisle, then Keltie and Chris exchanged personal vows (and were married by the groom's aunt!). They were pronounced husband and wife in the exact same spot where Chris had proposed to Keltie eight months earlier.

Photo: Studio Castillero

Though Keltie had asked Christina Perri to sing a second song as the newlyweds came back up the aisle, her friend had another idea in mind. She surprised the bride with a performance by Matt Nathanson, Keltie's favorite singer-songwriter. "Before I met Chris, my friends would joke that I'd find Matt and marry him," Keltie laughs. "Having him there to sing my favorite song, 'Little Victories,' was the best surprise ever."

Photo: Studio Castillero

The couple's rock n' roll style shone through in the décor, including mismatched tables and chairs and rugs on the lawn. "It reminded me of how musicians cover the stage during performances," Keltie says. Vibrant fuchsia and burgundy flowers mixed with gold candlesticks and quartz chargers.

Photo: Studio Castillero

With only 50 guests, Chris and Keltie took every opportunity to get personal. Instead of escort cards, each guest's seat was marked with a Plexiglass cut-out of their name. On each plate was a bundle full of little gifts personalized for each guest — headbands for the long-haired set, mini speakers, note pads, and more — as well as a handwritten note from either the bride or groom about what they mean to the couple. Talk about a party favor!

Photo: Studio Castillero

As a DJ took over for the dance party and everyone noshed on tacos, chips, and guacamole, Keltie, Chris, and their guests released wish lanterns into the pool, writing down well-wishes for the newlyweds. "I loved how the candles glowed and reflected in the water," Keltie says.

Photo: Studio Castillero

Instead of serving a cake, the bride and groom offered two of their favorites: cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake (including some vegan and gluten-free versions), as well as Chris's family's famous pies. "They serve them at every family gathering. There was no way we could have a wedding without them!" the bride says.

Photo: Studio Castillero

As the night wound down, Chris led Keltie over to the microphone and serenaded her with "Sunshine" by Jonathan Tyler. "We dance to it in our living room on Sunday mornings. It was the perfect way to end our wedding," says Keltie.

The next morning, the bride and groom hopped on a plane to the Cayman Islands. "The whole night was relaxed and casual, exactly how we wanted it," says Keltie. "We skipped the schedule to keep it really organic: People ate, drank, and danced when (and where!) they wanted, filling the whole yard with love and fun."

Watch Keltie's wedding video below!