SOPHIA ROSE & E J KAHNJune 17, 2017 Malibu, California | Photographed by Christine Bentley Photography

PRETTY IN PINK It’s hard not to think Sophia Rose and EJ Kahn were meant to be. They met on an airplane, of all places. EJ first noticed her when they were both in the security line. “I was immediately drawn to her eyes, and she had a really magnetic energy that made me curious,” he admits. Though he figured it was likely they were headed to different places, fate was on his side. They were in line for the same Southwest flight, and he struck up conversation. Because the airline doesn’t have assigned seats, they were not immediately separated.

Chatting with an empty seat between them, Sophia and EJ discovered they were both Santa Monica natives currently living in San Francisco. Unfortunately, someone then took the middle seat. The conversation quickly halted and EJ knew he had to get her number, despite the fact that their phones were now turned off. “I reached into my bag; pulled out the only pen I had left… a red Sharpie that I used to mark my golf balls, how embarrassing! But it totally worked – red is the color of love, right?” he confides.

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RESOURCES

Beauty Design Visage

Bridal Gown/Salon Monique Lhuillier

Bridesmaid Gowns Jenny Yoo Collection

Cake The Butter End Cakery

Catering Calamigos Ranch

ConsultingBluebell Events - Charley Izabella King

Entertainment City Connection Entertainment & Productions

FavorsSweet Tooth Candy Buffets

Floral Design Butterfly Floral & Event Design

Headpiece Twigs & Honey

Honeymoon Castello del Nero Hotel & SpaFlorence Palazzo AlfieriResidenza D’EpocaThe Westin Excelsior Rome

Invitations Occasion to Celebrate

JewelryCabochon Fine JewelryM. Kantor & AssociatesMoondance Jewelry Gallery

Lighting DesignThe Lighter Side

LinensLuxe Linen Wildflower Linen

Photography Christine Bentley Photography

Registries Bloomingdale’s; Gearys Williams-Sonoma

Rentals Chiavari Chair Rentals; Party Pleasers; Revelry Event Designers; Town & Country Event Rentals

VenueCalamigos Ranch

Videography byDesign Films

While they were both home in Southern California for the holidays, they made a plan for their first date. “When he asked me where he would be picking me up for our date, I gave him my address, which happened to be only three houses down from where he lived!” Sophia reveals. “We had no idea that we lived on the same block.” It was only about two weeks later that EJ realized he would propose one day. Two months before he popped the question, he asked his beloved’s parents for their approval when they all went wine tasting together. “My approach was to drink a lot of wine and hope for the best!” EJ jokes. When the day arrived, he asked Sophia to take a Wednesday off work so they could enjoy a quick getaway at a hotel in Malibu. Once they arrived, he led her to the beach, walking down stairs lined with rose petals. “There was a big heart drawn in the sand and that’s when he got down on one knee! I was so beyond excited, the entire moment and everything he said was a complete blur,” the bride gushes.

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The couple decided to host their wedding at a ranch in Malibu, the same city where they got engaged. Except for determining the size of their guest list, both Sophia and EJ found that planning their big day was not as difficult as they expected. “We were blessed with having the most incredible wedding planner, Charley King, owner of Bluebell Events, who made the entire process so fun and amazing for us,” affirms the bride. To accommodate their different faiths – Sophia is Catholic and EJ is Jewish – a close friend officiated the ceremony. It was not completely without tradition, however. The bride walked down the aisle to “Ave Maria” and once the couple was pronounced husband and wife, the groom took part in the breaking of the glass. Though they did exchange personal vows, they actually shared their words in private, after the “first look.”

“I wanted the reception to feelromantic, magical, and almost

fairy-tale like.”

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Sophia’s ensemble for the wedding showcased the color scheme for the event. Her blush gown and rose gold engagement ring foreshadowed the hues seen throughout the celebration – in addition to classic white and ivory. The soft, elegant aesthetic of the ceremony carried over to the reception. Shimmering linens in pale pink and rose gold chiavari chairs allowed the room to appear awash in blush tones. “I wanted the reception to feel romantic, magical, and almost fairy-tale like,” Sophia muses. A mix of stunning high and low arrangements, created with hydrangeas, dusty miller, and several different types of roses, adorned the tablescapes crafted by Butterfly Floral & Event Design. The cake was inspired by the bride’s love of butterflies and featured sugar versions of the creatures placed so delicately that they almost appeared suspended in the air. Despite EJ’s nerves about keeping up with his new wife, a former dancer with the San Francisco Ballet, their first dance to “Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur went beautifully. The rest of the night was just as perfect – filled with friends, family, and most importantly, love. EMILY LASNIER

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