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A Modern Approach to Old Traditions

Stephanie Haugland & Kevin Ross

INITIALLY, STEPHANIE HAUGLAND AND KEVIN ROSS hoped to celebrate their wedding in Kevin’s native Scotland, where the couple became engaged. But it quickly became clear to the pair that a festive affair nearer to home would be in order. So to celebrate Kevin’s roots, they brought Scotland to San Diego, choosing the rustic elegance of The Lodge at Torrey Pines as their venue.

“It felt old and authentic,” Stephanie says. “We tried to incorporate many Scottish traditions and still make it feel relaxed and fun.”

The nondenominational ceremony was held on the Arroyo Terrace at Torrey Pines overlooking the golf course. Elegant fresh floral arrangements peppered the aisle and white rose petals served as a botanical runner. Stephanie says she loves “the old tradition of putting aisle runners down to ward off evil spirits and protect the bride.”

A bagpiper led Kevin and his groomsmen, all dressed in traditional kilts, in a procession down the aisle. “My husband wanted a grand entrance,” says Stephanie with a laugh. The bridesmaids and maid of honor wore navy strapless gowns from Ann Taylor and walked to the sound of bagpipes as the bride followed in her vintage- inspired gown by La Sposa. Each bridesmaid held a bouquet designed entirely of one kind of flower, carefully chosen by Stephanie, who then combined all the flowers and carried them as one bouquet, a symbol of her close friendships. “I had my grandfather’s cufflinks pinned into the bouquet,” she adds, as a reminder of loved ones who had passed away.

After the ceremony, the bagpiper led guests back to The Lodge for cocktail hour on the patio where an open bar, complete with scotch, awaited them. Waiters passed hors d’oeuvres such as shrimp, avocado and papaya tostadas; tomato, garlic and basil bruschetta; and shredded chicken flautas mole.

The wedding incorporated golf as its central theme, a game that originated in Scotland and is a favorite hobby of the couple. A bed of wheat grass displayed golf balls instead of place cards, and welcomed guests to tables named after courses played or visited by Stephanie and Kevin. Once seated, guests were treated to cheeseburgers and French fries. “We thought, ‘What is something everyone is going to love?’” says Stephanie of the nontraditional menu.

“We wanted it to be nice and elegant but comfortable and easy,” she says of their wedding philosophy. In fact, Kevin and his groomsmen changed into Adidas sneakers after the ceremony—a nod to the couple’s history, as they met while both working for the sportswear company.

One of the most important elements to the couple was the band. “Stephanie kept telling me she wanted a real party,” says wedding planner Kiley Walker, and music was an integral part of the festive atmosphere. Busta-Groove didn’t just provide a party atmosphere, “They were incredible,” Stephanie says. Between sets, the couple made their toast and tore their wedding cupcake in half.

Instead of a traditional cake, they opted for individual vanilla cupcakes topped with buttercream and arranged into tiers. “I make cupcakes for everything so it represented who we are,” says the bride. A custom wedding topper by Classic Cakes in Phoenix, Arizona, stood at the peak. “The bride and groom were made to look like Kevin and me,” she says. “The groom has a kilt and little Adidas sneakers.”

Toward the end of the evening, the party meandered to the patio for cocktails and cigars around the fire, a breath of fresh air before dancing the rest of the night away. As they left the party, each guest was given a little Scottish treat to take home: millionaire’s shortbread baked by Kevin’s own mother.

Stephanie's Favorites

Busta-Groove

JEFF LYONS, bass player and manager of Busta-Groove, has been playing in a band since high school. For years it was a part-time gig until he decided to follow his heart and perform full-time, leaving behind a lucrative job as an engineer. Nowadays, this Bay Area band can be regularly seen at clubs, weddings and special events all across California.

Whether they’re playing disco or top 20 hits, the nine-member band carefully works on the song list with clients and advises them on what works best to create an energetic party atmosphere. “I thought we were all going to collapse on the floor, tired from dancing, but we couldn’t imagine sitting out any of the songs,” says Stephanie.

“I like to also ask what songs they don’t want to hear,” Lyons says; it’s a great way to get a sense of his clients’ tastes. Busta-Groove also tries to accommodate special requests and even learn songs if necessary— two examples of their serious approach to customer service.

Kiley Walker, Kiley Walker Events

FOR KILEY WALKER, planning weddings began as an occasional hobby. “I started helping out with some of my friends’ weddings,” she says. It wasn’t until she planned her own nuptials that she realized she should turn her hobby into a career. “I love seeing the happiest moment of their lives,” says Walker of the payoff she now enjoys over and over again.

Walker prides herself on developing a collaborative bond with each bride, asking numerous questions to guarantee the bride’s vision comes alive. “I don’t run with an idea and make it my own,” she says. “I listen to what they say and anticipate their needs.” To that end, Walker uses her organizational skills to create timelines and spreadsheets, watching over every last detail, including some unexpected ones. “She even stepped in and helped cut kids’ food,” Stephanie says. “So simple, but above and beyond anything we ever expected!”

Heather Moreau, Vallentyne Photography

HEATHER MOREAU TAKES HER ROLE of chronicling a clients’ wedding very seriously. “If you miss a moment, you can’t do it over,” she says. But that doesn’t mean she acts seriously on the big day. “I like to keep it light, fun and fast,” she adds.

“She was unbelievably easy to work with and made everyone feel extremely comfortable,” says Stephanie of Moreau’s manner.

The former magazine photographer approaches each wedding within a context of story, chronicling the event in a photojournalistic style while keeping an eye on beautiful composition. “I have a well-thought-out game plan,” says Moreau, who scouts all the locations before the wedding to assess the lighting. “I want to get a sense of the time of day, the light and how the shadows fall.” But preparation isn’t her only secret weapon: she prides herself on capturing natural moments and hates to snap couples in outdated poses. Indeed, “Heather’s more contemporary style was exactly what we were looking for,” Stephanie says.

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