Josh and Lauren's Beachside La Jolla Wedding

“Have a beach wedding and get it over with, so we can party!” That would be Josh’s 90-year-old grandma’s sole request for his and Lauren’s big day at La Jolla’s Scripps Seaside Forum. Raised to respect their elders, they couldn’t resist honoring her wish. “Wanting a party-like atmosphere, we took out traditional items,” Lauren says.

Bouquet and garter toss, assigned seating, and even rehearsal dinner? They scrapped ’em all. And for the ceremony, “we opted for lounge furniture, belly bars, and cocktail tables, so guests could feel comfortable to mingle wherever.”

Just in case anyone needed more reason to celebrate, Lauren also embraced that the wedding was the same date as her 34th birthday, changing into a floor-length red halter gown after dinner and indulging in a second cake with pink confetti sprinkles. Grandma’s party spirit must have been contagious, because the evening ended with the guests crooning “happy birthday” as the newlyweds bid them all farewell.

Sweet Details

During the ceremony, Lauren wore her grandmother’s pearl bracelet and pearl brooch, the latter on top of her birdcage veil, inspired by the movie Sweet Home Alabama.

With experience as a wedding planner, Lauren had her favorite vendors at her fingertips, like Flora Glamor, who nailed her vision of modern arrangements with bright coral florals and tropical green Monstera leaves.

Romance is Served

They met in San Diego on Halloween—she dressed as a cafeteria lunch lady (serving utensils and all), he a lumberjack—and he popped the question six years later in Puerto Rico.