Joella and Robby’s October wedding began with a courthouse ceremony which only included their immediate family. “We wanted something private, just for us,” Joella explained. “Neither of us liked the idea of standing in front of a crowd for our vows.” Afterwards, the couple were able to shift focus to their guests, hosting a moody yet glamorous reception with a “creative black tie dress”.

“We both love dark and moody spaces, flowers, and jewel tones,” Joella continued. “Oregon is full of dark and romantics aesthetics and we like dark academia, storms on the coast, greenery, and beautiful little details; this was our inspiration.” The bride also opted for a gold dress, to match the vibe.

The industrial space at Coopers Hall was transformed into a moody oasis with dramatic floral arrangements designed to draw the eye upward. “Our florist worked closely with us to stay within budget while still delivering our vision,” Joella said. “If we’d had more money we would have spent even more on the flowers. They were instrumental in setting the tone for the space.”

Food and drink was the biggest cost from their $50,000 budget, but the food was fantastic and they wanted everyone to eat well. Instead of dessert or a cake, they had a local churro van arrive and serve sundaes topped with ice cream, which was a big hit with everyone. “The churros are still the best I’ve ever had, and you can see me in photos eagerly waiting in line for a churro sundae”, the bride laughed.

Joella and Robby planned their wedding over two years, which allowed them to move at a pace that felt manageable, without stress. “Giving ourselves that time meant we could take our time coming up with the design and what we wanted, and we had a pretty laid-back week leading up to the wedding”, Joella concluded. “Our advice to others would be: if you can, take your time!”

“For us, this was a celebration of our love”, Robby said, “Our intention was just for everyone to enjoy themselves, have fun, and feel included in our life. Remember that it’s meant to be a party! Just throw a great time for those you love and care about – and try not to let the planning and little things stress you out.”