REAL WEDDING

  • Photography By:

    Duke Images

    JESSICA MADAMBA & ALISTAIR AARONSON

    September 2, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California

    Alistair Aaronson was completing his residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center when he was first introduced to Jessica Madamba, a nurse at the same hospital. Neither of them were looking for a relationship at that point, but they quickly became best friends. “We immediately felt comfortable enough to totally open up to each other, even giving each other dating tips and life advice,” Jessica recalls.

    “We soon realized that our friendship was growing so quickly that we were actually falling in love, and that love has been growing more and more over the past six years.”

    For their first dating anniversary, Alistair took Jessica on a trip to the South of France. Jessica had mentioned that she always dreamt of being proposed to in France, so Alistair planned out a secret proposal. They happened to be in Cannes during the Cannes Film Festival, and Alistair ended up popping the question on the balcony of their hotel room on La Croisette with a view of the water, sunset, and the Cannes Film Festival red carpet.

    “WE JUST WANTED TO PROLONG THE MOMENT FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.”

    The wedding planning process was relatively smooth and easygoing, with the couple immediately falling in love with the Beverly Hills Hotel for their wedding venue and securing Maryam Forutan as their planner. “She took care of every detail to give us total peace of mind,” Jessica adds. “We also knew that with 12 months of planning, that our lifelong memories of our wedding had to be captured by the best photographer and videographer, Duke Photography and CustomMade Productions.

    Booking the very best vendors, especially those who consistently work with each other week in and week out, gave us total confidence that all the logistics of our wedding day would come together naturally and effortlessly and supply us with memories to fuel us for our entire lives.”

    Inspired by the 17th century baroque palaces they visited during their travels together – particularly The Hermitage and Catherine’s Palace in St. Petersberg – the couple’s vision for their wedding décor was a blend of classic luxury and timeless elegance. When guests entered the ballroom, they were surrounded by a dreamy ambiance of ivory, blush, and gold. A pristine white dance floor stretched from wall to wall with Jessica and Alistair’s initials, and the mirrored tables were covered with lush floral arrangements, candles, and crystal candelabras.

    The incredible décor was matched by a sublime wedding menu that included dishes like lobster risotto, chateaubriand, orange blossom crème brulee, a seven-tiered wedding cake, and late night snacks of cheeseburger sliders and chicken and waffles.

    “One of the most special moments of our wedding was to be pronounced husband and wife underneath the most beautiful blush and white floral chuppah that included a large, elegant, lighted crystal chandelier,” says the bride. “Our wedding was also a multicultural and interfaith marriage, with Alistair being British and Jewish and me being Filipino and Catholic.

    Our officiant incorporated elements of both traditions to lead the most heartfelt and powerful ceremony that we and many of our guests had even experienced. Our overall feeling at the end of the wedding was a sense of elation, that we did not want the evening to stop! The dance floor was still packed for the final dance, and we just wanted to prolong the moment for as long as possible.”

    WEDDING TALENT

    Location: The Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA; Wedding Dress: Galia LahavGroom’s Attire: Georgio Armani; Photography: Duke Images, Pasadena, CA

    Follow us: