A Chic New Year’s Eve Wedding At Vibiana in Los Angeles, California

When Sarah Koplin was working at Warner Bros. during the summer of 2008, Rawson Thurber was a writer and director who visited the studio to sell a project. Sarah offered him some water, and the rest is history.

The wedding planning process was a whirlwind, as the couple considered hosting their wedding in San Francisco and Paris before deciding to get married on New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles. That way, everyone could celebrate together. With the help of Simply Troy Lifestyle & Events, Sarah and Rawson’s wedding vision unfolded–the perfect combination of romance and New Year’s Eve touches.

The wedding day was a black tie affair, and the bride and groom were a giddy combination of nervous and excited. In the bridal suite, bridesmaids were buzzing around in black dresses, red lipstick, and red roses in their hair. The groomsmen spent their time throwing footballs in tuxedos and leisurely enjoying the day.

In a truly unique setting, the bride and groom were married in the round. At various points during the ceremony, they would ask people to come up and encircle them, encircling themselves with their closest family and friends. Just as they were about to exchange their vows, they asked for all remaining guests to surround them as well, so everyone participated in the ceremony together as a loving community. Not only was it a moving gesture, but it expressed the all-encompassing love the couple feels for each other.

The wedding reception was held at the historic Vibiana, where white and gold balloons lined the ceilings to be dropped at midnight. Huge trees adorned in candlelight were brought in to be sprinkled among the tables. Jewel-toned florals covered the candelabras, which sat atop jeweled rose-colored table linens–all, surrounding a white dance floor in the middle of the space. The most notable décor feature, however, was ten large painted lampposts that Sara and Rawson brought in to recreate their favorite urban lights installation.

The newlyweds also provided guests with gift bags that were a further reflection of who they are as a couple. On Sunday mornings, especially during football season, they like to visit Bob’s Doughnuts at the Historic Farmer’s Market on Fairfax; so the gift bags contained a warm doughnut, a New York Times newspaper from New Year’s Day that they had requested to be delivered early, a Starbucks coffee, and hangover essentials.

By the end of the wedding, Sarah and Rawson were on cloud nine. “There is nothing more remarkable than having everyone in the world you love in one room,” the couple says. “It was so overwhelmingly wonderful; no wonder it went by so fast.”