The Journal

San Luis Obispo wedding at Madonna Inn

The Madonna Inn is a famously over-the-top, delightfully kitsch destination hotel and events center in San Luis Obispo. Every guest room (just over 100 of them) is infused with its own vibrant, one-of-a-kind personality.  Even the names of the rooms have character: Fabulous Fifties, Daisy Mae, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Country Gentleman are just a few of the fabulous names you’ll encounter (emblazoned across each guest room door). And I loved reading this article on Buzzfeed about the top 25 must-experience rooms.

All of Madonna Inn’s rooms provided a charmingly ostentatious backdrop for pre-ceremony photos (as well as in-room portraits by Jonathan Grassi, gifted to wedding guests by the bride and groom in lieu of traditional favors).

Suzi is Persian, and she and Spencer infused her heritage in their Madonna Inn wedding with an outdoor ceremony in the “Secret Garden.” The couple’s family members held a fabric canopy over them during the ceremony, and Suzi’s sister ground sugar cones above the canopy to add sweetness to the bride and groom’s life together.  Included in the sofreh-e aghd (ceremony spread) were hazelnuts, walnuts, and almonds (symbolizing fertility), and a mirror and candelabras (symbolizing light, fire, and energy).

As for the bouquet and garter toss, Suzi and Spencer noted in their wedding program: “if you really know us, you know neither is happening.” The wedding program also offered some entertainment for wedding guests with “I Spy” (one of which was “a person from LA complaining how cold it is”) and “Truth or Dare” (one of the “truth” challenges was to share best and worst wedding stories with neighbors at the table).

Suzi and Spencer also sent a “save the date” notice to their wedding guests by way of animated video.

So. #1414eva. Enjoy a few of my faves and check out the rest on Rock N Roll Bride!

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Venue // Madonna Inn
Wedding dress // Reem Acra
Bride’s shoes // Gucci
Catering + cake // Madonna Inn

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