Inside the Wedding of Top Chef's Marcel Vigneron & Lauren Rae Levy

From stunning floral arrangements with a mix of dried and fresh flowers and personalized details, to impeccable cuisine and unique surprises for loved ones, Lauren and Marcel's alfresco nuptials were absolutely perfect for them. To get an insider's look into the magical day, read our interview with celebrity wedding planner Tessa Brand of Tessa Lyn Events, below, and view more images of the enchanting, whimsical event!

Inside Weddings: You’ve worked with celebrities in the past; how was it to work with Marcel throughout the process? Did he and Lauren have a specific vision or did you work together to curate the look?
Tessa Brand of Tessa Lyn Events: Lauren and Marcel knew exactly what they wanted, they just needed my guidance to pull it all together so they could enjoy their engagement with their already very busy life.

IW: What design and color scheme did the couple have in mind? 
TLE: They had a very clear vision of the design before they hired me. We talked about their wishes in the interview process and then I made that come to life over the five months that we planned together. They wanted the wedding to feel like an enchanted forest, as they both love the outdoors. We used neutral colors (creams and caramels) to enhance the already beautiful Hummingbird Nest Ranch. Floral designer Best Day Ever created magic with a mix of dried and fresh flowers. She was the perfect fit for the couple.

IW: Obviously Marcel had a grand menu in mind. Are there any dishes that were guest favorites?
TLE: Attending the tasting with a chef was so much fun. Marcel had such great input on all the food, but was also very trusting of the Tres LA team. He thought more about the actual ingredients and the temperature of the food for so many guests. Ultimately, they chose a seared branzino, a cabernet-braised short rib, and a vegan mushroom risotto as the main dishes. Cocktail hour was also impressive with a burrata bar and live pasta station where the chef used a parmesan wheel. The night ended with an incredible dessert bar with cinnamon churros, panna cotta, and avocado brownie bites. And we surprised guests with a liquid-nitrogen ice cream truck. The guests were blown away by the food.

IW: What were the most unique elements of the celebration? 
TLE: We had a unicorn! Lauren has always loved unicorns, so she felt it was fitting to have one in her enchanted forest. The guests went wild and those who knew her felt it was such personal touch. We also hired the Bubble Tap Trailer, which is an adorable Champagne trailer with bubbly on tap, and on the reverse side of the taps is a cozy photo booth. Lauren also wanted to do something really creative for the seating chart, so we had a calligrapher write each of the guest's names on cutting boards, and we mixed in climbing equipment – perfect for the chef and his rock climber. As an additional bonus, the couple surprised each of their guests with a bracelet featuring a personal word of intention they had provided with their RSVPs.

IW: What was the best advice you think you gave to the couple?
TLE: I told them to trust me! And they did. They were extremely trusting and appreciative the whole time and let me use my expertise to make their vision come to life. They were such a lovely couple to work with.

Resources

Photography: David Mendoza III
Catering: Tres LA
Rentals: A Rental Connection, Love This Way
Floral Design: Best Day Ever
Videography: Rayne Films
Music & Entertainment: Jordan Music Entertainment, Cory Clark
Tabletop: Casa De Perrin
Invitations: Twin Ravens Press
Calligraphy: Rox Ink
Unicorn: Milo the Unicorn / Sheroes Entertainment

See more of Tessa Lyn Events' real weddings and expert advice articles here. For more wedding tips from the celebrity wedding planner, read all about wedding seating charts, find out what to do the morning of your wedding, and discover six things your wedding planner doesn't tell you.