This Couple’s Butterfly-Themed Wedding Might Just Leave You Breathless

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Sometimes you come across a wedding so stunning, you can feel the planning that went into it (down to the tiniest of sequins). For me, that was LA-based fashion designer Ariel Rezek’s wedding to partner and documentary photographer Lindsay Apatow. 

“I already knew that I wanted to get married at [Tony Duquette’s] Dawnridge [Estate],” Rezek told TQE. “I almost booked it for a Rezek Studio photo shoot years before and I thought it was such a romantic and whimsical space that doesn't feel like you're in Los Angeles.” 

A butterfly motif wove its way through the stunning couple’s big day, from eyecatching moments like the flower arrangements to smaller, intricate elements (like the butterfly-shaped butter) of each tablescape. “It unintentionally became the symbol of our wedding,” Rezek revealed. Butterflies even made their way onto Rezek’s wedding dress and veil – which she custom designed herself. 

I had many more questions about the day – both big and small – which Rezek graciously answered below. 

TQE: Tell us a little bit about yourself and how Rezek Studio came to be.

AR: “I’m a designer based in Los Angeles, and I launched my brand, Rezek Studio, in 2018 after feeling unsatisfied with what was out there. I’ve always been drawn to the colorful, shiny, fun pieces which, back then, were surprisingly hard to find, so I decided to create them myself.” 

TQE: How would you describe the Rezek Studio customer?

AR: “I would describe her as a fashion girly who likes to have fun with her style and enjoys standing out.”

TQE: Where do you pull inspiration from for your collections? 

AR: “A lot of times it starts with a vintage piece that sparks an idea for a certain style or silhouette, and then I build from there. Also whatever color I'm inspired by at the moment. Lately I’ve also been really into Pinterest (I know, I’m a little late). It really gets my aesthetic now, especially the colors I’m drawn to, so I’ll come across images or artwork that instantly excite me and inspire what I want to create next.”

TQE: How did you and your partner meet? 

AR: “We met on Raya. Lol. I was not there for women, and somehow there was a glitch in the system and she was able to direct request me. I took a chance, and it obviously worked!” 

TQE: Would love to hear the story of your engagement and your stunning ring!

AR: “Lindsay proposed to me on my birthday during one of our favorite quick getaways to Palm Springs. It was really intimate and sweet. We had already been looking at rings together, and I had fallen in love with a 4-carat square cushion-cut diamond. I knew I wanted to keep the setting simple with just a gold band, especially since my style can be pretty over-the-top and colorful.” 

TQE: How did you decide the theme and venue for the wedding? 

AR: “I already knew that I wanted to get married at Dawnridge. I almost booked it for a Rezek Studio photo shoot years before, and I thought it was such a romantic and whimsical space that doesn't feel like you're in Los Angeles. As far as the theme, it just organically happened. I knew how I wanted it to feel, and everything became an extension of my personal style and what I love.” 

TQE: What was the inspiration behind the butterfly motif seen throughout your wedding?

AR: “I'm a butterfly girl. The first place I knew I wanted to incorporate butterflies was in my dress. From there, it just felt like a natural motif to lean into whenever we needed one, like butterfly-shaped butter, etc. It unintentionally became the symbol of our wedding.”

TQE: What was the inspiration behind your custom wedding dress? Were there any references you pulled from?

AR: “Pinterest! I knew I wanted something more elegant and simple since the wedding itself was going to be so maximalist. I'm very inspired by the Art Deco period, and my references for the skirt and train came from brides in the 1920s. I still wanted to find ways to make it feel playful and me, so I designed a butterfly and flower motif that was embroidered onto the corset bodice, inspired by a photo I found of an unnamed vintage corset. And at the last minute, I ended up wearing a veil covered in 3D butterflies!”

TQE: Did you always know you were going to design your own wedding dress?

AR: “For the most part, yes. There were definitely moments where I thought maybe I should just buy something, but as a designer, it felt important to me to have something custom-made.”

TQE: I loved seeing the Supremes cover band and the servers in custom Rezek pieces as well. Tell us a little bit more about what the design process was like and what your vision was for the looks.

AR: “The colors and overall aesthetic of the wedding really became a natural extension of me, which is also an extension of my brand, Rezek Studio. Dressing the Supremes cover band was an easy decision. I immediately pictured them in matching outfits with lots of feathers for more dramatic movement while they danced. I had those made maybe a week before the wedding and just prayed that they were comfortable in the dresses. They looked incredible, and those pictures were my favorite from the night. For the servers and bartenders, we put them in fun green suits and hats and added a bit of bedazzling. We added Rezek Studio’s rhinestone flowerettes that I launched years ago. Why not go the extra mile and have everyone dress up?”

TQE: Walk us through the second look from your wedding. Did you design the second white mini dress as well? What was the inspiration behind it?

AR: “For the dancing portion of the night, I had a mini skirt made in the same fabric as my ceremony skirt, which I wore with the same embroidered corset. I wanted something a bit more playful and easier to move in. I added butterflies in my hair and felt like a fairy.” 

TQE: What about the third look? Would love to hear the story behind finding the sequined dress and what you did to make it feel your own, since I read it was restructured! 

AR: “ The third look was a vintage, sequin dress with a beautiful motif, and was apparently a costume for a movie. The colors on it are incredible and perfectly faded. I instantly fell in love with it at a vintage fair. I had completely restructured to a sleeveless style. It's now the most beautiful clothing item I own. More like a work of art!”

For more whimsy, follow @rezekstudio here, and for more wedding photos, @arielrezek.