Lighting a Timeless Wedding

Sometimes the best inspiration for a design emerges not from unlimited choices but from thoughtful constraints. For Gaby LoGuercio and Peter Maloy’s wedding, the Catholic Church where they were to wed, and its limited ceremony schedule helped shape the flow of their unforgettable day.

With an afternoon ceremony and the comfort of out-of-town guests in mind, designer Billy Butchkavitz transformed the Langham Huntington Pasadena into a grand, whimsical estate. Drawing on the bride’s cherished childhood memories of roaming the Langham grounds, sipping tea, and reading on the lawn, Butchkavitz crafted a design that was vibrant yet timeless.

“Think of the grandeur of Mr. Darcy’s estate from ‘Pride and Prejudice’ crossed with the playful extravagance of the estate in ‘Saltburn’ — minus the drama,” Butchkavitz explains of his vision.

Under the golden afternoon sunlight, the Horseshoe Garden became a dazzling tableau. Butchkavitz curated an eclectic collection of elements to evoke a playful yet opulent mood: colorful Indian tents formed cozy gathering spaces, while tables and furniture draped in fabrics as lush as tapestries shimmered in the light. Jeweled insects, golden birds, butterflies, statues, and ornate vessels adorned the space, creating a feast for the eyes. Even the couple’s wedding monogram, framed as a triptych, added a bespoke touch to the design.

“It wasn’t about creating a typical white wedding,” Butchkavitz says. “It was about designing a vibrant architectural folly, alive with dramatic patterns, whimsical curiosities, and bursts of color.”

As evening descended and the celebration moved to the Viennese Ballroom and Terrace, the design grew even more vivid. Towering floral arrangements adorned not just tables but walls and the custom dance floor, while Agile Eye Event Solutions brought a large floral mural behind the main table to life.

Curt Stahl and Lonnie Thompson of Images by Lighting cast a golden glow across the room, with organic texture projected on the ceiling, large roses projected onto the dance floor, and decor elements punctuated with accent lighting. Perimeter topiaries were highlighted with up lighting, printed floral panels, backing the head table, and DJ were washed with linear wash fixtures, floral table decor pin spotted, and we provided golden mirrored balls flanking the DJ on custom rotating discs to add a modern touch. Overall golden hues bathed the entire ballroom and guests with a warm romantic glow.

Like the Regency-era estates that inspired Butchkavitz’s design, no detail was overlooked. At night’s end, it was time to return the hotel to the present day, and for Gaby and Peter’s own story -- a modern classic – to begin.

Creative Team

Designer: Billy Butchkavitz, Brian Butchkavitz

Venue: Langham Huntington Pasadena

Photography: Gabor Ekecs

Lighting: Images by Lighting

Rentals: Theoni Collection

Specialty Design: Agile Eye Event Solutions

Custom Tents: Raj Tents

Custom pedestals and special staging: Special Event Contractors