Portia De Rossi and Ellen Degeneres

This is possibly one of my favorite celebrity weddings ever. It is so intimate and intricate, no detail was overlooked. Degeneres and De Rossi’s private ceremony at their L.A. home, much like the couple, had character and personality. So if you are looking for a warm and inviting party for a close group of friends and family, read on to see how these ladies made it happen.

The Brides. Degeneres and De Rossi both rocked custom Zac Posen ensembles. Portia De Rossi has long been one of my favorite red carpet dressers and her muted pink wedding gown did me proud.  I must admit it was difficult to find gowns with all of the same features, but I think to capture the essence you should look for a fitted bodice with a tulle ball-gown skirt. To keep this look chic and not princess-y forgo a veil and keep jewelry to an absolute minimum, note De Rossi’s bracelets. Also, keep hair and makeup simple. No helmet hair, an easy updo using your hair’s natural texture will do just fine. Makeup should be clean, clean, clean. Use a light powder foundation, I am currently obsessed with Smashbox’s new HALO hydrating perfecting powder, $59. It gives you a healthy glow while keeping you fresh and shine free, this stuff is amazing. I think it is going to replace my Bare Minerals, this is serious, HALO is oil, talc, and paraben free, damn those parebens. To complete De Rossi’s look find a pretty pink lipstick, Neutrogena’s MoistureShine Lip Sheers in Fresh Rose, $8.99, is perfect. Keep the eyes super simple with your favorite black liner and jet black mascara, waterproof was necessary for the happy couple. Degeneres also sported a fresh face with very delicate makeup, this Revlon spokeslady always keeps things simple, can you believe she is 50!?!? Revlon’s Age Defying makeup with botafirm, $13, is great for dry or mature skin because it doesn’t sink into lines. Mascara and ChapStick finish off her look. You see? crazy simple.

The Ceremony. The ceremony was effortless, officiated by inspirational author Wayne Dyer, where the happy couple exchanged Neil Lane rings. STEAL THIS IDEA: The ladies sat on giant floor pillows while they exchanged vows. I think this is such a great idea, it’s so personal and really brings everyone to the same level. I think this is really romantic and fun, it also takes away the need to decorate an altar space.

The Music. If you have never listened to Joshua Radin you are totally missing out, this guy can sang! He serenaded the happy couple and brought the house to tears, trust me, he is that good. STEAL THIS IDEA: Okay, so maybe Josh Radin is out of the budget, but there is nothing cooler than having your very own rock star singing at your ceremony and/or reception. My best friend had a favorite musician, Micah Dalton, rock her ceremony. Another friend was married to an Atlanta based musician last year, the stage was set up for an open mic so that all of their musician buddies and band mates could serenade the couple, it was super hip. My favorite was piano crooner Asyln, I cried...a lot. So don’t feel limited by budget and get out there and support your local music crowd.

The Reception. Their 30 or so guests dined on an entirely vegan meal prepared by their personal chef David Silberkleit. Their red velvet cake, by Sweet Lady Jane, was also a vegan creation. Meat and Dairy-free food has come a very long way, I have even gotten my meat loving hubby into it, so don’t let your own dietary concerns keep you from having your perfect menu.

The Decor. This is the most beautiful reception ever! I love everything about it. The details are really what make this set-up work. The reception took place on the couples back porch, now if you have a space conducive to this type of entertaining then by all means save the money and do it there. This look could also be achieved in a billowy white tent. STEAL THIS IDEA: My favorite part are their chairs. I love chairs, you can ask Morgan, I ruled out reception sites because of chairs...I ended up using covers. To get the mismatched look, head over to your local junkyard or thrift store and purchase as many as you can. Go buy some ivory spray paint and get painting! If you need to reupholster buy some cheap pretty fabric and a staple gun. Rent a long table with a pretty white cloth and your are halfway there. For lighting, look for lanterns, I like Cb2’s options, nice and cheap, they are smaller than those used by the ladies so maybe arrange them in clusters of three. Using Ikea’s silver flower boxes, line the tables and fill with your flowers of choice. The couple chose Ecuadorian roses and café au lait dahlias, mixing soft pinks and browns. Mix in some pillar holders, I prefer crystal, and you have a stunning tablescape. Now if purchasing all of this makes you a bit nervous, don’t be! That’s what ebay is for, hello re-sell! It’s super easy, plus you might be able to actually sell for more than you paid. I’m so brilliant or at least I think so :)

So, I hope you can pull anything from this intimate and elegant wedding to fuse into your big day. This wedding could be easily made to fit larger or smaller groups, you just have to be creative. Always remember the most important thing about your wedding is the people helping you celebrate.

Lauren