Empire star Kaitlin Doubleday married her longtime boyfriend Dj Devin Lucien at the Ventana Inn and Spa in Big Sur, CA, Friday. Chatting exclusively with The Knot, wedding planner Samantha Hall shared all the details from Doubleday’s romantic and rainy May 6 wedding.
The outdoor wedding, which started at 6pm and didn’t end until 1am on account of dancing, “was all about the romance,” Hall told The Knot. “She really wanted to have that touch of rustic with that elegant chic look, but it was all about the candles and making sure to have that soft romantic touch.”
Wedding guests enjoyed wine during the reception from Club W. Credit: Aevitas Weddings
Doubleday’s wedding included a whopping 1,000 flickering candles featuring hanging candles positioned over a formal king’s table to set the mood. The Samantha Hall Events wedding stylist explained, “With the combination between myself and the florist Christine Cater, we wanted to make it look like a wedding, but also a comfortable romantic atmosphere where people were wowed and didn’t want to leave.”
The ceremony music was performed by Monterey String Trio. Female wedding guests used heel covers by Starlettos to easily walk on the grass for the ceremony. Credit: Aevitas Weddings
Doubleday and Lucien married in a meadow that overlooked Big Sur mountain views, and Hall told The Knot, “Although it rained and it was a little foggy, you can still see parts of the ocean view.” The couple’s reception moved to the two-level terrace and restaurant at the Ventana Inn and by that time “the clouds and rain had cleared up so they had visible stars above them,” Hall said.
Wedding guests enjoyed cake and cupcakes by Kara’s Cupcakes. Credit: Aevitas Weddings
The bride celebrated with a “cocktail style wedding reception,” with several cocktail tables sporting a new combination of velvet steel and charcoal colored linens by La Tavola, along with vintage lounge furniture from One True Love Vintage Rentals and Abbey Party Rents SF. Florist Christine Cater decorated centerpieces and lush bridal bouquets with Doubleday’s favorite flower, white and black anemones, Hall shared with The Knot.
Credit: Aevitas Weddings
Between the ceremony and reception Doubleday had a stunning wardrobe change. She paired a long train with her gorgeous white A-line gown with a sheer back decorated with floral appliques for the ceremony, and she switched to a shorter cocktail dress with similar floral lace detailing and plunging, sheer neckline to get her party on! Both dresses were custom made for the bride by designer Mark Zunino, while Paul Blach did her beautiful makeup.
Credit: Aevitas Weddings
At the reception Doubleday and her husband Lucien shared their first dance to Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed” played by the Monterey String Trio. However, the most memorable part of the newlywed’s day, according to the couple’s wedding planner, was the outdoor father daughter dance which almost didn’t happen!
Credit: Aevitas Weddings
“I know Kaitlin is very close with her father, and they were both looking forward to that dance outside. It was honestly such a magical moment for them because even though it had rained earlier in the day making it very cold to do anything outside, everybody went outside forming a circle under the bistro lights, making it that special father daughter dance moment under the stars for them.” In the midst of family and friends, Doubleday and her father danced to “You’re All I Need to get By” by Marvin Gaye.
Credit: Aevitas Weddings
Some of the bride’s Empire co-stars also shared in “Rhonda’s” big day. Gabourey Sidibe, AzMarie Livingston and Rafael de la Fuente were caught celebrating Doubelday and Lucien’s newlywed status, and film producer Lee Daniels and his partner Jahil Fisher were also moved by the music, with everyone dancing well into the night.
Credit: Aevitas Weddings
Instead of having a photobooth the couple utilized 10 Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 cameras to capture the romance and fun of the evening. “We passed them out right before grand entrance, and people were taking photos the entire night of themselves and the newlyweds,” Hall told the Knot. Guests were not only able to take the Polaroid-like instant photos home, but gifted some silly and some serious pictures to the bride and groom as well!
Though their wedding planner could not share exact details on the couple’s whereabouts and plans for after the wedding, she did confirm that they will be honeymooning in Greece!
Congratulations to Empire’s Kaitlin Doubleday and her husband DJ Devin Lucien on their romantic Big Sur wedding!
