Steph & Kelsie

Their Story

In 2020, wedding plans everywhere were thrown into disarray by Covid-19. When couples were able to resume planning, the time spent in isolation was a big factor in what they now wanted from their wedding. That shift in mindset was how Kelsie and Steph Lo-Pelletier ended up with a garden wedding at The Ebell that was 180 degrees from what they started out planning.

“We had been planning a modern, refined wedding for September 2020 at The Ebell of Los Angeles,” Kelsie recalls. “But when we were finally able to get everyone together on our rescheduled date in 2021, we just wanted to have a party!”

The earlier sleek lines and minimal vibe gave way to bold colors, tropical flowers, and tiki-inspired drinks. Working with planner Katie Hall from Best Day Ever LA, Steph and Kelsie infused their day with heart and humor, adding things such as vintage Hawaiian postcards as place cards, and writing Dad jokes and puns for their signage. Two outdoor lounge areas were set up in the garden. One evoked a mid-century modern Palm Springs home, the other turned the Ebell’s patio area into a lanai where dessert was served. Inside, the couple added a rattan double peacock chair for the sweetheart tables. “Which had us feeling like queens all throughout dinner,” Kelsie says.

“They were very confident in their design,” Hall says. ““It was so refreshing that they knew exactly what they wanted, and I was so excited to help bring their vision to life.”

The Ebell was always their venue of choice because, as Kelsie says, “We found nowhere like it. We loved the mix of indoor and outdoor, the dark vintage furniture and its history as a women’s club. It just felt like kismet as a lesbian couple into all things woman.”

What really sealed the deal for them though was the food. “We love to eat,” Kelsie says, “And we didn’t want our wedding to have the typical wedding fare. We had an amazing tasting before the pandemic and were blown away by the breadth and quality of the options at the Ebell. They say you don’t eat on your wedding day, but we ate everything. It was all delicious.” Hall confirms, laughing, ““They did it up! From the tiki hour food stations to the late-night tray pass, they made sure everyone stayed fed and happy!”

Steph and Kelsie’s Menu

Specialty Cocktails
The Jungle Bird

The Old Fashioned

Tray Passed Hors d’oeuvres

Potato Latkes

Coconut Ceviche

Chicken Satay

Maryland Crab Cakes

Korean Short Rib Lettuce Wrap

Seafood Raw Bar

Cheese and Charcuterie Station

Starter

Toybox Salad

Toybox tomatoes, marinated baby mozzarella, sourdough crostini, three-leaf pesto, petite greens, toasted pine nuts, balsamic

Entrée

Grilled Flat Iron

Potato rissoles, roasted heirloom carrots, broccolini, garlic-rosemary malbec demi-glace

Miso Sea Bass

Mushroom blend, sea beans, bok choy, bamboo rice, shoyu-soy-ginger and green tea broth

Crispy Tofu and Wild Mushroom

Sea beans, gold bar squash, shoyu-soy-ginger and green tea broth, radish salad

Dessert

The Butter End wedding cake

Ice Cream Sundae Station

“Our wedding was the first time in a long time that anyone would be ‘out in the world again.’” Kelsie explains. “It was important that the physical space, the florals and the soundtrack of the night came together to feel fun and celebratory.

And … one last thing. To take the entire evening up several levels of celebration, the Chinese Lion Dancers, The Immortals surprised the guests at the end of dinner. The renowned troupe came in with a high-energy show of acrobats, martial arts, songs, and dancing that got guests up on their feet and kept them dancing as the lion dancers left.

Looking back on their wedding, the couple sums it up … “Seeing our friends dancing, hugging, and looking amazing in their fancy casual tiki best made September 4, 2021, the best day of our lives … so far!” One can only imagine that there will be many more best days to come.