Photo: Caroline Tran
Meghan Bakshi and Andrew James Hoffman II met because of their mutual love for getting down on the dance floor. Their stars aligned during a hip-hop night at a bar called—of all things—Nasty's while they were both attending the University of Texas at Austin law school in 2006. "Classy, I know," quips the bride.
The couple wed on Aug. 20, 2011 at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel, California, followed by an elegant reception at the beautiful St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in nearby Dana Point.
In 2010, Andrew proposed to Meghan in Malibu, with a cushion-cut diamond engagement ring from Anthony Sarkissian, a jeweler in Beverly Hills. The couple—now both attorneys—say they've always dreamed of a wedding that was "personal and extremely detail-oriented," says the bride. "Our goal for the décor was to create a clean, modern, and chic atmosphere." Everything about the wedding, starting with the invitations, was "inspired by the colors of the sand and the sea," she says.
Meghan wore a strapless, ruched Vera Wang wedding dress, which slightly flared out into a mermaid skirt, and carried a bouquet of white orchids. She accessorized with her mother's earrings from India, her grandmother's wedding ring ("something borrowed"), and a necklace that was a recent gift from her mother ("something new"). She also wore silver flats by Christian Louboutin—complete with the designer's signature red sole. As for the groom, he donned a classic, black Ralph Lauren tuxedo, which he accessorized with a white orchid boutonniere.
The bridesmaids wore floor-length, off-white Priscilla of Boston dresses, complemented with amber-stone necklaces (a gift from the bride). They carried white bouquets of various flowers.
The couple was wed in a traditional Catholic ceremony at St. Timothy's Church, followed by a reception at the gorgeous, oceanfront St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort. The outdoor reception décor was the epitome of clean and modern, with its chic, white details and light-blue accents. The table settings reflected the wedding's beach-inspired theme with their shell motifs, while the white orchid centerpieces echoed the flowers in the bride's bouquet.
Guests were served a signature cocktail called the "Indian Summer," which was a reference to both the bride's heritage and the late-August wedding. It was a sweet tea cocktail, inspired by the famous sweet tea made in Austin—where they met. The couple served a classic, five-tier white wedding cake decorated with orchids.
Meghan says a highlight of the dinner was "when I presented Andrew with a surprise groom's cake fashioned to look like a University of Michigan wolverine." Another highlight were the speeches, in one of which "Andrew's brother commented that he knew things were serious when Andrew missed a University of Michigan football game to go on vacation with me."
When it came time to hit the dance floor, the bride says everyone especially enjoyed "the performance by the Spazmatics, an '80s cover band whose concerts we frequently attended while living in Austin." During the band's rendition of "Safety Dance," Andrew took the microphone and jumped on stage for an impromptu performance. Another wonderful moment was the couple's first dance, which was to Dave Barnes' "On a Night Like This." "We fell in love with this song after seeing Dave perform live in Austin," says the bride.
—Natalie Gontcharova
To see more of Meghan and Andrew's wedding at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, visit Elizabeth Anne Designs.
Wedding Planner: Jeannie Savage of Details Details || Ceremony Venue: St. Timothy Catholic Church || Reception Venue: St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort || Bride's Wedding Dress: Vera Wang || Bride's Veil: Vera Wang || Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin || Groom's Tux: Ralph Lauren || Bridesmaids' Dresses: Priscilla of Boston || Florist: White Lilac, Inc. || Stationery: Papermade Design || Save-the-Dates: Minted || Cake Baker: St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort || Groom's Cake Baker: Filigree Cakes || Entertainment: The Spazmatics; Peter Papadopoulos of Vive Entertainment || Videography: FortyOneTwenty || Photography: Caroline Tran