Venue/Caterer: Five Crowns Restaurant
Wedding Coordinator: Lily Mac Events
Videographer: David Moore
Florist: Cabbage Rose Weddings Cake: Simply Sweet Cakery
Hair: Mallory Boaz Makeup: Ms. Victoria Beauty
DJ/Band: Steve Burdick
Gown Designer: Essense of Australia
Bridesmaids Attire: David’s Bridal Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Friar Tux
Jewelry: Haute Couture
Intimate weddings can be a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, there’s a tremendous benefit to honoring a special moment with special people. On the other, a smaller procession puts the details in the spotlight. With its inviting atmosphere, versatile design and prime location, Five Crowns Restaurant in Corona Del Mar provides countless avenues for a beautiful night.
Five Crowns is certainly intimate, but there’s nothing cramped about it. Its outdoor portions have a great balance of light and shade, and much of the building has natural lighting. Group photos are easy, and there are a plethora of angles to take for couple shots. From the inside out, Five Crowns has its aesthetic appeal down to a science. Its niche within the city is irreplaceable, and that plays out in every facet of the weddings it hosts.
There’s a perfect balance of lived-in functionality at play throughout Five Crowns. Dining areas are breathtakingly beautiful, but not to the point where you can’t eat there. Strategically-placed mirrors and reflective surfaces make the various ornamentation a gift that keeps on giving. Without being obnoxious about it, the venue features recurring colors and patterns. This makes shot composition much easier, without sacrificing livability for a photogenic design.
The place where the magic moment happens remains distinct from the building. Its traditional feel embodies those touching endings from romance movies. The ones where the happy couple professes their feelings, while surrounded by those they care about most. It’s small, without feeling limited. The less-is-more landscaping allows the people themselves to shape the venue’s feel. I was struck by how at-home everyone looked before, during and after the procession. Capturing moments of genuine happiness was practically a cakewalk.
People make up a wedding, and Five Crowns is built for people. The courtyard is designed for congregations—for those who take pride in being close to one another, and the people getting married. The procession feels just as natural as the before and after. Five Crowns obvious takes pride in its ability to bring people together. The moments I captured embodied a joyful celebration from a new family.
The surrounding streets provide a compelling backdrop, expanding beyond the intimate setting. Not only that but heading down to the beach for Evan & Liz’s romantic session only took 40 minutes. Yeah, that means driving down there, taking photos and driving back. This allowed me to take some of the most memorable shots of the day. These extra options expand Five Crowns’ potential as a photoshoot location beyond the venue itself.
Five Crowns’ open design concept becomes the perfect foil for its smaller size. Lighting changes naturally as the day wears on, opening a new world of possibilities with each hour. Just moving from one end of the courtyard to the other can completely change the texture of who or what you’re photographing. As vibrant greens work well against the whites, greys and reds, the color scheme couldn’t have been better.
A lot of wedding dances are charming because of their awkwardness, but this venue goes above and beyond with regard to making things cozy and comfortable. Guests are able to approach this place like a home, not an event center. Five Crowns is clean, but not sterile. It’s elegant, but approachable. For a couple who values tight-nit community, this place may even leave you wanting to come back after the event.
Contact Me to hear more about this beautiful day https://christopherbrownweddings.com/contact
