Mimi and Courtney’s Madonna Inn Wedding Featured Florals Modeled After Midcentury Flower Hats 

Mimi (she/her) and Courtney (she/her) got married at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California. Their floral designer created hot pink, fuchsia and red bouquets and centerpieces shaped like structured, wired midcentury flower hats. The two brides got ready together that morning, shared a quiet first-look moment before the ceremony and danced their first dance to Norah Jones’ cover of “Unchained Melody.” What truly anchored the day was a profound sense of safety and intention; every single vendor was chosen with deep care, creating a sacred space where the brides knew they were completely celebrated and safe.

“Campy, pink, romantic, iconic, playful and completely us” is how Mimi describes their wedding vibe. “The Madonna Inn already brings so much personality with all the pink and florals, so we leaned into that instead of fighting it. Every corner felt like it was built for us. We wanted our wedding to feel like a reflection of who we actually are, not a performance of what a wedding is supposed to look like.”

A Knee in the Rose Garden

“The proposal happened at our local botanical gardens,” says Mimi. “Courtney made sure I looked extra good that day, even repainting my nails. After wandering for a while, she asked someone to take our photo in the rose garden, got down on one knee, opened the ring box, and simply said, ‘Eh?'”

Palm Springs, Then San Luis Obispo

The brides had a shared bachelorette party in Palm Springs before the October wedding. By the time they arrived in San Luis Obispo, the Madonna Inn, which handled the ceremony, reception, catering and cake, was ready for them. Planner Calmerin Designs and Events and DJ Darla Bea rounded out a vendor team the couple had assembled with particular intentionality, for reasons that would become clear to anyone who heard what the planning process had actually cost them.

Bright Funky Wedding Flowers

The florals came from Flower Shop Girl, whom the couple gave a single directive. “We told our florist to get funky with it,” Mimi says, “and they did.” The result was a palette of bright, unconventional blooms in pink, red and fuchsia, with centerpieces modeled after midcentury flower hats and bouquets reinforced with floral wiring so they held their architectural shape.

The Wedding Party Walks Alone

Each member of the wedding party walked down the aisle individually. The brides’ parents met them at the bottom of the grand staircase and embraced them there. “Being given away isn’t our style,” the couple says. The wedding party itself received crocheted blankets from Mimi as thank-you gifts, made by hand. The pre-ceremony playlist was built from score excerpts of their favorite films, and the drink menu named every beverage after one of their pets.

The Discrimination They Documented

Not every vendor they approached made them feel welcome. The couple describes one early encounter with a vendor who told them the area was outside their service range, despite the vendor’s own website showing recent work at their exact venue. The harder wound came when they searched for an engagement shoot location.

“We reached out to a place that holds a lot of sentimental value for us,” says Mimi, “and the contact we spoke with provided very short, clipped answers and didn’t give us enough information to work with during the planning process.” They decided to test their instinct. They asked a friend to send nearly the same inquiry email but make clear the relationship was heterosexual. “The response from the venue was night and day,” she says. “They were warm and welcoming and told them everything they needed to know immediately. It broke our hearts to see how differently we were treated just because I wrote ‘fianceé’ instead of ‘fiancé.'”

Their advice to other couples comes directly from that experience. “Do not underestimate the power of a vendor who wants the best for you, and who will go to bat for you to ensure you have the wedding you deserve.” And to vendors themselves: “Be mindful, not only of inclusive language, but inclusive action.”

When Authentically Inclusive Wedding Pros Show Up

The disaster with their engagement shoot location ended up showing them just how supportive the right team could be. Photographer Michelle Gunn was the first to prove it. “When we reached out to her in a panic after the engagement shoot location debacle,” Mimi (she/her) says, “she patiently talked through other options with us until we found something perfect.” Ultimately, every single person they brought into their day showed up with a genuine openheartedness that the couple held close, a quiet reassurance they hadn’t taken for granted.”Every vendor we did end up booking was so kind and generous.” ❤️

FEATURED LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVE AND QUEER AFFIRMING WEDDING VENDORS

Photographer: Michelle Gunn Photo
Wedding Ceremony Venue: Madonna Inn
Wedding Reception Venue: Madonna Inn
Florist: Flower Shop Girl
Planner/Coordinator: Calmerin Designs and Events
DJ: DJ Darla Bea
Invitation Designer: Zola
Attire for Mimi: Jenny Yoo
Attire for Courtney: Maggie Sottero
Catering: Madonna Inn
Cake Designer: Madonna Inn