Meet Janine and Doug Rubenstein. The pair met on Facebook, fell in love, and wound up at the altar three years later. They were married on August 21, 2011 at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens.
“I had originally wanted my mother to make my dress and only planned to have a fun day trying things on, but after getting zipped up in this one Alita Graham gown, I fell in love,” Janine remembers.
Janine’s pretty pink Badgley Mischka bridal heels complement her whimsical wedding style perfectly.
Pink is one of the bride’s two favorite colors, so she made sure to include lots of it on her big day.
“We were definitely on a tight budget,” says Janine. “We did almost everything ourselves with a lot of help from close friends and family.”
Janine’s dream dress didn’t just look the part, but it wound up being pretty comfortable too. “It was light and airy and whimsical and romantic,” she says. “I loved everything about it.”
Doug, 26, is a financial analyst from New Jersey who lucked out when he got a job offer in San Francisco right after college. It was there that he met hometown honey Janine through a mutual friend.
As you can see, Doug and Janine had a very large bridal party. There were a total of sixteen bridesmaids and groomsman all together.
Doug and his groomsman rocked tan suits with bold ties. We love the way Doug’s pink one contrasts with the other colors. What a dapper bunch of young men.
We’re nuts about Janine and Doug’s pretty color combo. The ladies are wearing that pink and purple well.
Hoping to find these lovely bridesmaid dresses for your girls one day? You can find them at J. Crew. Janine’s mother made the bridal and bridesmaid veils and the flower girl dresses.
The first time Facebook friends Janine and Doug met in person was at a holiday party in San Francisco. “We danced to a couple of reggae songs, exchanged numbers, and shortly thereafter went on our first real date!”
When Doug surprised Janine with a proposal, she was so shocked that she barely remembers what happened. “I have no clue what Doug said during his proposal, but I know it was beautiful,” she recalls.
Janine and Doug knew almost instantly that their love would stand the test of time. The pair admit, getting to the altar was tops on their list.
“We had a large outdoor wedding with 220 guests,” says Janine. “It was a beautiful Spanish style garden and nature preserve filled with trickling fountains.”
Janine and Doug took their vows beneath the traditional Jewish chuppah — Doug is half Jewish so it was only fitting that they incorporate some of his family traditions into their “hybrid ceremony.”
The bridesmaids’ handmade veils nearly stole the show. What lovely accents for their pretty purple gowns.
The happy couple take their vows before their dearest loved ones and proud bridal party. #younglove
“We jumped the broom as a nod to our African and African-American ancestry,” says Janine. “Doug is half Jewish so we also broke the glass. Another great moment was when his frat brothers and my sorority sisters surrounded us and sang our organizations’ respective sweetheart hymns.”
The new Mr. and Mrs. Rubenstein seal the deal. Note: Janine’s mom made her lovely cathedral length veil. Isn’t it a beauty?
When it comes to love, sometimes the smallest things bring about the biggest revelations. “When I spent time with Doug’s parents and family and saw how their love is reflected in him, I knew he was ‘the One.’”
Ask Janine what she loves about Doug and she’ll have plenty to say. “He’s the most genuine, loving, and faithful guy I’ve ever met,” she says. “And he throws down in the kitchen. You know what they say: The key to a modern woman’s heart, is through her stomach.”
The groom’s cousin designed these gorgeous seating cards, the menus, and arranged all the florals. Now that’s what we call lending a helping hand.
Lovely table settings greeted guests in the garden for the couple’s family style reception.
When Doug surprised Janine with a birthday dinner and proposal she was touched that he went out of his way to make sure that her entire family attended.
Janine’s bridesmaid Nile made their lovely four-tier colorful cake — helping to nail their whimsical and romantic theme. It looks almost too good to eat.
“I’m not one of those super chic black and white brides,” says Janine. “I love color!” Her favorite colors are pink and purple and Doug’s favorite is blue – together they made the perfect color palette for their whimsical wedding day.
Janine once surprised Doug with a ski trip that wound up being one of their fondest (and funniest) memories to date. “Neither of us had skied before,” she recalls. “After putting on our gear, we instantly fell in the snow before we could even get to the conveyor belt that takes you up the small hill to the lessons. Children were stepping on us as we slipped and fell all over.”
The bride and groom steal a quiet moment for two as their dream wedding day comes to an end.
