Connie Peterson and Matthew Pavlovich fell for each other immediately upon meeting during their first semester at USC. A few years after graduating, the Los Angeles-based couple solidified their college-sweetheart status with an engagement near Peterson’s parents’ house at Pelican Point. “Matt and my dad planned my mom’s birthday dinner in Newport Beach the night before we got engaged,” says Connie, who works as a relocation coordinator for her father’s law firm (the groom is a principal at a real estate investment firm). “I thought we were celebrating my mom the whole weekend, so when Matt proposed on our morning walk I was in complete disbelief.”

The couple settled on a June black-tie wedding, choosing Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral as the site of the ceremony, a particularly special location for Connie. “There was no question this was where we wanted to become husband and wife,” says the bride. “My parents got married in this church.” 

Guests—many of whom were also USC alumni—were given a special treat upon leaving the ceremony: The USC Trojan Marching Band provided a rousing soundtrack as everyone departed for the reception at the private California Club.

Once they arrived at the Downtown L.A. venue, friends and family were greeted by a gorgeous array of long tables with a few round ones scattered throughout, all decorated with vases of peonies, garden roses and tulips in a palette of green, white and blush.

Connie’s Greek heritage played into many aspects of the party, most notably the food—from the hors d’oeuvres (spanakopita, tiropita and lamb lollipops) to deep-fried loukoumades (Greek donuts) made to order on the patio throughout the night, to dessert, an assortment of Greek pastries as a complement to the Sweet Lady Jane multitiered wedding cake.

Once the hour turned late, the bride changed from her silk faille Oscar de la Renta gown into a Reem Acra cocktail dress (both selected with the help of her maid of honor, wedding stylist Cynthia Cook)—the better to dance to two different bands, a traditional ensemble and a Greek band—rounding out an evening rich in family tradition. 

PLANNER Brooke Keegan Special Events FLORIST Nisie’s Enchanted Florist ENTERTAINMENT Synthesi, Impulse at West Coast Music, USC Trojan Marching Band GOWN Oscar de la Renta SUIT House of Être HONEYMOON Hvar and Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Mykonos and Santorini, Greece

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Amy and Stuart Photography.
WRITTEN BY Sari Anne Tuschman.