This L.A. Couple Flipped the Script of a Traditional Wedding

Katie & Adam — Photo:
Rachel Artime Photography

Katie Danza and Adam Greenberg did things backward: They actually met IRL and then matched on a dating app. "Adam and I have a bunch of mutual friends, so we technically met briefly a few times over the years; the first time we talked was on July 3, 2020, at a socially distanced backyard hang at a friend’s house," Katie says. They even exchanged numbers. "But we didn’t start dating until a few months later when we matched on a dating app."

Their wedding day timeline was backward, too. Following Adam’s Los Olivos proposal in May 2023, the couple started wedding planning. "I knew I wanted to do something nontraditional—that was the goal from day one," Katie says. "I’m one of the last of my friends to get married, so I wanted to do something different and unexpected." So, she and planner Lauren Shapiro flipped the traditional day-of timeline on its head. "We did cocktail hour as people arrived, and then once everyone had taken their seats for dinner, we started the ceremony. I envisioned a fun, lively dinner party followed by a crazy dance party, rather than the back and forth of dancing between dinner courses."

They needed a venue that could accommodate such a structure, and Hotel Per La proved perfect. The ballroom served as both the ceremony and dinner space—at the same time—with tables arranged to create a natural aisle for the bride to walk toward the chuppah; then, the party moved to the rooftop, where a dance floor was erected over the top of the pool to accommodate their nightclub-inspired reception space. And then, of course, there was the beauty of the space. "Hotel Per La was originally built in 1923 as the Los Angeles headquarters of the Bank of Italy, which I loved because I’m half Italian," says Katie, whose father is actor Tony Danza. "It has so much history and character. It was previously the NoMad, and I remember going for dinner and thinking to myself, 'You could have an incredible wedding here.'"

And that’s exactly what she did. Katie and Adam said, "I do," on December 16, 2023, in a gorgeous celebration that turned convention on its head. "I think it’s important to listen to your gut; you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to just because it’s 'typical,'" Katie says of wedding planning. "Switch up the order of events and don’t have a formal ceremony if you don’t want to! The party should reflect your love and your relationship. Big or small, the best weddings feel genuine and true to the couple."

A Morning DIY

Katie is a talented makeup artist for cool-girl brand campaigns—think Jenni Kayne, Dôen, Anita Ko, and Alo. So, there were no more trusted hands than her own for the wedding day. She did her own hair and makeup, opting for a natural and romantic face and loose waves.

The Perfect Dress

Katie and Adam — Rachel Artime Photography

The bride worked with a stylist at the Los Angeles Vivienne Westwood boutique and fell in love with the Cora Cocotte gown. "I tried on so many dresses, but it is very hard to argue with a Vivienne Westwood corset," she says of her search. "The craftsmanship is unmatched, and it is so flattering. We customized the front to be more draped around the bust, which really accentuated my waist and showed off a bit more of the corset. I felt glamorous and timeless, which was what I was going for."

The Accessories

Beneath the gown, Amina Muaddi’s Camelia pump, which features an emerald-cut crystal buckle, was a nod to Katie’s engagement ring. "I borrowed jewelry from my mom, who has an incredible antique jewelry collection," she says. "I wore diamond earrings with a pearl drop, a beautiful diamond and sapphire bracelet—my something borrowed and something blue—and a diamond pin on the bust of the dress to give it a little sparkle."

A Small Wedding Party

Katie’s sister, Emmie, was the only bridesmaid. "She wore an incredible deep green gown by Maison Margiela," the bride says. "I didn’t have a preference as to what she wore; she has incredible taste, so I knew I didn’t have to worry about her. She looked hot!"

A Petite Bouquet

“I was very adamant about my bouquet being small," Katie says. "We kept it simple with only deep burgundy peonies." Her sister carried calla lilies in the same deep burgundy hue.

The First Look

Adam arrived at the hotel suite—looking sharp in a Zegna tuxedo embroidered with the couple’s wedding date—for an intimate first look with the photographer. "I was giddy, excited, and anxious," Katie says. "I knew he would love my dress, but I couldn’t wait to see his reaction after all the buildup. Adam was already crying before he even turned around! It was so special and the perfect way to start the festivities."

An Early Cocktail Hour

As the 193 guests arrived, rather than be seated for the ceremony, they grabbed a cocktail at the bar and mingled with friends and loved ones. The bride and groom curated the perfect playlist on Spotify for the pre-ceremony cocktail hour, "to make sure the vibe was on point," Katie says. Only one notable person was missing. "I skipped cocktail hour to make my grand entrance for the ceremony," the bride shares. "Adam schmoozed with guests."

The Venue

Los Angeles’ Hotel Per La is iconic and Italianate. "We picked it because even without any decor, it is stunning," Katie says. "The staff was incredible. They really understood my vision and gave us free rein to make it happen. They also let us use a lot of their furniture since it is so unique and fitting for the space. We used some, rearranged some, and removed some until we were happy with the vision."

A Unique Ceremony Layout

Since the ceremony would take place during dinner, tables were arranged to create an aisle. "Some guests were also seated upstairs on the mezzanine level, so they watched from the balcony," Katie describes. "It was so fun to see the ceremony from all the different viewpoints. It felt like getting married in a concert hall or auditorium."

A Floral Chuppah

The focal point of the space was the floral chuppah. "While we didn’t want to have an overly religious ceremony, Adam is Jewish, and I am converting, so we made sure to include the Jewish traditions that we love," Katie says. "We signed a ketubah, got married under a chuppah, broke the glass, and danced the hora at the party." Florists Emma and Michael of Mark’s Garden created the ceremony centerpiece. "They blew us all away with its size and detail. It was so gorgeous and made the room smell great."

The Vibe

"Being a winter wedding, I knew I wanted to go with darker colors: deep and rich pinks, greens, and blues—absolutely no pastels," Katie says. "I wanted it to be dark and sexy." There were four different décor and table setting variations. "The round and rectangular tables downstairs were different, and the long tables and round tables upstairs were different," Katie says. "They all had overlapping themes and made sense together, but we loved the variety and thought it made the room look really interesting." Moody details like melting wax candles, smoked glass, and deeply hued watercolor china gave the event a sexy dinner-party feel.

Day-Of Papers

While they kept the invitations digital, they pegged designer Alise Barrett to create an e-vite that would match the printed day-of materials. "Alise also did the name cards, table assignments, and menus to keep everything cohesive. I wanted all the printed material to set the tone for the wedding. It was glamorous, colorful, and whimsical and complemented the venue perfectly," Katie says.

A Jewish Ceremony

Katie walked down the aisle with her parents to Arctic Monkeys track "Baby I’m Yours." It was one of her favorite moments of the day. "Having people both upstairs on the balcony and all around us, we were surrounded by love. It was overwhelming," she says.

Personal Vows

"Our friend Seth was our officiant, and he killed it," Katie says. "He was funny and profound and set the tone for the entire night. Reading our vows to each other was incredibly meaningful. We both wrote our own vows, and it is still our favorite part of the entire day. We will cherish those moments forever."

A Lively Recessional

The couple also curated the ceremony playlist, ending it with a funky recessional to Jamiroquai’s "Alright."

A Custom Cape for the Ceremony

"I had tried on a few veils, but it just did not feel like me, so we decided to add a custom cape to my dress," Katie says. "It was the first time Vivienne Westwood had ever done a cape with that particular dress. I loved the drama and how unexpected it was." The cape was removable, and Katie wore it exclusively for the ceremony.

Family Ties

After "I do," the newlyweds took their seats to dine with their guests and listen to speeches. Katie’s dad, Tony Danza, took the mic for a memorable father-of-the-bride speech.

Dinner and a Show

"We wanted the food to be served family style, like a big dinner party at a friend’s house, but elevated," Katie says. "The first course was tricolor salad and truffle arancini, and the second was a bucatini pasta with pomodoro sauce. The main entrees were miso black cod and short ribs, and since it was family style, everyone got to try everything."

An Anti-Cake Cake

Katie and Adam did do cake tastings, but they weren’t blown away. "We realized that our favorite dessert is the mille crêpes cake from Lady M in Los Angeles, and that it could be a cool wedding cake," Katie says. "It is so special and unique: Each layer is about 20 crepes layered with cream. Mark’s Garden complemented it with the most gorgeous deep burgundy peonies to tie it all together."

A Nightclub-Themed Reception

After dinner, it was time to get the party started. "Hotel Per La has an incredible rooftop, the perfect space for a rowdy party," Katie says. "We covered the pool with the most beautiful hand-painted dance floor. Around the perimeter were gorgeous velvet chairs and couches that gave it the feel of a nightclub and allowed people to take breaks from dancing." They added a tent for fear of chilly December weather but kept the roof clear and the sides draped to let in the view of downtown Los Angeles. "We draped the walls with a beautiful sage green velvet that mimicked the greenery on the dance floor. We added hanging greenery and hanging pendants. There was a whole indoor-outdoor flow to it that made it fun," she says.

The Hora

They kicked off the party with a celebratory hora. "I was unsure about getting in the chair, but it was unbelievable," Katie says. "The energy and love coming from our friends and family was palpable. It was wild."

Fashionable Guests

Guests got the vibey memo and dressed to the nines in sexy black-tie to hit the dance floor with the newlyweds as West Coast Music’s Everyday People entertained. They made pit stops while dancing to grab handfuls of Garrett Popcorn, a Chicago staple that served as a nod to Adam’s hometown.

A Packed Dance Floor

All the bride had hoped for was a crazy dance party, and a crazy dance party is what she got. When it was all said and done, "we went to Ojai for a couple of nights after the wedding to recover," Katie says. "But our real honeymoon was in Japan—and it was the trip of a lifetime."