A Wedding Day at The Harper, Hour by Hour

Jadee & Richard's real timeline · Costa Mesa

What a Day at The Harper Really Looks Like

A venue tour shows you a space when it is empty. This guide shows how The Harper by Wedgewood Weddings in Costa Mesa works on a real wedding day, using the actual schedule from Jadee and Richard's October 12, 2025 wedding. They got ready in Newport Beach, then spent the rest of the day at The Harper: a tea ceremony in the garden, a first look among the olive trees, a 5:00 PM outdoor ceremony under string lights and a reception in the chandelier room, with portraits in the library suite. We covered the day with photo and video from 11:30 AM to about 9:15 PM. Each step below pairs their timeline with the space it happened in, the photo spots we used and what we would tell any couple planning a Harper wedding. For the full story, see Jadee and Richard's wedding.

11:30 AM · Flat Lay and Getting Ready in Newport Beach

The day started with a flat lay at 11:30 at a rental on the Balboa Peninsula, about ten minutes from the venue: vow books, rings, invitations and Richard's shoes and bow tie in their champagne, burgundy and white palette. Richard called his morning game day and headed out with the groomsmen at noon while Jadee and her bridesmaids got ready in matching robes. If you get ready off site, plan the drive and leave at least 25 minutes of buffer, the way they left at 1:20 for a 1:45 arrival.

His and hers vow books with white roses and green orchids in the flat lay

Richard's black shoes and bow tie styled with greenery

Jadee's wedding gown hanging in the bright Newport Beach rental

Bridesmaids in matching robes in the white room in Newport Beach

Richard and his groomsmen walking a Newport Beach street on game day

Groomsmen goofing around on the street on game day

1:45 PM · Arriving at The Harper and the Library Suite

Richard and the groomsmen finished getting dressed in the library style suite, with navy bookshelves, a cognac leather sofa and patterned rugs. Its dark, rich tones make it a great contrast to the bright white bridal suite, so you get two very different looks without leaving the building. The palms and hedges outside the entrance gave us a second, brighter backdrop for the full group.

Richard greeting a groomsman in the library style suite at The Harper

Richard with two groomsmen in front of the navy bookshelves

Groomsmen in black tuxedos and red ties in the library suite at The Harper

Black and white portrait of Richard on a tufted sofa in the library suite

Richard on the cognac leather sofa at The Harper

Groomsmen lined up under the palm trees outside The Harper

Richard with his best man in the garden, photographed by One and Only Production

2:30 PM · Tea Ceremony in the Garden

Jadee changed into a burgundy qipao with gold embroidery, and the tea ceremony took place in the garden with red tea trays, a red welcome sign and family seated under the olive trees. Plan about an hour for a tea ceremony like theirs, including family photos in traditional attire right after. Holding it in the garden instead of indoors gave every photo open shade and greenery.

Red tea ceremony welcome sign with white flowers in the garden

Family member seated for tea in the garden at The Harper

Jadee and Richard offering tea to relatives

Jadee in her burgundy qipao with a family member

Tea ceremony in the garden with family seated

Jadee and Richard with family in the garden after the tea ceremony

A family member helping Jadee with her qipao by the arched mirror

Bridesmaids in burgundy laughing with Jadee in her qipao

Jadee and Richard in the bridal suite after the tea ceremony, photographed by One and Only Production

3:30 PM · Into the Gown in the Bridal Suite

Next Jadee changed into her gown in the bridal suite: white walls, a soft sofa, an arched mirror and a crystal chandelier. Her bridesmaids in burgundy helped with a cathedral length veil and an even longer train. The timeline allowed 15 minutes for this second outfit change, so build in a little more if you have a long veil and train to set.

Jadee in her gown on the sofa in the bright bridal suite at The Harper

Jadee holding a white bouquet under her veil in the bridal suite

Close portrait of Jadee under her veil with a white bouquet

Bridesmaids in burgundy fanning out Jadee's train under the chandelier

Jadee with her maid of honor in the bridal suite

Black and white photo of Jadee and her long train in the bridal suite, photographed by One and Only Production

3:45 PM · First Look Among the Olive Trees

Richard waited on the gravel path among the olive trees while Jadee walked up behind him, with the bridal party watching from the edges. The trees break up the afternoon sun and the gravel and greenery keep the background clean, so the garden is our first choice for a first look at The Harper.

Richard waiting in the garden for the first look

Jadee walking up behind Richard among the olive trees

Richard turning to see Jadee in the garden

Jadee and Richard holding hands during their first look

Jadee and Richard smiling among the olive trees after the first look

Wide view of the garden first look with the bridal party watching, photographed by One and Only Production

4:00 PM · Wedding Party and Veil Portraits

Wedding party photos and couple portraits followed in the same garden, under the veil against the ivy covered walls and out on the gravel paths. Burgundy dresses and black tuxedos stood out beautifully against the green. Keeping everything in one area of the property meant no time was lost walking between spots.

Full wedding party in burgundy and black tuxedos in the garden at The Harper

Wedding party celebrating around Jadee and Richard in the garden

Wedding party on the gravel paths at The Harper

Jadee with her bridesmaids in burgundy holding white bouquets

Jadee seated with her bridesmaids in burgundy

Jadee's cathedral veil sweeping across the garden

Black and white portrait of Jadee under her veil with a white bouquet

Calla lily and rose bouquet against the veil

Richard kissing Jadee's forehead under the veil

Richard twirling Jadee on the gravel path

Jadee and Richard by the ivy covered wall in the courtyard, photographed by One and Only Production

4:20 PM · The Ceremony Space Before Guests Arrive

Before early guests arrived at 4:30, we photographed the ceremony space empty: wooden chairs with chiffon ties, petals down the aisle, white floral arrangements and string lights strung between the palms. Build these minutes into your timeline. Once guests are seated, the clean shots are gone.

Palm trees and string lights over the ceremony space at The Harper

The Wedding of Jadee and Richard welcome sign

Wide view of the outdoor ceremony aisle with wooden chairs and white florals

White floral arrangement at the end of the aisle

Rows of wooden chairs with chiffon ties and petals down the aisle

White roses and greenery ceremony florals, photographed by One and Only Production

5:00 PM · The Outdoor Ceremony

The ceremony started at 5:00, a good time of year for an October wedding since sunset was at 6:20. Two adult flower boys tossed petals down the aisle, Jadee walked in with her father, and officiant Stanley Doll led the vows. The string lights overhead start to glow as the sun drops, which makes the recessional one of the prettiest moments of the day.

Guests seated for the outdoor ceremony at The Harper

Bridesmaid and groomsman walking down the aisle

Jadee walking down the aisle with her father

Jadee and Richard at the altar with the wedding party

Officiant leading the vows as Jadee and Richard face each other

Wide view of the ceremony from the back under the string lights

Wedding party walking back up the aisle, photographed by One and Only Production

5:30 PM · Cocktail Hour, Family Photos and the Reception Room

During cocktail hour, Janice photographed immediate family, bridesmaids and groomsmen in the garden while Edwin filmed the reception room before guests came in. Inside, long tables in white linen, burgundy menus and white florals sat under the chandeliers, with the sweetheart table framed by gold mirrors and a dessert table of cream puffs and cupcakes. Splitting a photo and video team this way is how you get both family photos and clean room details in the same hour.

Sweetheart table with a gold mirror and white florals in the reception room at The Harper

Long table set with candles and burgundy menus

Table setting with white florals and glassware

Wide view of the reception room with long tables and chandeliers

Long tables under the chandeliers in the reception room

Burgundy menu tucked into a white napkin

Dessert table with cream puffs and cupcakes

Plate of cream puffs on the dessert table

Guests mingling at cocktail tables in the garden

Big family group photo in the garden, photographed by One and Only Production

6:20 PM · Sunset Portraits, the Reception Room and the Library

Around sunset, Jadee and Richard had the reception room to themselves for a private dance among the tables, then curled up on the leather sofa in the library suite with a couple of wedding newspapers. These quiet ten minutes are worth asking for. The room is fully set, the light is warm and nobody is waiting on you yet.

Jadee and Richard alone in the empty reception room

Black and white photo of the couple in the reception room

Private dance among the tables under the chandeliers

Richard twirling Jadee in the reception room

Jadee and Richard kissing in a doorway framed by greenery

Jadee and Richard on the leather sofa with wedding newspapers in the library suite

Jadee and Richard in front of the dark bookshelves, photographed by One and Only Production

6:35 PM · Grand Entrance and First Dance

The bridal party came in pairs with signs, props and a few surprise moves before Jadee and Richard made their grand entrance at 6:35. They went straight into a simple choreographed first dance with spins, a dip and a lift, and Richard gave a short welcome speech right after.

Wedding party holding signs before the grand entrance

Bridesmaid and groomsman making their entrance

Groomsman dancing during the grand entrance

Wedding party pair entering through the doorway

Wedding party pair entrance with a dance move

Jadee and Richard by the sweetheart table florals

Black and white kiss during the first dance

First dance in the reception room with guests watching

Jadee and Richard embracing during their first dance

Richard lifting Jadee during the first dance, photographed by One and Only Production

6:45 PM · Dinner, Table Visits and Speeches

Dinner started at 6:45 with table visits and extended family photos while guests ate, then a dinner kiss at the sweetheart table. Vendors ate at 7:30, speeches followed at 7:45 and Jadee shared the father daughter dance at 8:00. Grouping table photos into dinner keeps the rest of the night free for the dance floor.

Guests at the buffet during dinner service

Jadee hugging friends during table visits

Jadee and Richard with guests in front of the sweetheart table florals

Jadee and Richard with friends in the reception room

Jadee and Richard laughing at the sweetheart table during speeches

A friend giving a speech beside the sweetheart table

Speech at the sweetheart table under the gold mirrors

Father daughter dance under the chandeliers

Father daughter dance on the dance floor, photographed by One and Only Production

8:05 PM · Cake, Bouquet Toss and Open Dancing

Cake cutting and dessert came at 8:05, the bouquet toss at 8:10 and open dancing at 8:15. We finished with group shots, a few night portraits and the couple signing the camera for their film before wrapping around 9:15. If you want night portraits at The Harper, schedule them after the dance floor opens, when guests are busy and the string lights are at their best.

Jadee with the guest who caught the bouquet

White cake on a table beneath a gold mirror

Jadee and her bridesmaids on the dance floor

Groomsman lifted above the crowd on the dance floor

Groomsmen celebrating on the dance floor, photographed by One and Only Production

Planning Your Harper Wedding Timeline?

The big lessons from Jadee and Richard's day: hold the tea ceremony and first look in the garden for open shade, use the library suite for moody portraits, protect a few minutes for the empty ceremony and reception spaces, time the ceremony an hour or so before sunset, and ask for a private moment in the reception room before the entrance. One and Only Production is a photo and video team based in West Covina, serving Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. See Jadee and Richard's full wedding story or our wedding portfolio, and tell us about your day.

Wedding Vendors

Venue, Planning and Catering: The Harper by Wedgewood Weddings
Makeup: Beautifully Redeemed
Makeup: @val.b.beauty
Florals: Tami @tami.thelam
Officiant: Stanley Doll
Suits: Suit Supply
DJ: DJ Maestro
Desserts: Beard Papa's and Patty's Cakes
Photo and Video: @oneandonlyproduction