Rustic Elegance – Our cover bride shares her wedding details, tips and creative process.
April 10 • Malibu
Ashley & Sam
Photography by Michael Anthony Photography
Their Story
Bride: Ashley Geren, entrepreneur in the hair care industry
Groom: Sam Feinberg, professional poker player
How They Met: through mutual friends about eight years ago
Wedding Style: The Feinbergs achieved rustic elegance by forgoing the traditional primary/secondary color palette and opting for a wider range of colors, all in muted pastel tones.
Feinberg Flair: To make the ceremony their own, the soon-to-be Feinbergs brought their dogs into their vows and selected a fully vegan catering menu. Guests were surprisingly pleased.
Their Vision
“We wanted something rustic and chic but not overused. I’m a hands-on, DIY kind of person – but not the Mason jar, burlap, Pinterest board type. Something a little more glamorous. Everything at our venue was distressed wood and earthy, but I also wanted the feminine side with wavy hair and an extravagant dress. Not too much glamour, not too much chaos. I wanted a combination because just one look wouldn’t have fit my personality. We wanted it to feel like a combination of us.”
Unveiled
Sam and Ashley share their best planning tips.
Inspiration: Figure out what will jog your creative side. I got so many ideas just by walking around Michael’s. When you look at vendors for rentals, go into the back of their warehouses, and just look around for ideas. Create a vision board – anything that helps you visualize the overall look.
Music: Choose a DJ you can trust, so you don’t have to make every single decision about song choices. I’m into underground punk rock, and Sam likes hip hop – and not the kind you can listen to at a wedding. So it would have been hard for us to pick wedding appropriate music without a DJ we could trust.
Dress: I rented my wedding dress. Yes, I got to wear a Galia Lahav dress, but it was never properly fitted. I ended up holding my dress to my chest most of the night and changing for the reception as early as possible.
Mindset: Don’t be too neurotic about the details. Going crazy about every tiny little thing doesn’t help anyone. People don’t remember the details; they remember the full effect of the day. Think big picture because the whole day will go by in a blur.
Comments
ADVERTISE WITH US
Ultimate Fitness Award Winners 2026
Congratulations to élite Magazine’s 15th Annual Ultimate Fitness Professionals! These are the best of the best in their field voted on by thousands of community members and our readers. Be sure if you see them to say you saw it in élite Magazine. To vote for the next...
New City Events Blooming This Season!
Spring is blooming in Santa Clarita, and with it comes two exciting new City events that celebrate creativity, community and our natural environment. This season, residents are invited to get outside, connect with neighbors and take part in hands-on activities that...
A Legacy of Service: Honoring Jim Brush’s 20 Years of Giving Back
There are individuals whose generosity quietly shapes a community, not through grand gestures, but through steady presence, kindness, and an unwavering commitment to service. Jim Brush is one of those people. For the past 20 years, Jim has been a devoted volunteer...


