Finneas and Claudia Sulewski’s love story began as many modern love stories do: on a dating app. After matching on Raya in September 2018, they consulted two of their mutual friends, Rebecca Black and Dru MacDonald, to see if they felt compatible—and quickly received their blessing. So they set about planning a classic L.A. first date: a movie at the Cinerama Dome, followed by a walk through Amoeba Music, and a late dinner at the Standard Hotel bar. The only twist? It was actually a four-person date, where Rebecca and Dru came along too. They quickly found an opportunity to hang out solo, however. “We then proceeded to spend every evening together the following week,” Finneas recalls. They first said “I love you” after a month, moved in together a year later, and, in the couple’s words, “the rest is history.”
Seven years later, on September 22, 2025, the couple were engaged. “Finneas arranged a helicopter to fly us to a campsite in the Santa Monica Mountains,” Claudia recalls. “We were celebrating our seven-year anniversary, and I was under the impression that we were driving to a hotel for a little staycation. As soon as we pulled up to the airport, my heart started beating out of my chest!” A private chef flew with them to cook dinner at the campsite and then took off with the pilot, leaving the couple alone to watch the sunset and stay the night.
“As the sun was setting, we walked around the trails to enjoy the view, and he popped the question right then and there,” Claudia adds. “We were taking a little video of us dancing to ‘House of Woodcock’ by Jonny Greenwood when he got down on one knee. There was no one hiding in the bushes, no one walking by, just the two of us alone at that moment. It was perfect.”
In January of this year, the couple began the planning process with the husband-and-wife team Alison Laesser-Keck and Bryan Keck of Alison Bryan Destinations, with a date set in late August. “We went in with a few strong opinions—that the wedding be in Southern California and that there be a real emphasis on live music and farm-to-table vegetarian food,” Claudia says. The four of them became close quickly, and the bride notes that Alison and Bryan made sure “every aspect of our wedding day felt so innately us.” Adds Finneas, “They left nothing to the last minute—with an already fast turnaround!—and managed to sneak in so many surprises for us as well. Magical.”
For her fashion, Claudia worked with her stylist Thomas Christos Kikis on the “incredibly emotional and collaborative process” of partnering up with Oscar de la Renta to create four custom looks that would take her through every event of the wedding weekend, from a low-back bias-cut satin gown for the rehearsal ceremony, to a silk faille ballgown with a neck scarf detail for the ceremony, and a playful gray and pink bubble skirt mini for the after-party. “The team at Oscar de la Renta created a fashion story that felt so representative of who I am and how I feel in this moment of my life,” Claudia says. Every look felt timeless, elegant, and glamorous.”
The bride also wore Tiffany & Co. for the rehearsal dinner and Kwiat jewelry for her wedding day. She worked with Diane Buzzetta on beauty, opting for “natural glam” using Chanel Beauty throughout the weekend, Ericka Verrett on hair, and Zola Ganzorigt on nails. Finneas, meanwhile, wore custom Prada. “He has always loved Prada’s suits, and was thrilled they were willing to dress him,” Claudia adds. The final detail? The couple’s dogs, Peaches and Mousse, were outfitted in Oscar de la Renta dog bows made of the same silk faille as Claudia’s ceremony gown.
On the morning of August 29, Claudia began her “very sleepy and zen” getting-ready process. “Due to my excitement, I only managed to get four hours of sleep before the big day,” she says, noting her glam team encouraged her to carve out 30 minutes for a nap. “I played peaceful spa music and FaceTimed with friends to hear how the rest of their night went after the rehearsal dinner.” While the couple chose not to have any bridesmaids or groomsmen to keep the experience intimate—and encouraged their guests to wear any colour—Claudia did invite her “unofficial bridesmaids” to check in before the ceremony. (The only key player in the ceremony was Finneas’s sister, Billie Eilish, who wore a custom House of Gilles gown to serve as officiant.) “Billie, Rebecca, Tyra, Dru, Lexie, and Lucy—along with my mom, Beata, and Finneas’ mom, Maggie—all stopped by! We cried and laughed, and I recounted my night of tossing and turning while standing on the fireplace step. Finneas and I had our first look in my bridal suite, a moment I’ll never forget. After a few portraits together and with our families, it was time to get married!”
The ceremony began with nine string musicians and a pianist playing, in what Claudia describes as her favourite part of the day—as she got into position behind the hedges, they played a cover of “Angel” by Finneas, a personal request of the bride’s. As she walked down the aisle, “everything slowed down, and we were filled with emotion and euphoria,” she says. After she reached the altar, Billie asked the couple to face their guests and take them in. “We shared our vows and promises with everyone,” Claudia says. “The musicians softly started back up underneath our repeat-after-me’s, and we finished off the ceremony with our dogs, Peaches and Mousse, in hand.” Both describe it as one of the happiest moments of their lives. “A new feeling unlocked for the both of us,” Finneas says. “We will never forget it.”
Afterwards, the couple joined their guests for cocktail hour, “to say hello, hug, and cry together,” Claudia laughs. Then, they snuck into the dinner tent to check out the setup. “We wanted our dinner to feel like we were hosting it in the backyard of our home. That intention influenced our wooden tables—sans tablecloths—our pots of lavender, wood-handled flatware, and curation of candlesticks and cups. It just felt so homey and so us. After my quick change, we ran over to the putt-putt golf course and hit a few balls before it was time to join everyone for dinner as husband and wife!”
The couple had their best friends speak at the rehearsal dinner, so on the night itself, all four of their parents spoke. “All of those speeches left us feeling so lucky and loved,” Claudia says. Then, they cut their cake to Daft Punk and led everyone to the dance floor, where Leslie Feist took to the stage to perform “One Evening” for their first dance. “Finneas and I fell in love listening to her music, and rather than having a relationship ‘song,’ she has always been our relationship ‘artist,’” Claudia explains. “Leslie was the second person Finneas called after his sister when we started planning our wedding, and she sang all of our favourite songs that night. A complete dream come true that we kept having to remind each other was our reality.” Finneas performed ‘Till Forever Falls Apart’ with his close friend and regular collaborator Ashe, before Billie joined the stage to sing “Birds of a Feather.”
After the bouquet toss, they finished the night with a speakeasy afterparty. “The dancing portion of our evening felt like a celebration of love and life, beyond the union of just two individuals,” says Claudia. “It was the most magical night of our lives.”
Reflecting on the day now, the couple feel grateful to their guests, families, performers, and planners, describing themselves as being in a “sleep-deprived puddle of love.” But one memory seems to stand out above the others. “On our way home, we held hands and cried over the amount of love we felt this weekend,” Claudia says. “Our dogs sleeping in the backseat, the sun setting across the coast. We laughed over the exuberance we witnessed and took part in. Everything feels different, but all our feelings for each other remain the same.”
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The lily pad pond at San Ysidro Ranch.
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From the moment Oscar de la Renta shared their vision for this dress, I knew I wanted to do something special with my hair. A work of art by my hairstylist, Ericka Verrett.
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Our wedding invitation suite that set the tone for our entire weekend.
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Walking through the gardens.
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One of our favorite photos of us ever, ever, ever.
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Rehearsal dinner table setting and hanging floral installation by Siren. Absolutely ethereal.
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Plates and menus in Finneas’s favorite colour.
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Cheers Annie!
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Over 10 years of friendship—love you, Rebecca.
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Listening to one of our friends say mushy stuff during a toast.
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Love birds.
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Multiple friends mentioned Veggie Grill in their speeches.
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It was a hot weekend in Montecito and at the rehearsal dinner, our friend Aaron encouraged us to go stand in the walk-in freezer. We were healed. Sorry about the potential health code violations.
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Morning of our wedding! Final touches with Diane Buzzetta and Ericka Verrett.
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I get it from my mama, Beata. Love you so much.
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We created a custom Cyklar fragrance to wear all weekend and gave one to each of our guests! Las Flores, named after the beach in Malibu.
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The light blue and butter yellow color coordination was not planned!
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My incredible stylist, Thomas Christos Kikis, lacing up my ceremony dress.
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First few moments in my dream Oscar de la Renta dress.
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Getting the shot in all formats.
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I was FaceTiming with my oldest brother, Marcin, while taking this photo.
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I opted out of having a blusher so my entire veil flowed down the length of my dress. Best decision ever!
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Just trying to make both of my eyes look in the same direction. —Finneas
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I’M READY TO MARRY YOU! —Claudia
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Finneas seeing the dress for the first time.
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Finneas seeing the dress for the first time, part two.
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Can't wait to show this photo to our children one day.
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My dress took up six seats on a golf cart.
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The rings before we gave them to my brother, Kevin, our ring bearer.
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Brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers.
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Wedding ceremony seating and florals before guest arrival. Feels like it’s always been there.
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Walking down the aisle with my father, Chester. Like no time has passed.
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Ceremony from above.
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Please stand for the bride.
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I walked down the aisle to the very same song Finneas used to propose.
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Aaron and Lauren, whose love we look up to so much.
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Louis and Delilah looking so beautiful.
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Chilled orange wine and kisses from Ashe!
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Here, before our family and friends.
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Our moms were our “something blue.”
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Billie, officiating the ceremony.
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Standing in front of the man of my dreams.
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Kissing the bride.
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Claudia making me laugh. —Finneas
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Easy decisions.
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WE DID IT!
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Our planners, Alison and Bryan, surprised us by handing out flower petals to our guests.
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Only one person was equipped to walk these flower dogs down the aisle…we love you, Rat!
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Walking Peaches and Mousse into cocktail hour.
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After the ceremony, we stood and listened to our string players and piano player finish playing 'For the Hungry Boy' by Jonny Greenwood.
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The orchestra serenading our ceremony with the most beautiful arrangements. We owe you everything, PJ Cartwright.
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Mr. and Mrs.
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For the rest of our lives…
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That fan was made for Emma.
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Perfect humans.
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Andrew and Charlotte looking fine.
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Doesn’t a blood orange margarita sound good right now?
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Our guests making their way from the ceremony lawn down to dinner.
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We love Tan and Rob!
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When the vision board comes to life.
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Currently have all these embroidered napkins spinning in our washer.
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Wedding dinner tables from above…our planners executed every detail to perfection!
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Odessa, I’m gonna need to borrow that top.
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Our photographers, Norman and Blake, swore they would Photoshop this into a hole in one.
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For the first time ever…
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You only live once.
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Golden hour dinner with our closest.
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Only place I ever look. —Finneas
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I spent very little time sitting in this dress, for obvious reasons.
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It’s harder than it looks to cut a cake.
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The cosmos that hung over our stage.
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We’ve been dancing around our kitchen to Feist for eight years—the fact that she performed at our wedding blew our minds. And so did our floral dance floor!!
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Only part of the choreography we got right.
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We love you Hailey and Justin.
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My moon my maaaaaaaan.
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Snap!
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First photo of me holding a microphone wearing a wedding ring. —Finneas
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Kristen was the first person to take her shoes off, and Dax was the only person to take his shirt off.
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Quick photo before running down into the speakeasy. I had the greatest night of my life in this skirt.
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Mushaboom!
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Hope heaven feels like this moment forever.
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Billie performing 'Birds of a Feather'.
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We’ve come to sweat some more.
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We love rock-and-rollers!
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My uncle Bruce is behind me in this image. He fist-bumped me 80 or 90 times during the course of this wedding. New personal record. —Finneas
This article was first published on Vogue.com.
