Before the celebrity guests, ocean views and black-tie Malibu ceremony, Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns had a wedding moment that was decidedly more intimate.
A few days before their August 15 celebration, the couple quietly headed to the Santa Barbara courthouse for their civil ceremony, making things official in one of their favourite places. Woods later shared that the moment was intentionally private, reserved for just the two of them before the much larger wedding festivities began.
Naturally, though, there was nothing ordinary about the outfit.
Woods knew early on that a traditional wedding dress was not what she wanted for her courthouse ceremony.
“I knew from the beginning I wanted to wear a suit for this moment,” she shared, explaining that after searching online and visiting vintage stores without finding the right one, she decided to create her own with Thom Browne.
The result was a white silk crepe tailored jacket with duchesse satin detailing, paired with a matching pencil skirt. It was crisp, polished and distinctly bridal without relying on lace, tulle or a dramatic train.
For anyone currently wondering whether a suit can work for a wedding, consider this your answer.
Woods finished the look with patent leather wingtip pumps and a hat by New York milliner Gigi Burris, creating an ensemble that immediately brought to mind one of bridal fashion’s most enduring references.
The courthouse look nodded to Bianca Jagger’s famous 1971 wedding outfit, when she married Mick Jagger in Saint-Tropez wearing an Yves Saint Laurent white blazer and skirt paired with a wide-brimmed hat and veil.
More than five decades later, the combination still has serious bridal appeal.
Woods did not simply recreate the look, though. Her Thom Browne ensemble brought a sharper, more modern interpretation to the classic bridal suit, while the sculptural tailoring and satin details gave it the fashion-house polish expected from a custom commission.
The hat completed the moment. Suddenly, a courthouse wedding became an opportunity for one of those looks that will probably live on Pinterest for years.
And this is exactly why a civil ceremony does not need to be treated as a wedding rehearsal.
Karl-Anthony Towns complemented Woods’ tailored bridal look in a classic Ralph Lauren ensemble, opting for a tan double-breasted suit without a tie.
The choice created a nice contrast between their looks. Woods went full bridal white with a dramatic millinery moment, while Towns kept things relaxed and elegant in warm tailoring.
Together, they looked like they were attending an extremely fashionable lunch after getting married, which is honestly a perfectly valid courthouse wedding aesthetic.
The Santa Barbara ceremony was intentionally a world away from the couple’s later Malibu wedding, which brought together family, friends, celebrities and Towns’ NBA circle.
That contrast is part of what makes the civil ceremony particularly sweet.
Before becoming Mr. and Mrs. Towns in front of a much larger crowd, they had a quieter moment for themselves. No elaborate guest list. No huge reception. Just a legal ceremony, carefully chosen outfits and the person they were about to marry.
Of course, Woods still made sure her bridal wardrobe had a fashion moment.
Courthouse weddings have increasingly become more than a quick administrative stop before a larger celebration. For many couples, they are now a distinct part of the wedding experience, with their own guest list, photography and, crucially, outfit.
Jordyn Woods’ Thom Browne suit makes a particularly strong case for treating the civil ceremony as its own occasion.
You can wear the princess gown in Malibu and still show up to the courthouse in a perfectly tailored suit and a hat.
For more celebrity wedding details, bridal fashion and the looks giving us ideas for every part of the wedding weekend, follow Wedded Wonderland. Couples beginning their own wedding journey can also explore Wedded Concierge for thoughtful guidance and personalized planning support.
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