Kyla Ross’ Timeless Wedding in Southern California Doubled as a Reunion for Almost All of the "Fierce Five" Olympic Gymnasts (2024)

Kyla Ross met Justin Rittman almost five years after she won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London thanks to—what else?—sports. “We met in April 2017 while we both were in school,” Kyla tells Brides exclusively. “We were both student-athletes at UCLA (Justin was on the football team and I was on the gymnastics team) so we had a lot of mutual friends.” Five more years went by, and the couple got engaged in the backyard of their new home. “Our backyard faced the golf course, so he walked me there and pointed out a golf ball that was hit into our lawn. I picked it up and written on it was ‘Marry me?’” she reflects. “When I looked up, Justin was on one knee proposing to me. He also surprised me with an engagement party with both of our families and close friends.”

Though she no longer lives there, the Olympic gold medalist—who is now the assistant coach for the University of Arkansas’ gymnastics team—knew she wanted to tie the knot close to her hometown in Orange County, California, and relied on her parents to take a few walk-throughs after she narrowed down a few venues; they quickly fell in love with Arroyo Trabuco, which the bride first saw over FaceTime. “I loved the European-style courtyard of the venue with its lemon trees and greenery,” she says. “I also loved the view of the canyon hills in the background. It was the perfect fit.”

The couple, who opted for a two-year engagement, took their time while planning their wedding, leaning on event planner Sophia Chang along the way. The result? A relaxed and natural event that took place entirely outdoors under the Californian sunshine. The couple invited 214 of their nearest and dearest friends, family, and fellow Olympians—including some of Kyla’s "Fierce Five" teammates, Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber, and McKayla Maroney—to witness their romantic nuptials, all captured by Camden and Hailey.

After deciding that they wanted an outdoor wedding in Southern California, the couple leaned into the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape as much as possible. “When I picked my venue, I loved the scenery and what the venue had to offer for their natural and rustic design,” notes the bride.

As for their wedding stationery suite? The hunter green set by Honeycrisp Designs was printed on white cardstock and featured colorful ink and a custom monogram; the paper notes were slipped into dark green envelopes and finished with calligraphy.

Kyla’s Suzanne Neville fit-and-flare wedding dress, complete with a simple square neckline and low back with buttons, was made of a mikado fabric with a rose pattern—and it was made entirely bespoke for the bride. “I actually ordered my dress custom, so I never got to try it on to know if it was ‘the one,’” she says, noting that she was initially drawn to the fabric, but not the silhouette of another one of the designer’s ensembles. “I was very nervous to see my dress for the first time, but once I tried it on I was obsessed with it—it felt like it was the perfect dress for my wedding day!”

She accessorized her gown with a gold diamond tennis necklace bracelet borrowed from a family friend and slipped on shoes by Dolce Vita. “I wore an ankle length veil that was handmade by Berna from Tailored To You and featured a satin piping around the edges,” she adds. A French tip manicure with a chrome coat was the final touch to her big-day glam, which was centered around a bronzed, but natural look with brown tones and subtle shimmer.

Justin opted for a custom tuxedo by Walker Brothers, which he finished with suspenders and a black bow tie; a Rolex Sea-Dweller 126600, which he purchased for the wedding, gleamed on his wrist. His groomsmen wore similar ensembles, while the bridesmaids (including the maid of honor, McKenna, the bride’s sister) stood out in pistachio-hued dresses from Azazie.

For the ceremony, a floral arch by Nisie’s Enchanted Florist was situated between two trees with a view of the canyon’s mountains in the background. Floral hedges, filled with cream and pink blooms, lined the aisle and complemented the arch at the altar. Programs doubled as fans, which helped keep attendees cool under the California sun.

Justin and Kyla’s nuptials were a family affair. “My dad, Jason Ross, walked me down the aisle,” says the bride. “It was very special—he did get a little emotional. And to have my uncle officiate the ceremony was very meaningful and personal.” The couple hand-selected their wedding vows, intentionally choosing 10 promises “that we believed were very important for us to uphold in our commitment of marriage,” Kyla says. “We recited them to each other during the ceremony. It was really special for us to be able to personalize what we wanted the foundation of our marriage to be.”

After the duo was pronounced husband and wife, they recessed joyfully back up the aisle to “Came Here for Love” by Sigala & Ella Eyre.

During the co*cktail hour on the property’s patio, guests noshed on passed appetizers including crab cakes, firecracker shrimp, and bacon-wrapped dates. The newlyweds made the rounds, stopping to mingle with their friends and family as they sipped on the evening’s signature co*cktails (a spicy margarita for Kyla, and a transfusion, the groom’s go-to golf drink, for Justin).

During the interlude, the bride snapped a few selfies with teammates Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber. “It was so special to have some of my Olympic teammates there to support Justin and me on such an important day,” says Kyla.

A mix of rectangular farm tables topped with neutral runners were interspersed with rounds covered in champagne linens; oak farm chairs carried the rustic feel throughout. Centerpieces were kept low and filled with white, champagne, and blush-hued florals and positioned alongside votive candles in tall clear glasses in varying heights.

Place settings featured either gold rimmed or frosted white chargers accented with champagne napkins; menus and custom place cards with a foliage design (that spoke to the table numbers) completed each spot. “Our reception space also had string lights above, which made the ambience so romantic after the sunset for a dining al fresco vibe,” says Kyla.

After the group dined on their choice of short rib, salmon, or spinach and ricotta ravioli and listened to “thoughtful, well-spoken, and funny” speeches from their younger siblings, they moved inside for an evening of dancing. The bride and groom kicked it off with a spin to “Until I Found You” by Stephen Sanchez before they segued into a joint father-daughter and mother-son dance to “How Long Will I Love You” by Ellie Goulding.

The couple’s two-tier cake from Mia Bella Bake Shop was designed to match the print on the bride’s wedding dress. Inside, there were two flavors: strawberry with buttercream frosting on the top tier and a classic yellow cake with buttercream on the bottom.

With all the evening’s formalities behind them, the newlyweds and their guests—including Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber, and McKayla Maroney—focused the next few hours on having fun. “The after-party in the ballroom was so much fun and we loved how our guests were having a blast on the dance floor!” says the bride. “After the final song of the night played, people didn’t want it to end—and the party continued at a local bar.”

As for Kyla's best advice to duos currently planning their own events? “Don’t stress about the little things!” she says. “At the end of the day, your wedding is a celebration of your love and all your family and friends are there to celebrate with you.”