April 16, 2005
Sophia Bush and Chad Michael Murray were married on April 16, 2005 at Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica, California. The wedding took place in the hotel’s Colonade Ballroom under an altar constructed of orange and yellow roses and green hydrangeas, created by The Hidden Garden Floral Design. Two hundred guests were in attendance, including the couple’s “One Tree Hill” costars Bethany Joy Lenz and Tyler Hilton.
Sophia walked down the aisle in a strapless Vera Wang gown with a fitted bodice and ballerina skirt. She clutched a bouquet of calla lilies wrapped in white silk. Chad wore a black Ralph Lauren suit with a beige tie and calla lily boutounniere. His tux-clad mutt, Charlie, was the ring bearer. Sophia’s six bridesmaids stood beside the rose adorned-altar wearing green chiffon Vera Wang dresses. The two flower girls wore Wang as well.
The couple exchanged self-written vows in which Sophia told Chad, “I feel safest when I’m in your arms.”
Following the ceremony, the bride and groom posed for pictures poolside on the hotel’s roof, while guests enjoyed cocktails in the lounge. As the reception got underway, guests moved back into the ballroom which had been decorated with vases of calla lilies and manzanita branches.
Dinner included Portobello mushroom ravioli, beef tenderloin, salmon and warm apple tart. For dessert, the couple fed each other pieces of a four-tier wedding cake decorated with yellow, orange and green flowers.
The couple shared their first dance to “That’s All” by Frank Sinatra, and during the dance, Sophia let her hair fall out of the loose chignon she wore for the ceremony. Afterward, they danced to “At Last” by Etta James, before Tyler Hilton took the stage and played two Elvis Presley songs on his acoustic guitar. At another point in the evening, Sophia’s 15 Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sisters belted out a cheer from their Greek days at USC.
The couple spent their wedding night at Hotel Casa Del Mar and left for their honeymoon at Bacara Resort and Spa in Santa Barbara the following Tuesday.
