BLACK TIE WEDDING AT ALILA VENTANA INN

The Magical Garden Party dinner reception is not to be missed -- The endless string lights with the starry night-lit sky against the Ventana Wilderness was surreal. 

Gavi and Robbie had their ceremony at the Sur Vista at Alila Ventana Inn which faced a breathtaking backdrop of the Big Sur coastline - rolling hills, lush forestry, and saturated ocean waters. The bride walked down the aisle to Jeff Buckely’s version of Hallelujah holding hands with both her father & mother. Traditional Jewish elements were intertwined in their vows with a double ring ceremony, and the breaking of the glass at the end as their friends and family shouted Mazel Tov in elation! After the ceremony, guests threw floral confetti delicately wrapped in sheet music, in celebration as Gavi and Robbie walked back down the aisle hand in hand, but this time as husband and wife.

As the evening continued, the couple and beloved guests headed over to the Glass House Gallery to enjoy aperitifs and custom cocktails before sunset. This “Glass House,” is quite literally a building built almost entirely with windows and a patio facing directly towards the ocean’s horizon. During this cocktail reception, they unveiled a champagne tower where the bride and groom shared their first champagne pop in celebration of their wedding day. Afterward, these two retreated to their vintage cherry red, 1957 Porsche 356 speedster with wedding guests in tow. Everyone had a blast taking turns in the driver's seat. This was the perfect petite cocktail hour venue for everyone to delight in the golden hour of Big Sur. 

The groom knew how much his bride wanted a magical garden-themed dinner party, and as a surprise, he designed an enclave of twinkle lights that framed the 30-person seated dinner to perfection! The endless string lights with the starry night-lit sky against the Ventana Wilderness…felt surreal. It was such a beautiful addition to the wedding reception as guests got to feel like they were in their own enclosed world. The Ventana wait staff doted upon their guests, bringing around blankets and cups of steaming carrot soup as the crisp fall air fell upon the wedding party.