After a successful first date that lasted five hours and a second all-day date just days later, Emily Webb and Jack Hogan knew they were meant to be. Jack was soon on the search for the perfect proposal site, finding it at the top of a beautiful hike in Big Sur. “I didn’t realize what he was doing, so I told him to move to get out of the picture I was trying to take of the coast!” laughs Emily. Thankfully, he found a new spot, Emily said yes, and the newly affianced pair celebrated their engagement for the rest of their trip in the charming towns of Carmel and Paso Robles. 

When it came to finding their wedding venue, Emily and Jack desired a unique space that could accommodate their large guest list of nearly 300 friends and family members, as well as a live band to entertain the crowd. They settled on a nearly brand-new venue with a Spanish Colonial Revival design and romantic Mediterranean feel. 

“We used that as our inspiration. We incorporated blue-patterned tile, olive trees, and lemons into the design,” shares Emily, noting they were surprised by the number of decisions that needed to be made. “If you haven’t planned a big event before, it can be overwhelming!” she affirms, sharing that they hired Tessa Brand of Tessa Lyn Events to ensure their dream wedding went off without a hitch. 

To complement the setting, the couple selected a lively color palette of pink, orange, yellow, purple, and blue, mixed with classic white and fresh foliage. “We really wanted the colors to pop against the black-tie setting!” describes the bride of her vision. 

“We really wanted the colors to pop against the black-tie setting!”

On the day of the alfresco ceremony, friends and family took their seats outdoors beneath olive trees adorned with suspended ivory florals to witness the vow exchange. The bride and groom were married beneath a floral arch showcasing lush greenery that blended beautifully with the hedge-wall backdrop, as well as a wide array of flowers, including peonies, anemones, and roses, in bright colors. 

During the outdoor cocktail hour, friends and family found their seating assignments for the reception on a large display inspired by blue-and-white tiles – which also influenced the invitation suite – that presented hand-calligraphed escort cards atop fresh lemons. 

As they made their way indoors for the dinner service beneath the venue’s impressive 30-foot beamed ceilings, they were seated at round and rectangular tables cloaked in neutral linens and topped with similar vibrant florals to those seen in the ceremony arch, as well as blue-and-white china. 

After a delectable sit-down dinner service complete with a duet of filet mignon and Atlantic salmon for the entrée, attendees enjoyed slices of the pair’s elegant wedding cake, which featured a smoky-blue marbling on the outside and two amazing flavors on the inside: chocolate banana walnut and cherry chocolate almond. 

A live band kept the revelry going all night long, playing a blend of Great American Songbook classics as well as newer music. Since Jack is a musician, he hopped on stage and performed with the band at the end of the night. “It was the highlight of the wedding!” affirms Emily of her husband’s performance. The newlyweds and their loved ones danced all night long, which was exactly how Emily and Jack hoped they would celebrate the biggest party of their lives. “We had a perfect night!” the bride smiles.