It was a perfect Maui evening as Phil Koontz and Lindsey Borba headed to dinner with her sister and father while on vacation. They stopped on the beach to take some pictures and Phil asked her dad to snap a few of the two of them as the sun set. The next thing Lindsey knew, Phil was down on one knee proposing. “I couldn’t believe it. It was such a wonderful surprise,” she says. “We celebrated with everyone on the beach and in the restaurant with lots of Champagne!”

When looking for venues, service and reputation were important factors for the couple. In addition, though the idea of a beach wedding appealed to the bride, she didn’t want to be on the sand. Fortunately, the luxurious Montage Laguna Beach resort met their criteria.

On a sunny afternoon, loved ones gathered on a verdant lawn with expansive views of the Pacific Ocean. A sea breeze mingled with the sounds of a chamber ensemble. The refined bridal party – dressed in ebony tuxedos and sleeveless floor-length frocks with lace bodices – walked past urns overflowing with white hydrangeas on their way to the ivory floral arch at the altar. At her father’s arm, the bride donned a sexy gown with spaghetti straps, lace panels, and a beaded belt.

For the reception, the festivities moved indoors to a heavenly ballroom with ethereal draping, crystal chandeliers, and gilded chandeliers laden with pearl and pale pink hydrangeas. To achieve an airy and elegant aesthetic, the couple selected white, gold, and blush tones, which they felt their floral and event design team captured perfectly.

Ornate place cards were affixed to antique-style brass keys and suspended from bullion ribbons. “Guests took them home and still talk about them today,” shares Lindsey. The head table featured a hedge of vanilla and champagne flowers, and taper candles. Similar lush floral runners adorned long guest tables. Tall centerpieces of hydrangeas, roses, and dahlias in pink and alabaster hues topped round tables. Place settings were composed of gold-rimmed chargers and stemware, gilt flatware, and shimmery napkins encircled by ribbons and roses.

After the bride and groom’s first dance, the band invited attendees to join them on the dance floor. “Almost everyone danced around us for a few songs. It was incredible and really set the night off on the best note!” recalls Lindsey. Wanting partygoers to have a good time, the bride and groom knew a great band would be key and were not disappointed by their selection.

Likewise, food was another element the couple focused on. They particularly wanted to spare their loved ones from the less than stellar offerings Lindsey and Phil had experienced at other weddings. The four-course sit-down dinner included seared diver scallops, petite filets mignons, and jumbo prawns. The tasty five-layer cake showcased gilded details and a cascade of blush, white, and canary sugar flowers. The newlyweds had another surprise in store for friends and family. “The late-night Tommy’s Burgers truck was a huge hit!” asserts Lindsey with a grin.