Shortly after Ciarán McAlinden moved to San Francisco, he matched on a dating app with Brooke Badger by a twist of fate, or perhaps some Irish luck. Ciarán was smitten, and Brooke was taken by his wit and humor. From their first cozy date at an ice-cream shop, their romance began and their two worlds blended, with Brooke discovering Irish culture and tradition and Ciarán quickly welcomed into Brooke’s close group of California-native friends and family. 

After a magical trip to Ciarán’s home in Ireland, the pair knew they had found a forever love in one another. When they returned to the states, Ciarán asked Brooke’s parents for their blessing and then planned a picturesque sunset proposal. “It was a million times yes!” smiles Brooke. As her mother is a “wedding planner extraordinaire” and founder of Dreams & Details, they worked closely together to plan a dream wedding event that allowed every guest to truly feel their love. 

Since Pebble Beach has always been a “slice of heaven” for Brooke and her family for the past four generations and Ciarán has always loved the area as it resembles Ireland’s coasts, the stunning site was the perfect place to invite friends and family to celebrate their wedding weekend. The sun was shining as friends and family found their seats facing the sea, as well as a natural floral arch that highlighted the coastal setting. 

To honor Ciarán’s hometown in County Down in Northern Ireland, a local celebrity bagpiper played “Star of County Down” during the processional. “The Irish guests especially had goosebumps,” remembers Ciarán. One of the bride’s favorite moments was “seeing Ciarán at the end of the aisle, knowing he was about to be my husband, with all our favorite people smiling and gathered around us in the most beautiful and favorite place of ours,” she remembers. In addition to the traditional marriage vows, the couple also exchanged heartfelt personal vows. 

“Our focus was guest experience and memorable details... We wanted the wow factor, but sophisticated, chic, and understated.”

A classic, California country-club vibe was incorporated for the alfresco cocktails before guests entered the reception space. Cabana-striped draping, Hampton-style seating groups, and a beautiful bar pavilion celebrated the elegant coastal feel the pair wished to express. Inside, the ballroom was transformed into a breathtaking, elegant, and timeless enchanted garden that set the tone for a magical evening. “I was nearly in tears at how beautiful it was and how well my mom and her team brought the ideas and our shared visions to life in an even grander and more magical way than we had imagined,” says the bride. 

“Our focus was guest experience and memorable details,” she adds. “We wanted the wow factor, but sophisticated, chic, and understated.” This vision was brought to fruition by surrounding the space in 20-foot-high elegant silk dupioni draping in pale taupe and incorporating lush green boxwood and vines along the walls. Florals were added everywhere to create the look and feel of an enchanted garden, despite the ballroom setting. Roses and greenery embellished chandeliers, trees were created around the corners of the dance floor and head table, stone urns were filled with billowing florals, and hundreds of votives and candelabras created a warm ambience. 

The newlyweds shared a romantic first dance to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. “Ciarán wowed everyone with his ability to twirl and dip me, and then we surprised everyone by kicking it up a notch with Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’ where we got to have some real fun with the dance moves and get the party started,” she adds. Later in the evening, Brooke surprised her groom and their guests with a choreographed routine with her bridesmaids to “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer and Kygo, which further helped to keep the party going. At the end of the night, Brooke changed into a “something blue” getaway dress by Oscar de la Renta for the pair’s dreamy sparkler exit. 

All in all, Brooke and Ciarán wouldn’t change a single thing about their nuptials – only wishing they could slow down time to make the entire celebration last even longer. “We were so incredibly happy to be getting married and bringing all our people together – we wanted it to be a nonstop celebration all weekend, and it was!” smiles the bride. “From the rehearsal dinner on Thursday, to the welcome party Friday, the wedding day and the farewell brunch, every moment for us and our guests was filled with joy.”

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