Spontaneity hallmarked the courtship of San Francisco-based couple Megan Grumbo and Gregg Hall, right down to the proposal on an early morning run. “We headed to the beach in front of the Golden Gate Bridge, and before I knew it, he was down on one knee!” Megan muses. An equally startling announcement followed a Champagne picnic Gregg suddenly produced. “He had arranged for us both to have the day off from work, and we were flying to Maui for the weekend that day!”

Inspired by their seaside engagement, Megan and Gregg sought an outdoor wedding location that was near the beach but not on the beach. "The Adamson House was perfect. It offered 270-degree views of the Pacific Ocean, Malibu Pier, and Santa Monica in the distance," says Gregg of the coveted venue. The site was also large enough for the couple to utilize three separate and distinct areas for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.

Accents of white perfectly complemented the outdoor ceremony on the lawn of the property. Lined with white flower petals and simple glass votives, a grass aisle led to a sycamore tree beneath which Megan and Gregg exchanged self-written vows. “We wanted the ceremony to be meaningful and personal,” asserts the groom. “Our vows really defined who we are and what we mean to each other.” Megan was attired in a timeless white A-line, and green zinnias accented her snowy bouquet. “It felt like it was just us,” recalls the bride, who’d had concerns about an audience. “It was quiet and it was comforting to hold Gregg’s hands."

Taking inspiration from their surroundings, the couple chose organic elements for their al fresco reception. Seating cards dangled from a display of flowering branches arranged in a vase that was wrapped in bark. Runners of natural linen accentuated long wooden reception tables set with elegant square china and monogrammed napkins. Shallow boxes of wood ran the length of each table and featured compartmentalized sections of wheat grass and flowers. Roses, hydrangeas, and tulips in white were brightened with segments of fuchsia sweet peas. Table numbers carved by the father of the groom had been styled to emphasize each variety of wood. "Bill is an incredible craftsman and we were proud to show off his work," Megan boasts of the personalized touch.

"Exceptional food and wine suited our personalities since Megan and I greatly enjoy culinary experiences," reveals Gregg. This shared passion translated into a remarkable sit-down dinner, beginning with a trio of refreshing gazpachos. A beet salad and entrée of creamy black cod followed, and the meal was concluded with a decadent dessert bar. Couture cupcakes, tiramisu chocolate cups, a towering macaroon tree, and strawberries three ways were accompanied by cappuccino from a glimmering gold cart. The buttercream wedding cake was simple, but beautiful – a running theme throughout the day. Ensconced in a circle of wheat grass and roses, the confection was topped with white sugar flowers and banded in green at the base of each layer. The cake featured a surprise, naturally. "The bottom and top tiers were Chocolate Southern Banana Pudding, and the middle tier was Strawberries and Cream," Megan shares of their specially selected cake flavors. The delicious details didn't stop there. As guests departed, they were treated to milkshakes served in mini bottles of glass and warm cookies in a to-go bag – a sweet ending to what was surely a very sweet beginning. And the secret to the couple’s successful celebration? "We tried to make everything reflect our personalities and lifestyle,” says Megan. “From enjoying the outdoors, to eating great food, we incorporated the things that we love in life.”