Yesterday was the first wedding of the 2018 season here at The Lighthouse, and what better way to start the new season than with one of the sweetest couples EVER – Cristina and Sergei! When I first met the pair in January 2017, I appreciated how eager Cristina was to learn as much as she could about the venue because it meant that she made the most informed decision possible for their wedding venue, and we were delighted when they chose to have our team coordinate the celebration!

Fast forward to February 2, 2018, and their Lighthouse wedding arrived in the blink of an eye! To say their big day came together perfectly is an understatement. From the gorgeous weather - the sun was out with a slight breeze (what is Winter even?), to the Spanish paella and tapas from Nora Spanish Catering and mouth-watering cake from Rosine’s Restaurant in Monterey, to the simple, elegant, relaxed, yet fun atmosphere including a video game tournament and music from the awesome DJ Vindk8… It was truly the type of wedding you want to ease into your new season with.

While we wait to see and share photos from the talented Taylor Kinzie to show just how beautiful their Lighthouse wedding turned out to be, today we shed spotlight on how the couple met, why they chose the Lighthouse, and what they were looking forward to leading up to their joyous union, in their own words.

How did you and your significant other meet?

Her version: "We used to work at the same video game company. Back in the day, the company was small enough that all of our department used to take lunches together. Sergei was a cute introvert and I thought I would take upon myself to make him my new pet project. I introduced him to the city of Berkeley and one of my favorite hang out spots, Jupiter. Around Valentine's Day, he realized that he had fallen for me so he waited in the rain with a surprise glass rose. Several months in, we moved in together and now, 6 years and one cute black and white cat later, we're finally getting married."

His version: "We were working together in a video game company. We got to know each other over lunches and board games."

What's the proposal story? 

Her version: "The day before, he called my parents up to ask for my hand in marriage. My parents were going to call me to congratulate us on the happy news and my sister stopped them from ruining the surprise. I knew something was up when Sergei asked me to wear a specific dress for the following day and he got me to get 6 packs of prosciutto for lunch (normally, we just get 4). The day of, we traveled over to Monterey and hung out with the penguins at the Monterey Aquarium. The third clue was when he purchased not 1 but 2 souvenirs from the gift shop. Following the Aquarium, we traveled over to a semi-secluded beach where I proceeded to get my dress wet. As the sun started to set, Sergei said that he was going to get warm clothes from the car. After half an hour of waiting in my wet dress, he came back. All of a sudden, he pulled his nice jacket out of the clothes bag and I knew that he was going to propose. The proposal was a bit of a blur but he called me a "unicorn...that doesn't like cheesecake" and that's how we got engaged. As soon as I called my parents to tell them the great news, my dad sent me a 4 page text that he had been sitting on to congratulate us on our engagement. It was a pretty epic day."

His version: "We had a picnic at a beach and I proposed to her."

What made you decide to book The Lighthouse for your big day? 

Her version: "I was originally trying to find a beach that we could get married on. During Christmas, I realized that I wanted a venue that would let us bring our own food and drinks. When we went to visit the Lighthouse, as soon as we stepped out of the car, everything smelled like the ocean. It had a very calming effect on me and that's when I knew I found my venue."

His version: "She booked it for me because I like boats and water. It's calming."

What are you most looking forward to about your wedding? 

Her version: "After a year and a half of planning, I am looking forward to seeing everything in action. But the thing I am most looking forward to on our wedding day is our first look. Even though Sergei has seen my wedding dress since Day 1 (I like to share everything with him), I think he'll tear up when I am fully decked out. And I'm hoping that our video game tournament will be fun for everybody!"

His version: "Depending on which day you ask me, I will have a different answer. If you had asked me a year ago, it would be to spend the day with family and friends. Now, I'm looking forward to the wedding happening so we can finally have some us time and to be able to relax.

Though their wedding may be over, it's one we will cherish for many years to come.

To Cristina and Sergei, you left an imprint on our hearts and we hope you can finally enjoy the relaxation now that the hard part is over ;)