Not all things were bad in 2020, Gabriella Jencks remembers. She and Graham Saber met at a coffee shop where she was working and “immediately felt a connection and draw to get to know one another,” Gabriella shares. Their first interaction involved her making him “the best turkey panini and iced honey latte he’d ever had. He claims I put a secret love potion in there, because from that moment on, it was pretty much game over,” she smiles.

Their engagement was straight out of a fairy tale. On Graham’s sister’s birthday, Gabriella expected only a family dinner in Point Loma. “Graham, being subtle and persuasive, convinced me to stop by his house to shower before work and suggested I wear my hair natural,” she recalls.

The evening unfolded on a boat, where Graham presented her with a page from his journal written for her three years prior. He handed her a ring pop, but inside was a diamond ring. “As if that wasn’t already the most magical moment ever,” Gabriella says, “he had one more surprise waiting: all of our closest friends and family were back on the dock to celebrate with us. It was a night full of love, laughter, and absolute magic – everything I could have ever dreamed of.”

For their wedding nine months later, Gabriella and Graham chose a luxurious hotel property in Rancho Santa Fe, drawn to “how private and magical the setting is” and the staff’s dedication to making the day perfect. Pink, Gabriella’s favorite color, was central to the décor for the alfresco ceremony and reception, and the hue was carried throughout the celebration in lush floral arrangements accompanying chandeliers draped in vines and florals, creating a fairytale-like atmosphere.

“Watching the man of my dreams sing the songs he had written about me, surrounded by my family and friends, was the most perfect and unforgettable ending to the night.”

Gabriella donned a gorgeous gown from Mon Amie Bridal Salon that provided an elegant look befitting the whimsical ceremony setting, where the couple’s Christian faith was highlighted – along with personalized touches intertwined into every event. Graham designed all of the wedding signage, making the day deeply reflective of each of their personalities, from the ceremony to the seating chart to the wedding reception.

Family also played a significant role in the day. Gabriella’s Italian heritage was honored with imported bomboniere – five chocolate-covered almonds per guest, symbolizing “wishes for health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and a long life, as is customary in classic Italian weddings,” the bride shares. One especially unforgettable moment came when Gabriella’s 84-year-old grandfather sang “Caruso” – a classic Italian song he had performed at her parents’ wedding decades earlier.

Another highlight was Graham taking the stage to perform songs he had written for Gabriella, marking the first time she had seen him perform live. “Watching the man of my dreams sing the songs he had written about me, surrounded by my family and friends, was the most perfect and unforgettable ending to the night,” she says.

For Gabriella and Graham, the wedding-planning process itself was just as memorable as the day. “Our biggest advice: try to truly enjoy every step of the planning process,” Gabriella says. “It goes by faster than you think, and these moments – dreaming, deciding, creating together – are just as meaningful as the day itself. Let yourself slow down and soak it all in.