Allison Segal and Brett Longenecker shared an almost instant connection when they met on an online dating site. After several emails and an hour-long phone call, they decided to meet for dinner. “It was such a great first date. He was down to earth, had a [good] sense of humor, and loved sharing about his family and so much more,” recalls Allison. “We talked for about three hours,” says Brett. “I could have stayed for three more hours, we had so much to say.” That special night sparked the beginning of their relationship.

Planning for their future together, Brett asked Allison’s parents for their blessing and started working on designing the perfect engagement ring even before they moved in together. “I knew that I needed to spend the rest of my life with Alli,” he explains. “I couldn’t live without her.” Being both dessert lovers, one Friday night Brett came home with a cupcake for Allison from a bakery they had been meaning to try – but he had another surprise in store for her. “Before I could take a bite, he got down on one knee and proposed!” she says.

On their wedding day, the couple’s "first look" was an especially memorable moment. Although Brett had heard about Allison’s dress – an exquisite lace ball gown with long sleeves, a lavish train, and a delicate sprinkling of tiny sequins – for months, he was captivated by how “amazing” she looked. “When I saw her, it all really started to sink in: I’m getting married today and it was perfect!” recounts the groom. “Seeing Brett for the first time was my favorite part of the whole day,” reveals the bride. He wore a black tuxedo and tie with a pastel pink rose at the lapel, which matched those of Allison’s copious bouquet.

At sunset on a verdant bluff, the ceremony was fabulously framed by the azure sky above and Pacific Ocean below. “Romantic and traditional” were the guiding principles for the celebration’s color scheme, with the couple choosing a black, cream, and rose gold palette. The aisle, decorated with a runner emblazoned with the couple’s initials in ornate gilt script, led to a chuppah beautifully festooned with blush and white roses, as well as ivory and mint hydrangeas. The bridal party donned elegant ebony tuxedos and frocks. Blush ties and peony posies added a touch of color.

Their "first look" didn’t diminish the unforgettable impression Allison made on Brett as she walked down the aisle accompanied by her parents. Standing in the presence of their friends and family was heartwarming for the couple. “I saw people who came from all over the country to celebrate us and that was the most amazing thing in the world,” says the groom. The bride agrees, “Looking around the seats at the ceremony and reception gave me chills. Everyone we loved [was there].” 

Afterwards, the festivities moved indoors for dinner and dancing in a ballroom awash in blue and violet uplighting, accented by champagne rose graphic projections on the walls. Continuing the romantic theme, round tables were swathed in luxurious satin linen in a rose gold hue, while chairs were clad in chiffon of the same color with ruffled decorative ties. Floral centerpieces consisted of two styles. The first featured a tall glass vase topped with a medley of orchids, roses, and hydrangeas in creamy shades of white and blush, accented by peach peonies. These tones were also reflected in the arrangements of roses and tulips, along with glamelia, in gilded vessels surrounding its base. The second design was composed of a cluster of petite single-variety rose and peony arrangements in pink and ivory. Pillar candles flickered from crystal candleholders embellished with rows of pearls. A single rose, adorned with a halo of golden wire and pearls, topped each place setting.

Though wedding cakes are usually the ultimate, delicious ornamentation on the tables on which they sit, the newlyweds had a more befitting presentation in mind. Allison and Brett’s confection was showcased in front of a gilded scrollwork gate on a table magnificently enrobed in roses. “It was the highlight of the room!” she affirms. At the end of the night, one final treat awaited guests: wedding favors, made from Segal family recipes by the mother of the bride, containing samplings of Allison’s favorite desserts. “I love her so much for doing this!” she says.

Looking back on their perfect day, Allison advises couples who are in the process of planning their weddings to “just breathe and remember why you are doing all this work. In the end…it’s all worth it!”