An Intimate, Outdoor

Destination Wedding by the Beach

Ying Minakan and Phillip Stafford, July 10, 2003
At Cuvier Park in La Jolla (ceremony) and La Valencia Hotel (reception)

Ying Minakan always dreamed of having an outdoor wedding by the beach with a lot of flowers and candles. So when it was time to plan her July 10, 2003 wedding to Phillip Stafford, she knew exactly what she wanted. "From the beginning of our planning process about two years out, we both wanted a destination wedding in San Diego," says the 33-year-old attorney. "We had to have a beach wedding, and we knew we would have a great chance for perfect weather if we had the wedding in San Diego. Plus, we very much wanted Phillip's great-grandmother to attend our wedding. Since she lives in nearby North County, she would be able to share the occasion with us."

Fun and Exciting Affair
The Hoboken, New Jersey couple's goal was to plan an intimate affair that would be fun and exciting for everyone since 30-40% of the guests were from the East Coast, "Almost all of our 60 guests had never been to La Jolla before," notes Ying.

She and Phillip checked out various wedding sites in Mexico and San Diego, and selected Cuvier Park in La Jolla for the ceremony and nearby La Valencia Hotel for the reception. "Cuvier Park overlooks the water with breathtaking views," says Phillip, 30, an information technology consultant. "Plus, once we saw the beautiful garden setting at La Valencia, we decided that's where we wanted our wedding."

How did the couple turn their vision into reality? "We had a wonderful wedding coordinator, a fantastic florist, an amazing band, and an incredible photographer," states Ying. "Even though we didn't have an unlimited budget-we saved for two years to pay for the wedding-we didn't want to skimp on quality. During our three trips to San Diego, we communicated our vision for the wedding to our vendors, and our dream was realized."

Red and Pink Wedding Colors
Ying selected shades of red and pink for the wedding's colors. "I wanted to create a chic, elegant affair," she states. "Once I saw the red and pink flowers in La Valencia's garden, I knew what my wedding's colors would be."

The sound of waves crashing against the beach provided a unique backdrop for the 6pm wedding ceremony overlooking La Jolla Cove. A bed of red rose petals covered the wedding aisle, and a string quartet with trumpet announced the bride's arrival. Even the couple's cat, Jinx, got into the act as the ring bearer. "Jinx represents the span of Ying's and my relationship so he needed to be part of our wedding," explains Phillips. He adds that Ying's best friend from college walked Jinx down the aisle, and that the cat's bow tie collar contained the couple's wedding rings.

Nondenominational Service
For the ceremony, Ying and Phillip wanted a nondenominational yet spiritual service. "The father of my sister's boyfriend presided over an amazing ceremony," comments Phillip.

Following the ceremony, guests were ushered on a short walk along the shore from the ceremony site to the La Valencia Hotel. Classic cars were also provided for those guests unable to make the short walk.

As guests entered the hotel's pool deck covered with burgundy rose petals and candlelight, they were greeted with a special almond champagne. "It's our favorite champagne from a Temecula winery," says Ying. "We originally enjoyed it on my initial visit to meet Phillip's parents."

During the 7pm cocktail hour, guests enjoyed miniature baked Brie with strawberry jam, chicken Satay skewers with spicy peanut sauce, and crab quesadillas.

Candlelit Garden Setting
Candlelight illuminated the garden for the 8pm seated dinner reception. For the intimate meal, guests were seated around two elongated banquet tables draped in wine-colored Italian crushed satin linen. Square glass centerpieces set on wheat grass and filled with roses embellished the center of the tables. These water-filled centerpieces also included varying heights of long-stem candleholders filled with white votive candles mixed with red floating candles and underwater calla lilies that created a romantic feel to the festivities.

A three-piece band with a singer provided live music during the cocktail hour and reception. "We wanted to create a jazzy feel with the music," states Ying. "We thought that tunes by Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra would appeal more to our older guests."

Red votive candles surrounded the three-tiered wedding cake. "Each tier featured a different flavor of chocolate," remembers Phillip.

Evening's Culmination
The evening culminated around 11pm with the cutting of the cake, a dance by the bride and groom to The Way You Look Tonight, and a bouquet toss off the high balcony overlooking the garden to New York, New York.

What advice do Ying and Phillip have for others planning a destination wedding? "Without a wedding coordinator, it's almost impossible," says Ying, "if you want a wedding that's tailored to your specific needs." Phillip adds: "It's important to have a clear, simple idea of what you want. Because we had met with all of our vendors on our trips to San Diego, we were very comfortable with them the day of our wedding. That made all the difference in the world; we had a great time at our own wedding."

Sources:
Invitations: Paper Loft | Wedding gown: Mariana Hardwick | Jewelry: Grandmother's | Tuxedo: Century 21 | Hair: Rachelle Thompson | Makeup: Bride | Wedding Planner: Anseth Richards, Creative Occasions | Ceremony site: Cuvier Bowl | Reception site: La Valencia | Clergy/Officiant: Friend | Limousine: Simply Elegant | Music: Joyful Spirits (ceremony); King Kelly (reception) | Flowers: Kreeations Floral Designs | Food: La Valencia | Cake: Michele Coulon | Photographer: Boyd Harris | Videographer: Bob Hoffman Video | Favors: Bride and Sister-in-law | Honeymoon destination: La Jolla | Total cost: $20,000 (*does not include engagement/wedding rings or honeymoon)