Zach and I met in line at a late night taco stand in Santa Monica, California. So it was only fitting that part of our wedding took place in a Mexican restaurant called Mariasol. The best part about that is that the restaurant is located at the end of the Santa Monica Pier! It was such a fun spot and we were very excited to share it with our friends and family, many of whom had never been to California before.
Walking down the pier together towards our ceremony was a journey I’ll never forget. We felt like rock stars! So many people were shouting congratulations at us and taking our picture.
The ceremony took place in the pier’s public observation deck, which is surrounded by gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains. As a nod to my Spanish-born mother, we had a flamenco guitarist perform the ceremony music and we also incorporated a traditional Spanish coin ceremony using coins from her wedding to my father.
Originally, we planned on keeping everything very simple and not having a bridal party. But in the end, we chose to honor our older brothers by making them Man of Honor and Best Man, respectively.
Spanish Guitarist – Stephen Dick
Shoes – Badgley Mischka ‘Hyde’ purchased from Shoecrush.
Ceremony venue – Public Observation Deck, Santa Monica Pier
After the ceremony, our guests moved into the dining room (which is connected to the observation deck in an L shape) for cocktail hour while we roamed the pier to take pictures. Zach won a stuffed animal for me at one of the carnival games and we got some shots on the ferris wheel.
Dress – Michelle Roth Maya (I actually got to meet Henry Roth at a trunk show at Here Comes the Bride in San Diego, where I had gone specifically to hunt down this dress!! He was an absolute doll.)
We could have spent all evening out there taking pictures but we didn’t want to miss too much of the party! The food and music were great. Our older brothers delivered some very funny and heartfelt speeches. Zach and I toasted using the champagne goblets from my parents’ wedding. We had our first dance (The Greenehornes “Hold Me”), we ate our delicious cupcakes, and everybody danced.
Cupcake tower – Hotcakes Bakes, Culver City, CA
One of my favorite memories of the evening came courtesy of Zach’s childhood friends from North Carolina. They have a tradition at every friend’s wedding of picking out a song and serenading the bride. For me, they chose Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel.” It was an amazing moment and everybody got a big kick out of it.
We didn’t have a huge budget but so many people pitched in to help it all come together. One friend did all our flowers, her cousin married us, another friend was our DJ, my best friend’s little sister did my hair and makeup. All of these contributions helped make our wedding so fun and the warmth and love surrounding us the entire weekend was indescribable.
Reception venue – Mariasol restaurant
Ms Polka Dot says – Such a joyful wedding for you today, where the bride and groom’s happiness shines out from every photo. Love the bride and groom being out on the pier and all the colour and life surrounding them on their special day! Congratulations Zach and Theresa on your marriage!
Theresa says: I am a loyal Polka Dot Bride reader all the way over in Los Angeles, CA (well….we love that Theresa!!)
Photography – Patrick Chai and Christiane Ingenthron of Patrick Chai Photography
In addition to Patrick & Christiane, we were extremely lucky that three of our guests are also extremely talented photographers in their own right. Some of the images you see here came from their cameras. (Credit to my older brother, Brian Solis, and my friends Mick West and Ben Stragnell.)
soooooo adorable <3
x
My now fiancé and I got engaged at the end of the pier on the 8th August 2010. Very romantic. I had no idea. We’d just been for a meal with our closest friends, who are also a couple, at the Ocean and Vine restaurant. We left them at the end of the pier and they went back to the Shangri-La hotel, where we were staying. We strolled to the end of the pier hand in hand me carrying me heels so not to get them trapped in the decking. We were gazing out over the night sky watching the moon glisten in on the pacific ocean, when he said, “we’re in the most favourite place on earth and I have a huge regret….that I didn’t do this earlier.” he proceeded to get down on one knee and asked the question that I had waited 11 years to hear, “will you marry me?” He pulled out the box with the engagement ring in it. Of course, I said ‘yes’. As with you guys, as you walked down the pier to take your vows, everyone cheered and it made it so special to receive congratulations from kind people who I had never met before. They helped to take pictures capturing a moment that I will never forget.
We live in Manchester, England and would like to return to get married on the pier in around two years time.
Congratulations to you both, seems strange that you exchanged your vows in the same spot where I was stood when I got proposed to, just 4 months later. And in that exact same year the pier celebrated it’s 100th birthday!! Perfection all round.
Congrats again and Theresa you look sensational and very beautiful!
Best Wishes
Lyndsey and Danny
So cute. I love the picture wherein the couple is walking with along with plenty of people in the pier. The idea is so unique.
Cute, looks like they had so much fun!