COVER STORY
A Catalina Island Wedding Filled With Colour, Tradition and Joy
With
The Bridal Journey
For Eliza and Eli, Catalina Island was never just a destination. It was a place woven into the fabric of the bride’s childhood, with weekends spent sailing with her family and hours on the water that always felt like stepping into an oasis. When it came time to choose a wedding venue, Catalina’s balance of sentiment and seclusion made perfect sense. Guests would arrive by ferry, leave city life behind, and spend the weekend together in a celebration that was equal parts summer camp and seaside soirée.
Photography Izzie Karren
A Story That Began at Princeton
The couple’s love story started at Princeton, where they met as first-year students living on the same hall. Both athletes, they moved within the same small circle, becoming such good friends that Eli once set Eliza up with a teammate. Three years later friendship turned into romance, and together they navigated cross-country moves, grad school, and long-distance chapters between Los Angeles and New York.
When it came time for a proposal, Eli orchestrated a weekend in Napa after his father accidentally revealed the existence of the ring. At a wine tasting, he pulled out a custom deck of cards, each one printed with photos from their relationship. “I immediately started sobbing,” recalls Eliza. What followed was an intimate day together, celebratory drinks with their parents, and a surprise party with friends who had flown in.
ELIZA & ELI (1)
Photography Izzie Karren
A Wedding Weekend of Colour and Connection
From the outset, Eliza knew her priority was fun. “I just wanted the most fun wedding,” she says. The couple worked with Claire Sotelo of Grit & Grace Events, whose island-savvy planning transformed logistical challenges into effortless moments. The design centred on the brightness of summer, with vivid shades of yellow, orange, and pink layered with texture and playful details.
The festivities unfolded over three days. Guests were welcomed with beers and snacks on the sand, a cooler of crisp drinks waiting on the family’s boat anchored just offshore. The official welcome party at a waterfront restaurant spilled into late-night karaoke down the street. On the morning of the wedding, the first look played out on a lawn overlooking the ocean. Eliza sprinted towards Eli, shouting “turn around,” just as a passing boat blasted White Wedding in a moment of cinematic serendipity.
The ceremony was officiated by Eliza’s brother and wove together both their backgrounds, Christian and Jewish, with scripture and the breaking of the glass. Guests followed a saxophonist down to cocktail hour on the sand, where a yellow-themed spread of oysters, crab claws, poke bowls, and cornhole awaited. Their marriage license was signed on the spot, witnessed by both grandmothers, before guests returned to the reception lawn beneath a glowing tent of string lights.
Personal Touches at Every Turn
Every detail carried intention. Escort cards were yellow decks of playing cards, a nod to the couple’s love of cribbage. Each of the 205 guests received a handwritten note at their place setting. Instead of traditional boutonnieres, the groomsmen wore vintage brooches lovingly collected over months. Custom flags from Slightly Choppy replaced a conventional welcome sign, and even the champagne was served on silver trays.
The bride herself spent the evening barefoot, having forgotten to ever put on her shoes. “But not really,” she admits, “it was very on brand.”
Fashion, Flowers, and Festivities
Eliza wore the Beau gown by Kyha, a dramatic tulle silhouette she knew was hers from the moment she first saw it on the runway. For the late-night party, she changed into a Poshmark mini, altered to make it unique, and paired it with denim Larroude heels, perfect for dancing into the island’s kitschy club scene. She accessorised with heirlooms: a Cartier watch engraved with her name and birthday, a tennis bracelet from Eli and his mother, and diamond daisy earrings first worn by her aunt on her own wedding day.
Eli wore a custom tuxedo from Sy Devore, the legendary tailor once known for dressing the Rat Pack, where he himself had worked in high school. The bridal party reflected the couple’s desire for authenticity, with bridesmaids choosing dresses in warm hues they could wear again, and groomsmen embracing the character of their vintage brooches.
Lavenders Flowers brought the florals to life, Volk created paper goods the bride adored, and a tent of lights transformed the reception lawn into something both magical and celebratory. Guests dined on carving stations, pasta and salad bars, and a wildly popular potato bar, before dancing late into the night with the Lucky Devils Band.
ELIZA & ELI (1)
Photography Izzie Karren
Memories to Last a Lifetime
The day unfolded with countless standout moments, from the Princeton football team’s traditional line-dance to I Will Survive to quiet balcony beers shared with their wedding party before the ceremony. “Somehow I wasn’t nervous,” says Eliza, “and that part of the day didn’t fly by.”
Even the imperfections felt irrelevant: a plain white cake missing its flowers, forgotten family photo arrangements, or background music drifting in from a passing boat. “Coming from someone who is obsessed with the little details, it really does not matter on the day,” she reflects.
The Bride’s Advice
“Prioritise,” Eliza says. “Be crystal clear on what matters to you and let the rest go. Show your guests how grateful you are. Travelling for a wedding is a big commitment, and it makes the whole event more celebratory when they feel appreciated. And do a first look. You will calm your nerves and have more time together. Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun.”
