A Romantic Fall Wedding in San Diego

When Sharrah Robeson, a lifestyle vlogger and blogger, and Tyler Stevens first met, they had no idea their friends had taken matters into their own hands. “We met at a backyard barbecue in June of 2014 that was, unbeknownst to us, a singles meet-and-greet that our friends had organized,” she explains. The couple connected instantly, celebrating milestones like becoming official and saying “I love you” on a cliff overlooking the ocean in Solana Beach near San Diego. In February of 2016, Tyler had Sharrah headed to breakfast with a friend before stopping by the beach, where she saw 12 of her best friends holding signs retelling her and Tyler’s love story. “They led me up to the top of the cliff, where Tyler was waiting in our favorite spot to propose,” Sharrah remembers.

The couple wasted no time starting to plan their wedding, choosing a date only nine months away: November 19, 2016. Sharrah’s only requirement was that their venue had to have a big tree (so they could exchange vows beneath it!) and found it in the middle of the golf course at Rancho Bernardo Inn. “They’d never had a wedding out there before, so we had to negotiate with them to secure the spot, but it wound up being absolutely perfect,” she says. And from there, the bride continued to create her own fall wedding, with the help fo Before I Do Events and Wallflower Inspiration. Keep reading to see Suzi Jacob's photos of their beautifully curated celebration!

Sharrah began her wedding day in a beaded blush dress by Watters. “The dress made me feel like a modern princess,” says the bride of the flowing tulle and intricate sheer bodice. She paired her gown with block-heeled Badgley Mischka sandals for the outdoor ceremony. The bride added a veil to her half-up curls, and her bouquet was perfectly designed to match the blush hue of her dress.

The ceremony took place beneath the tree Sharrah had fallen in love with during her first visit to the venue. The trunk was decorated in a lush arrangement of blush and cream roses and greenery, which matched the flowers on either side of the aisle. Guests sat in a combination of cross-back chairs and antique church pews.

She walked down the aisle with her dad, then Sharrah’s brothers stepped in to give her away because her dad had another important role: officiating! “Tyler and I wrote our own vows, which was surprisingly intimidating,” says the bride. The couple decided to read one another’s vows before the ceremony to make sure they were on the same page. “It was also great to practice before we read them in front of all of our guests!” Sharrah says.

Cocktail hour took place on the Inn’s lawn, with arrangements of leather and velvet furniture topped with cozy pillows and blankets. A worn wood bar served two signature cocktails, the “Blushing Bride” (red wine sangria) in pink coupes and “About Figgin’ Thyme” (fig and thyme Moscow mules) in copper mugs.

For the reception, guests headed to the inn’s brick patio. Long bare tables were surrounded by chairs upholstered in neutral fabric, and the trees were wrapped in twinkling strands of lights. The centerpieces combined roses, garden roses, anemones, and greenery for a soft and romantic look. The couple created a collected, curated feel with white, clear, pink, and gold-edged china and amber and blush wine glasses added a pop of warmth and color to the tables.

The bride and groom cozied up together at a sweetheart table surrounded by scattered flowers and lit with candlelight.

For dinner, guests dined on truffle risotto with Portobello mushrooms, pan-seared filet mignon, and mushroom-stuffed chicken, followed by snickerdoodle wedding cake and ice cream sandwiches. “We skipped wedding favors and instead had late-night snacks—including our favorite breakfast burritos,” says the bride.

For their fall wedding reception, Sharrah changed into a backless lace dress by Katie May. “I had tried on over 20 dresses when my 88-year-old grandmother took a look around the boutique and brought in this one,” Sharrah remembers. “She’s very conservative, but the one she picked was so sexy. I guess grandma turned a new leaf!”

The couple spent the evening dancing beneath the stars with guests who had flown in from all over the world. “It was indescribable to see everyone we love in one place,” Sharrah says. So of course she made a point to remember it, taking mental snapshots throughout the night and turning to her photographer and videographer to capture it all, saying: “They were so worth the investment, since their work is the way we’ll relive every moment for years to come!”