If You’re Dreaming of a Summer Event, This Calamigos Ranch Wedding in Malibu, California, is the Perfect Inspo
Alyssa Landau and Ryan Glick are living proof that people can find love in the most unlikely places. “We both ventured out one night to celebrate a mutual friend’s birthday in April 2016,” explains Alyssa. “Little did we know, waiting in that crowded, smelly, old bar was our entire future!” Their meet-cute occurred in Manhattan, but when Ryan decided to ask Alyssa to marry him, he chose to do so back home. “Ryan proposed on a holiday trip home to California in 2019. He planned a night at the Belmond El Encanto in Santa Barbara and popped the question over morning coffee!”
With 18 months to plan their big day, the couple also decided to host their nuptials in California. “We wanted to create an elegant summer soiree in the hills of Malibu,” the bride describes. “We wanted to give our out-of-town guests a quintessential end-of-summer, warm California evening that just glowed.” Nestled in Los Angeles’ Santa Monica Mountains, their chosen venue expertly captured a light-and-airy theme. To complement the space, Alyssa and Ryan stuck with an inviting, ethereal color palette consisting of yellows, oranges, peaches and warm neutrals with a dash of pale blue. Luckily, the bride’s sister Michaela is an interior designer—the three of them, plus their vendor team, were able to infuse the event with exquisite and personalized details.
“My wedding gown by Lihi Hod was the very first one I tried on. I had been following Lihi’s designs for a while and fell in love with the Luka gown and, without hesitation, knew it was meant for me,” says Alyssa. “I paired it with Jimmy Choo heels and wore heirloom earrings that both my mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law were married in, too!” Ryan matched his bride’s clean-and-sophisticated look by selecting a Tom Ford suit in dark charcoal. “He paired that with Prada loafers and his grandfather’s cufflinks. He couldn’t have looked more handsome.”
Friends and family gathered in the alfresco ceremony space with views of the verdant altar. Bouquets of lush greenery and simple, white blooms lined the aisleway and led to a whimsical chuppah adorned with pastel flowers accented with some bright yellow and pink blossoms. “The florals were all seasonally conscious and perfectly played into our ethereal summer soiree,” Alyssa details. “Florals were a priority to us, so we wanted to invest in them. Boy, did it ever pay off!!” Finally, the bride and groom met underneath the chuppah’s drapery to exchange their vows. “We had a Jewish ceremony ordained by Rabbi Ron Li Paz, who presided over my Bat Mitzvah 20 years prior,” the bride reveals.
Following the “I dos,” guests adjourned to a cocktail hour filled with customization. “Michaela created super-chic furniture vignettes accented with tons of tasseled umbrellas,” notes Alyssa. Attendees found relief from the sun on comfortable vignette couches and loungers. A vintage bar set-up flanked by baskets of lemons awaited each drink order.
“The reception brought together the elegance of our ceremony and the warmth of our cocktail hour. The room glittered! We kept the centerpieces low so that everyone could see across the room; we wanted our guests to feel the space’s cohesive vibe,” the couple says. Each round table featured soft ivory linens and striking copper-colored goblets. The focal point was undoubtedly the overheard drapery—tulle fabric paired with string lights gathered in a line down the center of the ceiling, while ornate chandeliers gave the layout an extra sense of elegance.
After an evening of delicious food, lively dancing and loving company, the newlyweds can reflect on their wedding day with pride. “I am so grateful for the time we gave ourselves to plan,” Alyssa shares. “Nothing about the process felt rushed. We also got to book all of our preferred vendors, which ensured we really had the dream team behind our vision! As a result, we didn’t have any stress and got to enjoy the lead-up with so much excitement and anticipation.”
