I used to visit the Big Sur River Inn as a girl with my family in the summer. There, I would dream of being married on the lawn in the back of the resort, just inches away from the river, under the giant, cooling trees. Still, when my now-husband proposed to me in Cambria, CA (on one of our many trips out to the west coast as adults—we are East-coast dwellers now) we had to look at every wedding site on the Big Sur Coastline. I am so glad that we returned and were later married at the Big Sur River Inn on a warm summer afternoon.

The afternoon, like almost every summer afternoon at the Big Sur River Inn, was warm and gorgeous (it’s true—the coastline can be fogged in to the North and the South and the sun is out at the River Inn). The trees created striking shadows for pictures as well as a perfect breeze through the passage between the buildings of the resort and the trickling waters of the Pheneger Creek as we walked down the aisle. The imposing majesty of this place in my childhood quickly morphed into a romantic setting, perfect for our big day. The wedding planner, Selena Perez, her assistant, Andrea, and their team of people made my husband and I feel that they wanted to create the wedding that we wanted on the property. They left nothing to chance as they worked tirelessly to ensure that everything went smoothly. All the way through, thanks to these efforts, we felt as though we were a part of the River Inn family.

The twenty rooms on the property were filled with wedding guests making this a “wedding destination weekend” for many them. The rest of the Big Sur River Inn staff was great too in responding to any needs that our guests had during their stay. Even at breakfast in the mornings, staff welcomed our guests by remembering their names and greeting them with a smile.

After the wedding ceremony, we ate dinner on the lower deck just before dark. The food (choice of steak, salmon or “marathon pasta”—yuummmm) was prepared expertly and in a timely manner. Then, we all moved inside the restaurant area, where (a stark contrast from the breakfast table set up) the DJ had set up a make-shift-dance-floor and a large screen to showcase pictures from the years my groom and I had spent together. From there, the restaurant provided the perfect space for us to get-down-Big-Sur-style all night long. We cut cake, had the bouquet toss, even provided late night munchies (Selena’s idea) for our guests a few hours after dinner. When people left, they remarked about how beautiful the site was, how effortless it all looked, how exquisite the flowers were and how much fun they had.

Looking back, our wedding was so much more than I ever could have imagined. I am so happy that we trusted Selena, the staff and the Big Sur River Inn, to host this special day for us. For the years to come, I will have new memories to one day share with my children about such a special place in the heart of Big Sur. And who knows, maybe one day, we will have another family wedding there.