Candlelit Glamour at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach

Nicol and Austin first connected via Instagram direct message in 2016, when Austin was playing professional baseball and Nicol had recently moved to Los Angeles after serving as Miss Utah. Their careers eventually took them to opposite coasts, but years later they reconnected—and Austin proposed at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, the same venue they would later choose for their wedding.

Collaborating with planner Tyler Speier, Nicol envisioned a design inspired by the romantic artwork and period details of Pride and Prejudice. The team created a concept reminiscent of a moonlit Regency gathering, incorporating candlelight, velvet textiles and rich jewel tones throughout the celebration. “We wanted every element to evoke the grace of the era, set against the natural beauty of a starlit night,” Speier notes.

Guests arrived at a garden ceremony framed by a gazebo draped in blossoms, then found their seats via a gallery-style installation of framed artwork and calligraphy. The reception revealed a transformed ballroom—gold-rimmed china, towering trees, ivy-wrapped candelabras and candlelit shelves filled with books and florals. Live violin music marked the recessional and transitioned into a lively dance floor to close the evening. Throughout the day, the newlyweds made it a priority to carve out quiet moments together and soak in the love surrounding them. —Megan Simpson Teeter