Cool and Coastal at Ville Sur Mer

Josh Khalili and Chris Dickie tied the knot in an elevated beachy celebration in La Jolla. The two met nearly eight years ago through online dating, and while neither of them expected the other to be “The One,” the doctor and television executive ended up being a perfect match. Josh and Chris most often can be found at the beach, which made Ville Sur Mer’s oceanside locale an ideal spot for their special day. The ceremony was officiated by one of the couple’s best friends, who led guests through a few meditative breaths before Josh and Chris read the vows they had written for each another. Their altar featured asymmetrical pillars of greenery and blue tones from larkspur, delphinium, nigella and blue thistle. Josh’s father passed away unexpectedly two months before the wedding, so the couple made sure his presence was still felt. A photo of him sat in a front row seat and Josh wore his father’s prayer shawl. The couple incorporated elements of Josh’s Jewish and Persian heritage and Chris’ Armenian background: each groom stomped on a glass during the ceremony, everyone danced the hora and baklava was featured on the menu. In lieu of a guest book, they opted for a surfboard that friends and family could sign, which also gave a nod to Ville Sur Mer’s collection of more than 300 surfboards. Each table at the reception was labeled with a different beach Josh and Chris have visited, spanning the globe from Iceland to New Zealand and beyond. As the sun set, the couple took a brief trip down to the rocks to bask in the moment, both of them wearing complementary blue suits that echoed the hues of the waves crashing behind them. After the cutting of the cake, guests took to the Balinese-style palapa that served as a dance area, shimmying away to Josh and Chris’ favorite songs as market lights dazzled overhead.