Announcing the wedding of
Saturday, September 18, 2027 · The Reef, Long Beach
Counting the moments
Until we say forever, on the harbor in Long Beach.
Together with their families
“Whatever our souls are made of, yours and mine are the same, and the harbor at golden hour is where ours decided to stay.”
Elena & Marcus
#ElenaAndMarcus
How we met
Four chapters, one worn paperback, and a harbor that kept finding excuses to bring us back.
Chapter One
On a rainy October afternoon in 2022, Elena ducked into a little bookshop off Pine Avenue to wait out the weather and reached for the last copy of Pride and Prejudice on the shelf. Another hand got there first.
Marcus offered her the book, on one condition: she had to tell him how it ended over coffee. The bookshop had a cafe in the back, the rain lasted three hours, and neither of them remembers a single word of the novel.
Pine Avenue · Long Beach · October 2022
Chapter Two
A week later Marcus suggested a walk along the harbor at dusk, dinner after, nothing fancy. Elena wore purple because he had mentioned, in passing, that it was his favorite color on her. He noticed. He has noticed every day since.
They walked the waterfront until the string lights came on and the boats lit up the water, talking about everything except the one thing they were both thinking, which was that this already felt like the middle of a story, not the beginning.
Shoreline Village · Long Beach · November 2022
Chapter Three
Three years to the week after the rainy afternoon in the bookshop, Marcus brought Elena back to the harbor terrace at sunset, the same gold light, the same water. This time he had a ring in his pocket and his whole heart in his throat.
He got down on one knee as the sun touched the water. Elena said yes before he had finished the question, then made him ask it again properly, because a moment like that deserves to be heard twice.
The Harbor Terrace · Sunset · October 2025
Chapter Four
Now comes the best part, and this time you are in it. There will be purple flowers and cream linen, gold light over the harbor, too much cake and exactly enough dancing.
Join us on September 18, 2027 as the story gets its favorite chapter yet. We cannot wait to celebrate with the people who have loved us through all the pages so far.
The Reef · Long Beach · September 18, 2027
The day, as we dream it
A first look at the celebration to come, in the colors of the day: deep purple, soft cream and a little gold light.
Just married
The first dance
Cutting the cake
Golden hour
The send off
Where it all began
When and where
One beautiful venue on the water, all afternoon and into the night. Come ready to dance.
4:00 PM · Harbor Terrace
Vows on the terrace as the light turns gold. Please arrive by 3:30 PM so you can find your seat and settle in.
5:00 PM to 11:00 PM · Sunset Ballroom
Dinner, toasts and dancing in the ballroom above the harbor. The Reef, 880 South Harbor Scenic Drive, Long Beach, CA 90813.
Hotels on the water
Hotel Maya is next door, and the Hyatt Regency and the Westin Long Beach are a short ride away. Parking is available at the venue.
Be our guest
Kindly respond by August 21, 2027. Start with your name, exactly as it appears on your invitation, and we will find your party.
Our list is private, so your RSVP opens with your name. Plus ones are already counted for your party, just as your invitation shows.
With love and thanks
Your presence is the gift. If you would like to give a little more, we are registered at these stores.
Scan and shop
Point your phone camera at the code to open our Amazon registry.
From our favorite people
On the day, share your photos with us, and leave a note we will read on our first anniversary, and our twentieth.
Share your photos
After the wedding, this is where your pictures go. Every candid, every dance floor moment, all in one place for the couple to keep.
“Two of my favorite people, in my favorite city, at golden hour. I have been waiting for this wedding since the bookshop.”
Lucia Vasquez · Sister of the bride
“Marcus talked about Elena for a solid year before he worked up the nerve. Worth the wait, brother.”
Jordan Ellis · College friend
“May your marriage have all the warmth of that harbor at dusk, and may you always share the last copy of everything.”
Rosa Vasquez · Mother of the bride
Good to know
Your invitation shows exactly how many seats we have saved for your party, and your RSVP form will show the same number, with a place for each guest's name and meal. If anything looks wrong, just reach out to us and we will sort it out with love.
We love your little ones, and our celebration is an evening for grown ups. The only children in the room will be our nieces and nephews in the wedding party. Thank you for understanding, and enjoy your night out.
Cocktail attire, with a garden party heart. The ceremony is on an outdoor terrace, so keep the harbor breeze and the lawn in mind when you pick your shoes. Purple is very welcome, cream is the couple's color, and gold sparkles beautifully at sunset.
During the ceremony, please let our photographer work and keep phones tucked away, we will share every picture. At the reception, photograph everything, and share your favorites right here on this site when the photo page opens.
Truly, your presence is the present. If you would like to give, our registries are linked above, and there will be a card box at the reception for your notes, which we may treasure most of all.