MARIN SEIFERT & ERIC BERGMAN
MARIN SEIFERT & ERIC BERGMAN
October 10, 2020 Montecito, California Photographed by M. Hart Photography
As they lived on opposite coasts, Marin Seifert and Eric Bergman may have never met had they not both been invited to attend the Cape Cod wedding of a friend. A few months after their initial meeting, Eric was in San Francisco on business and asked Marin to dinner. “The instant connection we had was unbelievable,” he shares. “We laughed all night and continue to do so today.” They dated long-distance for eight months before Marin moved to Connecticut to be with Eric and start their life together.
When it came time to plan a wedding of their own, Marin and Eric decided to host a destination wedding in the bride’s home state of California. “I felt because of my move, I reserved the right to choose the wedding location,” she smiles. They hired Tessa Brand of Tessa Lyn Events to help them orchestrate the day of their dreams. “I cannot say enough how essential Tessa was to the wedding-planning journey,” the bride attests. “I truly could not and would not have done it without her.”
The groom’s number-one priority for the nuptials was to have all of their closest friends and relatives in attendance; however, “Covid put quite the damper on that,” confirms Eric. Down from a guest list of nearly 200 attendees, 32 loved ones were invited to spend the entire weekend with the bride and groom. “Covid forced me to keep the big picture in mind and feel grateful that I was healthy and able to marry Eric with our family and friends there to celebrate with us,” Marin affirms.
Though the pandemic altered nearly every aspect of the fête as they were in the planning process for 20 months, the result allowed the pair to spend quality time with their nearest and dearest. “We had to change venues four times, but we ended up with an amazing location,” explains Eric. “Tessa, Marin, and her mom transformed the backyard [of a private residence] into the most amazing venue… The ambience was phenomenal.”
Friends and family found their seats atop upholstered chairs and benches for the alfresco ceremony facing the ocean. The bride was gorgeous in a ball gown and carried a bouquet of white orchids – an ode to her mother’s bridal bouquet – as she walked down the aisle to “Unchained Melody” by The
Righteous Brothers, which was her parents’ first-dance song at their wedding. Following Marin and Eric’s personalized vows, the dear friend who set their love story in motion pronounced them husband and wife.
Desiring a timeless celebration, the duo selected a neutral color palette with accents of black and forest green to provide a stark contrast to the white florals adorning the space. Modern black chairs surrounded a single mirrored table decorated with a lush overhead arrangement of vanilla orchids atop acrylic stands. Each guest’s place setting showcased ebony glassware reflecting candlelight emitted from black taper candles, as well as mirror charger plates topped with the menu for the evening.
As the owner of a catering company, the mother of the bride searched for a chef who would not only create a delectable wedding menu, but also provide fare for guests over the course of the weekend. “Chef David Fricaud was a Top Chef finalist in France in 2010, so we knew we were in good hands!” exclaims the bride. Since the couple also desired a first dance that would be unique to them, they found a local musician to perform throughout the evening and sing an original song for the special moment.
“At first we were afraid that having a smaller wedding may not be ideal,” Eric starts. “However, we quickly learned that it was a much more intimate affair that allowed us to spend even more valuable time with each person.” The bride confirms: “It was the most incredible day!”
“At first we were afraid that having a smaller wedding may not be ideal; however, we quickly learned that it was a much more intimate affair that allowed us to spend even
more valuable time with each person.”