Arielle Foucek and Alex Sherman were introduced through their mutual friend, Shannon. After dating for three years, he proposed by the water at the Swordfish Beach Club in Quogue.
Since their first trip as a couple was to Santa Barbara, they chose to host their summer wedding at Klentner Ranch in Toro Canyon. “The surroundings at Klentner almost make you feel like you’re at a Tuscan Villa but with the beautiful Pacific Ocean in the background,” Arielle says. To help plan everything, they hired Jolene Peterson of Laurel & Rose.
Arielle always knew she wanted a long-sleeve dress for her wedding. Oscar de la Renta was her first appointment, and she ended up finding the one there. “I absolutely LOVED the way the dress was crisp and classic on the bottom but had a whimsical feel to it on top,” she says. She completed the look with Rebecca de Ravenel pearl drop earrings and her grandmother’s sapphire and diamond ring.
For beauty, Nicole from TEAM Hair & Makeup pulled the bride’s hair back into a simple bun and applied a subtle makeup look. She also worked on all the bridesmaids, who were dressed in floral gowns of their choosing. The designs varied from Brock Collection to Giambattista Valli to Les Rêveries and were tied together with Rebecca de Ravenel gold daisy stud earrings.
The groom wore a custom black tuxedo by Michael Andrews Bespoke for the ceremony and then changed into a white dinner jacket, also by Michael Andrews, afterwards. His shoes were a hit—monogrammed Stubbs & Wootton slippers. “As my gift to Alex, my dad gave me his vintage Omega watch that he had received as a graduation gift from his parents. I changed out the band and was so thrilled that Alex could now have a piece of my family forever,” Arielle says.
For the outdoor Jewish ceremony, the couple met under a chuppah made out of the bride’s Bubby’s handmade tablecloth and the groom’s great-grandfather’s tallit (prayer shawl) and decorated with florals by Kim from Toast Santa Barbara. Their family friend, who is a rabbi, officiated the service, incorporating aspects of both of their families. “We wanted the ceremony to be meaningful to us and our guests, and by the end, Alex and I couldn’t stop crying!” Arielle says.
After saying, “I do,” everyone moved to the pool area on the upper lawn for the cocktail hour. The Whaling Club manned the bars and created the couple’s speciality drinks: Dark ’n’ Stormy, Paloma-esque Point Break, and a Southside Swizzle. Then a three-piece band led everyone to the lower lawn for the tented reception.
Across the tables, Toast mixed gorgeous florals with lemons, artichokes, and ceramic vases, and rattan lanterns, from Elan Event Rentals, hung above. Duo Events served a delicious dinner of hangar steak, miso cod, and Mary’s Chicken and sweet corn argnolotti, and then the party got started on the dance floor with JB Project from West Coast Music, who played everything from classics to ’90s rap.
The newlyweds took to the white floor for their first dance to “Your Smiling Face” by James Taylor. “The first dance was our favorite part. Neither one of us loves being the center of attention, but there is something special about being introduced as a married couple for the first time, and it was one of the only times all night where, even though all eyes were on us, it was just us two,” Alex says.
After the reception, the after-party kicked off back on the upper lawn, where the cocktail hour was. Duo whipped up cheeseburgers and fries, and there was Santa Barbara’s famed McConnell’s ice cream, which served double peanut butter chip (Alex’s favorite), Santa Barbara strawberry (Arielle’s favorite), and salted caramel chip.
The two then had a mini-moon at San Ysidro Ranch and, months later, went to South Africa for a two-week honeymoon.
