After far too long away from the blog, I couldn’t imagine a better event to return with than this breathtaking engagement celebration at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast, California. Designed by the incomparable Sonia Sharma Events, this all-white dress party was pure California-meets-Amalfi-Coast magic.
Perched above the Pacific, Pelican Hill is one of Southern California’s most iconic luxury venues, and Sonia Sharma Events used every inch of it beautifully. Guests arrived in their finest white attire and stepped into a sun-drenched world of yellow-and-white striped umbrellas, plush white lounge seating, and a custom-branded dance floor set against the resort’s rolling lawns and Italianate architecture.
The details were nothing short of extraordinary. A “Frutti di Mare” station framed by striped canopies and cascading greenery brought the Italian Riviera to Newport Coast, complete with tiered baskets of lemons and market-fresh produce. Lemon-print pillows, citrus accents, and crisp white furnishings carried the theme through every lounge vignette.
The florals by The Empty Vase were truly stunning. Lush arrangements of garden roses, dahlias, and delicate chamomile in soft yellows and creams appeared on every table, while a show-stopping lemon topiary anchored the culinary display. Their work perfectly captured the fresh, joyful spirit Sonia Sharma Events envisioned for the couple.
Photographing this celebration was a dream — golden light, an ocean backdrop, and design details at every turn. It’s events like this that remind me why I love what I do.
If you’re planning an engagement party or wedding at Pelican Hill, I can’t recommend the team at Sonia Sharma Events and The Empty Vase enough. Their combined artistry turned an already spectacular venue into an unforgettable celebration.
Congratulations to the happy couple!
