Angela Huntley and Adam Kowalski met while attending school at the University of Washington. Although Adam was usually shy, he later admitted to running ahead when he saw Angela get off the bus in front of him, so they could “casually” bump into each other and walk to class together.

It was Angela who eventually mustered up the courage to ask Adam out on a date at the end of the quarter, claiming to want to pick his brain about the Master’s program over coffee. Thankfully, Adam saw through her clever guise and the two spent their coffee date talking about everything but school.

A few months later, Adam had an opportunity to work in the Carmel, California area. Their relationship was relatively new, but he asked Angela to join him in California that summer. It was a big step, but both were excited to share the new experience – and as they were falling in love with Carmel, they also fell in love with each other. After five years of dating, Adam took Angela back to Big Sur to propose atop a cliff overlooking the ocean at Post Ranch Inn as the sun was setting.

The couple knew they wanted to host their wedding in Carmel and share it with those they love. They also wanted their wedding to take place in a garden setting, so they could be surrounded by nature while still having an elegant affair. As soon as they saw the garden and grounds of Bernardus Lodge & Spa, they knew it was the perfect destination for their special day.

Envisioning a wedding that struck a balance between “sophistication and laid-back with a touch of whimsy,” Angela and Adam embraced a multicolored design that was playful with Scandinavian sensibility. The flowers, designed by Fionna Floral, were loose and organic, emulating the gardens around them. Thanks to their wedding coordinator Kathryn Kalabokes, owner of Dream A Little Dream Events, and Nicole Cabantac, Bernardus’ event coordinator, the wedding planning process was fun and stress-free.

When the wedding day arrived, the bride and groom were overwhelmed by the love and support they felt from everyone in attendance. The entire day was filled with warmth, laughter, and tears – it was more beautiful than they ever imagined. To come back to the place where they fell in love and decided to spend their lives together made it feel as if their journey together had come full circle, and they were excited and eager to start their new chapter.