A La Jolla Love Story: Ryan & Sean’s Wedding Weekend at Estancia La Jolla and Darlington House

Written By Epic Photography
Ryan and Sean smiling and holding hands after their first look under the arches at Darlington House in La Jolla

Some couples plan a wedding. Ryan and Sean planned a whole weekend for the people they love, and it showed in every frame. Their celebration started on Friday evening with a rehearsal dinner at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa. On Saturday, July 25, 2026, they said “I do” in front of 134 guests at historic Darlington House, a few steps from the Pacific in the village of La Jolla. Our team at Epic Events Studios was there for both days with cameras ready.

From our very first intro call, Ryan arrived with a clear vision and an impressively organized plan, complete with a visual timeline deck. Their planner, Karen Aficial of Aficial Events, made sure every detail came together on the day. Most of all, he wanted photography that felt fun, energetic, and inclusive for him, Sean, and every guest. That became our goal for the weekend.

Friday Night: Rehearsal Dinner at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa

Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa hacienda gardens with palm trees and fountain
Tall palm trees against a blue sky at Estancia La Jolla
Ryan and Sean small in frame beneath white hacienda walls and palms at Estancia La Jolla
Shaded adobe veranda with a carved bench at Estancia La Jolla

Estancia La Jolla is one of San Diego’s most photogenic resorts. Its hacienda-style architecture sits on ten acres of award-winning gardens, with bougainvillea, olive trees, terra-cotta brick, winding pathways, and trickling fountains around every corner. The resort has several indoor and outdoor event spaces, from the 3,136-square-foot Garden Courtyard with its sweeping Spanish-tiled staircases to the intimate Olive Lawn and the Caretaker’s Lawn, which sits among historic adobe buildings. That makes it a natural home base for out-of-town guests and a beautiful place to kick off a wedding weekend. Ryan and Sean’s guests and wedding party stayed and got ready there before boarding a shuttle to Darlington House on Saturday.

We covered Ryan and Sean’s rehearsal dinner at Estancia from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

Sean holding a bottle of bourbon while getting ready for the rehearsal dinner at Estancia La Jolla
Ryan helping Sean with his jacket before the rehearsal dinner at Estancia La Jolla
Ryan and Sean holding hands walking down Spanish-tiled stairs at Estancia La Jolla
Ryan and Sean laughing in sunglasses against a warm plaster wall at Estancia La Jolla
Ryan and Sean posing on a white arched stairway at Estancia La Jolla
Ryan and Sean on an arched hacienda balcony at Estancia La Jolla
Ryan and Sean making a celebratory entrance to their rehearsal dinner at Estancia La Jolla
Guests mingling on the garden lawn under string lights at Ryan and Sean's Estancia La Jolla rehearsal dinner
Guests cheering and taking photos as Ryan and Sean arrive at their Estancia rehearsal dinner
Two guests clinking bottles in custom Ryan and Sean koozies at the rehearsal dinner
Rehearsal dinner bar with wine, glassware and a basket of custom koozies at Estancia La Jolla
Candid hug between Ryan and a guest at the Estancia La Jolla rehearsal dinner
Close-up of Ryan and Sean holding glasses of white wine at their rehearsal dinner

Why a Rehearsal Dinner Is Worth Photographing

Rehearsal dinners are full of relaxed, genuine moments: families meeting, heartfelt toasts, nobody watching the clock yet. Photographing the night before also helps everyone get comfortable with us, so on the wedding day our cameras feel like part of the crew.

Saturday: Getting Ready at Darlington House

Exterior of historic Darlington House in La Jolla, a Mediterranean Revival wedding venue
Two wedding bands in red and blue ring boxes resting on the piano keys at Darlington House
Orange rose and greenery boutonniere pinned to a black tuxedo lapel
Member of the wedding party carrying bags up the staircase at Darlington House
Groom's party cheering on the staircase while getting ready at Darlington House
Sean buttoning his shirt while getting ready at Darlington House
Ryan having his hair styled in the mirror while getting ready at Darlington House
Ryan buttoning his white tuxedo jacket at Darlington House
Ryan in his white tuxedo seated in a blue armchair at Darlington House
Ryan walking down the curving staircase in his white tuxedo at Darlington House
Ryan in the living room by the grand piano at Darlington House
Black and white photo of family and friends gathering in the living room at Darlington House

Darlington House is one of La Jolla's true treasures. It was built in 1925 as Mrs. Sybil Darlington's oceanfront residence on Olivetas Avenue. Over the years, three notable architects shaped it: Herbert C. Palmer, Richard Requa (who added the library wing and the Andalusian and Egyptian patios in 1931), and Thomas Shepherd (who added the second story and the curving staircase in 1940). In 1995 the city designated the house San Diego Historic Landmark No. 327 as an excellent example of Mediterranean Revival architecture.

There's another reason couples fall for it. Darlington House is owned and operated by the Social Service League of La Jolla, a nonprofit that provides affordable housing and meals for seniors. 100% of the venue's rental proceeds support that mission, so every celebration here gives back to the community.

Sean's crew started the morning at Estancia, then took an MIB Transportation shuttle to Darlington House. Ryan and Sean finished getting ready in separate rooms of the house.

The First Look

Sean waiting for the first look outside French doors at Darlington House
Ryan and Sean's first look under the white arches of the Andalusian Patio at Darlington House

Ryan and Sean put real thought into their first look and wanted a reveal that felt true to both of them. We set it on the house's Andalusian Patio, one of the spaces Richard Requa designed in 1931.

Editorial Portraits Around the Estate

Ryan and Sean walking down the curving grand staircase under the chandelier at Darlington House
Ryan and Sean on the wrought-iron library balcony at Darlington House
Groom in black tuxedo leaning against Spanish tile at Darlington House
Ryan in his white tuxedo and sunglasses on the tiled patio at Darlington House

Darlington House rewards photographers who slow down: arched doorways, tilework, the sweeping staircase, and lush gardens give you a new backdrop every few steps. We kept these portraits editorial but relaxed, working with the July light.

The Ceremony

Ceremony setup at Darlington House with a round greenery-wrapped stage and chairs in the round
Ryan walking down the aisle with family during the processional at Darlington House
Ryan laughing during the vows at his Darlington House wedding ceremony
Ryan and Sean's first kiss as a married couple on the greenery-wrapped stage at Darlington House
Ryan and Sean walking back up the aisle hand in hand after their Darlington House ceremony

Guests gathered around a round, greenery-wrapped stage in the courtyard while Caprice Strings played live. Both families walked in to "Here Comes the Sun," Ryan and Sean made their entrance to "I Will Wait," and they left as a married couple to "Signed, Sealed, Delivered." Ryan broke into a huge laugh during the vows, and the whole courtyard laughed with him.

Family, Friends & Cocktail Hour

Ryan and Sean have big, loving families, so we planned ahead. Right after the ceremony, while everyone was still together, we gathered both sides for family photos in the Rose Garden. That kept the timeline moving, and the newlyweds got back to their guests sooner. Then it was cocktail hour: Caprice Strings played under the arches while friends and family filled the courtyard and the great room.

Caprice Strings trio playing under a white arch at Darlington House wedding
Overhead view of guests at cocktail hour in the Darlington House courtyard
Ryan greeting guests over appetizers at cocktail hour at Darlington House
Overhead view of guests at the bar in the great room of Darlington House
Ryan and Sean laughing and hugging friends during cocktail hour at Darlington House

Reception: Dinner, Dancing, and a Lot of Joy

Long reception tables under string lights in the Rose Garden at Darlington House
Reception tables with white linens beneath café lights at Darlington House
Reception tables seen through the trees in the Darlington House garden
Place setting with greenery garland and candles at Ryan and Sean's reception
Wedding reception tablescape with greenery and white florals at Darlington House
Plated first course on a long reception table at Darlington House
Champagne tower of coupe glasses ready for the pour at Darlington House
Close-up of ribbed champagne coupes stacked in a tower
Single-tier white wedding cake with orchids by Extraordinary Desserts

As the sun went down over La Jolla, the party moved into the Rose Garden for dinner and dancing. Toast Catering served dinner and ran the bar, Concepts Event Design handled rentals, and Blooms Design House did the florals. The cake came from Extraordinary Desserts, and Al Teatro Catering set up the dessert bar. Right after the introductions, Ryan and Sean went straight into the cake cutting and poured the champagne tower. Their first dance was to Al Green's "Let's Stay Together," and then each groom danced with his mom. Later we climbed up high for an overhead group photo of everyone on the dance floor. The night peaked with a late-night outfit change, revealed to Diana Ross's "I'm Coming Out."

Guests on their feet cheering Ryan and Sean's reception entrance at Darlington House
Ryan and Sean dancing onto the checkerboard dance floor for their reception entrance
Ryan and Sean celebrating together on the dance floor during their entrance
Ryan and Sean pouring their champagne tower at their Darlington House reception
Family members giving a toast at Ryan and Sean's Darlington House reception
Ryan and Sean laughing at their sweetheart table during toasts at Darlington House
Wide view of Ryan and Sean's reception dinner under string lights at Darlington House
Black and white photo of Ryan and Sean dancing playfully on the checkerboard floor
Groom sharing a mother-son dance under string lights at Darlington House
Second mother-son dance at Ryan and Sean's Darlington House wedding
Overhead group photo of all guests cheering on the dance floor at Ryan and Sean's wedding
Packed dance floor with guests dancing around a groom at Darlington House
Groom dancing with guests in sparkling gowns at Darlington House
Black and white photo of Ryan and Sean posing on the staircase in their late-night outfits
Ryan and Sean revealing their sparkly late-night outfits on the Darlington House staircase

A Note From Our Team

Epic Events Studios captured Ryan and Sean's weekend in both photo and film. Our team loved every minute. Ryan and Sean were generous, organized, and so clearly in love, and their families and friends brought incredible warmth to the whole weekend. When they saw their sneak peek, they told us the photos left them "teary eyed." That's the best compliment we could ask for.

Vendor Team

Planning Your Own La Jolla Wedding?

If you're dreaming of a historic estate like Darlington House, a garden resort like Estancia La Jolla, or a full weekend that brings both together, we'd love to hear about it. Epic Events Studios is a San Diego wedding photography and videography studio. We focus on storytelling that feels as personal as your celebration, from the rehearsal dinner to the last dance.

Ready to start planning? Book a free intro call with Kristina Joy. Let's talk about your vision, your venue, and how we can capture it all.

Ryan and Sean dancing late into the night under string lights at Darlington House
Epic Photography
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