Historic Sand Rock Farm Bed & Breakfast

Tea Ceremony

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

Sevy's Bar + Kitchen

After Party

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Meet Up

Our Wedding

Alyssa: When I signed up for my first semester of classes as a freshman at the University of San Francisco in 2013, I had no idea that I was about to meet my future best friend, co-conspirator, legal counsel and husband. Ian caught my eye the minute he walked into RHET 130: a guy with long shaggy hair, no textbooks, and fifteen minutes late. "What kind of a guy can't make it to their first class on time? What a slacker.." I thought. Several months later, I found out that Ian had flown in from Hong Kong, upon which his parent's rental car had been burglarized (very San Francisco) that first day of class, and, not only were his lap top and textbooks stolen, he was late because he had been filing a police report that morning. I also learned that it's easy to judge people, and that, more often than not, those judgements are wrong. Almost ten years later, I'm happy to say that I've been proven wrong over and over again by this incredible person. He's a motivated lawyer, a thoughtful partner, supportive cat-dad, and has always encouraged me to explore this beautiful world. Together, we moved to Los Angeles, pursued higher education, traveled to new places, and made incredible friends and a family along the way. We've experienced highs, lows, and everything in-between. I feel truly privileged to have gotten to grow through life with Ian by my side. Ian: I've always heard stories about love-at-first-sight, but I've never been one to believe it. No, our story starts with an awkward self-introduction in our freshman rhetoric class, where I introduced myself to Lyss in the hopes of making a new friend in a new city. Unsure of my intentions, Lyss hesitantly gave me her number, and I sent a solitary invitation to explore J-town, only to never hear from her again... Or rather, that's how it would have been. Instead, 6 months later, our social circles would overlap and we'd find ourselves sitting across from each other at lunch with our now blended friend group. It was during this second meeting that we finally got to know each other. Excited over our growing friend group, we exchanged our contact information, only for that same solitary message to pop up as it did months ago. I'll never forget the perplexed look on Lyss' face, nor will I forget how hard we laughed when we figured out how we'd already met. From then we would be inseparable. If we weren't with our found-family of friends or in class, we were most likely together exploring the city on yet another quest to do and see as much as San Francisco could offer. Now, nearly 10 years later, and our journey has gone global. Come rain or shine, I still look at her smiling face and her warm hands in mine, and I feel reassured, just as I have countless times through the many miles we've travelled and adventures we've conquered. And still, we joke about how we nearly missed out on a lifetime of joy, love and laughter because she couldn't figure out my intentions. Apparently, neither could I because I'm about to marry my best friend and the love of my life, and all I asked was for someone to explore San Francisco with me. To quote Bob Ross, there are no such things as mistakes... Only happy accidents, and I'll never forget how lucky I was to find myself accidentally in love.

Me & My Better Half

Our Story

Bridal Party

George Ferrell

Cyndie Fournier-Ferrell

Lauren Ferrell

Erin Rosenberg

Sammy Chow

Patara Rungratanasunthorn 

Lily Miller

Officiant 

Laurie Rosenberg 

Bachelor Party

Bau To

Linda To

Jonathan Chuck (JC)

Matthew Goldberg

Nic Yau

Danny Arellano

Anthony Herbert Benitez 

Wedding Party

Travel: <a href="https://www.sandrockfarm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sand Rock Farm</a> is located in Aptos, California, a small oceanside town located between Monterey &amp; Santa Cruz. Below, we have listed times &amp; distances to Aptos from nearby airports. Please note that on the day of the wedding, our venue requires that guests arrive via shuttle (or via a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft), which can be accessed at the <a href="https://www.seacliffinn.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Seacliff Inn</a> at 2:15pm, 2:30pm and 2:45pm free of charge. At the end of the reception (9:00 PM), the shuttle will provide transportation back to the Seacliff Inn. For those planning to fly ✈️: From Monterey Regional Airport (MRY): 35 miles, 30-35 minutes From San José Mineta International Airport (SJC): 39 miles, 40-45 minutes From San Francisco International Airport (SFO): 67 miles, 70-90 minutes For those planning to drive 🚗: From Salinas: 28 miles, 30-35 minutes From San Francisco: 79 miles, 75-90 minutes From Los Angeles: 340 miles, 5-5 1/2 hours Shuttle Information: Located at the Seacliff Inn and departing at 2:15pm, 2:30pm &amp; 2:45pm, the Discovery Charters shuttle will take you to and from the wedding venue day of. You can park at The Seacliff Inn free of charge if you are not staying on site. For those with accessibility needs, please contact us. There is limited handicap parking available at Sand Rock Farm. For those who do not wish to use the shuttle service, Sand Rock Farm can also be accessed by rideshare services like Uber or Lyft.

We have a discount code for hotel guests at the Seacliff Inn. Please use group code P7 at checkout for a discounted rate. *Please note that there is no group block, only a discounted room rate using the code above.*

Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Other nearby accommodation options include <a href="https://www.seascaperesort.com/?utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_campaign=business-listing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Seascape Resort</a>, <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/aptos-ca/stays" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AirBnb’s</a> and <a href="https://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/california/central-coast/aptos" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">VRBO’s</a>. In addition, there are several hotel options in the surrounding area. We recommend booking as soon as possible since Labor Day Weekend draws a lot of tourism to the area!

Hotels in Aptos (approx 5-10 minutes from the venue):<a href="https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Aptos%2C+California%2C+United+States&amp;ssne=Santa+Cruz&amp;ssne_untouched=Santa+Cruz&amp;label=msn-VbNJc0jzkOT0bSfCRKuBNw-80882983962499%3Atikwd-80883137660208%3Aloc-4084%3Aneo%3Amte%3Alp79749%3Adec%3Aqssanta+cruz+hotels&amp;aid=306742&amp;lang=en-us&amp;sb=1&amp;src_elem=sb&amp;src=searchresults&amp;dest_id=20011357&amp;dest_type=city&amp;ac_position=0&amp;ac_click_type=b&amp;ac_langcode=en&amp;ac_suggestion_list_length=5&amp;search_selected=true&amp;search_pageview_id=7dbe747aa5b202c3&amp;ac_meta=GhA3ZGJlNzQ3YWE1YjIwMmMzIAAoATICZW46BUFwdG9zQABKAFAA&amp;checkin=2025-08-29&amp;checkout=2025-09-01&amp;group_adults=2&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_children=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Booking.com: Hotels in Aptos. Book your hotel now!</a> Hotels in Santa Cruz (approx 15-20 minutes from the venue):<a href="https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Santa+Cruz&amp;ssne=Santa+Cruz&amp;ssne_untouched=Santa+Cruz&amp;efdco=1&amp;label=msn-VbNJc0jzkOT0bSfCRKuBNw-80882983962499%3Atikwd-80883137660208%3Aloc-4084%3Aneo%3Amte%3Alp79749%3Adec%3Aqssanta+cruz+hotels&amp;aid=306742&amp;lang=en-us&amp;sb=1&amp;src_elem=sb&amp;src=city&amp;dest_id=20015797&amp;dest_type=city&amp;checkin=2025-08-29&amp;checkout=2025-09-01&amp;group_adults=2&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_children=0&amp;sb_travel_purpose=leisure&amp;sb_lp=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Booking.com: Hotels in Santa Cruz. Book your hotel now!</a> Hotels in Monterey (approx 25-40 minutes from the venue):<a href="https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Monterey%2C+California%2C+United+States&amp;ssne=Aptos&amp;ssne_untouched=Aptos&amp;label=msn-VbNJc0jzkOT0bSfCRKuBNw-80882983962499%3Atikwd-80883137660208%3Aloc-4084%3Aneo%3Amte%3Alp79749%3Adec%3Aqssanta+cruz+hotels&amp;aid=306742&amp;lang=en-us&amp;sb=1&amp;src_elem=sb&amp;src=searchresults&amp;dest_id=20014579&amp;dest_type=city&amp;ac_position=0&amp;ac_click_type=b&amp;ac_langcode=en&amp;ac_suggestion_list_length=5&amp;search_selected=true&amp;search_pageview_id=5d6674c88cf30166&amp;ac_meta=GhA1ZDY2NzRjODhjZjMwMTY2IAAoATICZW46CG1vbnRlcmV5QABKAFAA&amp;checkin=2025-08-29&amp;checkout=2025-09-01&amp;group_adults=2&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_children=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Booking.com: Hotels in Monterey. Book your hotel now!</a>

Travel

FAQs

Located by the oceanfront, the Monterey Bay Aquarium offers a window into the rich marine life of the area with over 200 exhibits and 80,000 plants and animals on display. Here, you can see leopard sharks weave through kelp forests at one of the tallest aquarium exhibits in the world, sardines swimming past a 90-foot aquarium window, and cute sea otters frolicking. Tickets are only available online so be sure to book before you go!

Monterey Bay Aquarium 

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a small beach city on California's Monterey Peninsula. It's known for the museums and library of the historic Carmel Mission, and the fairytale cottages and galleries of its village-like center. The Scenic Bluff Path runs from surf spot Carmel Beach to bird-rich Carmel River State Beach, with a scuba entry point. South lie the sea animals and whaling museum of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an oceanfront amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 1907, it is California's oldest surviving amusement park and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States. Admission is free, but rides do cost a fee. 

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of the largest protected marine areas and offers some of the best wildlife viewing in the world! It is one of North America’s largest underwater canyons, the closest-to-shore deep ocean environment in the United States, and the 3rd largest submarine canyon in the world, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Because the submarine canyon is in such close proximity to shore, the Monterey Bay is one of the richest ecological regions along California’s central coast, as proven by the diverse species that call it home. With such a magnificent Sanctuary, Princess Monterey Whale Watching loves showcasing and&nbsp;supporting the preservation and protection of this special marine ecosystem.&nbsp;

Princess Monterey Whale Watching

Established in 1902, Big Basin Redwoods is California’s oldest state park. In the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains, its biggest attractions—literally—are its ancient coast redwoods. Some of these giants are more than 50 feet around and as tall as the Statue of Liberty. At 1,000 to 1,800 years old, some may predate the Roman Empire. The park also offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, many babbling brooks, and a fascinating natural and cultural history.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Most of Carmel Valley's wine tasting rooms, such as<a href="https://www.seemonterey.com/listings/bernardus-vineyards-and-winery/1126/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;Bernardus Winery</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seemonterey.com/listings/holman-ranch-vineyards/1920/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Holman Ranch Vineyards</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seemonterey.com/listings/joullian-vineyards/2045/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joullian Vineyards</a>&nbsp;are located just a short stroll from each other, allowing visitors to take a Carmel Valley wine tour on foot.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seemonterey.com/listings/morgan-winery/342/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Taste Morgan</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seemonterey.com/listings/folktale-winery/5345/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Folktale Winery</a>&nbsp;are located along the drive to&nbsp;Carmel Valley Village and is easily accessible. While often lively, Carmel Valley's tasting rooms are not overly crowded and provide a warm, personal interaction with tasting hosts and winemakers. The special quality that allows Carmel Valley to transcend the ordinary is evident in the Carmel Valley wineries, tasting rooms and wine bars that are found along the dramatic valley floor. That transcendent spirit is also imparted to the wine produced in the well-drained, gravelly terraces of the Carmel Valley wine appellation (granted an official AVA designation in 1983). Try Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varietals, which make up 70% of the Carmel Valley AVA.

A Carmel Valley Wine Tour

Accessed via scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1, Big Sur is a majestic stretch of rocky cliffs, lush mountains, panoramic beaches, and coastal redwood forests (plus the Big Sur River) located approximately one hour from Aptos, CA. Outdoor adventure is abundant with epic hiking trails, picturesque camping, beaches and breathtaking historic & state parks to be explored.

Big Sur, California

With its picturesque charm and colorful history, Cannery Row captivates visitors from all over the world. The unique appeal of this fabled street is what makes Cannery Row the most popular vacation destination on California’s Central Coast. With luxurious waterfront hotels, enticing restaurants and captivating boutiques, Cannery Row is the ideal place to soak up the culture and beauty of Monterey Bay.

Ian & Alyssa

Ian & Alyssa

Photos

Thank you for making the time to share this weekend with us. We love you all!