We met in the reading room of a library that closes at five, both pretending to study the same book of garden plans. Eleven years later we would like you in your finest, on a December evening in San Marino: vows in the statuary garden as the lamps come on, dinner under the chandeliers in the hall of columns, and an orchestra until midnight.
393
days until December 11
Our story
It began in a reading room
2016
Five minutes to closing
One copy of a 1910 folio of formal gardens, two people who wanted it. Theodore let Margaux have it, then waited on the front steps to ask what she thought of the parterres.
2019
The first black-tie dinner
A friend's wedding in Pasadena. He borrowed tails that were an inch too long; she taught him the box step in the coat check. We danced until they turned the lights up.
2026
The proposal
In a museum gallery after hours, in front of a small painting of a moonlit garden that had hung in Margaux's grandmother's hall. The ring box was velvet; the answer was immediate.
2027
The evening
One night in December, the lamps lit in the garden, and everyone we love in their best.
The evening
Saturday, December 11
4:30 pm
Arrival
The forecourt
Valet at the foot of the steps. Warm cider and champagne in the gallery while the light goes blue.
5:00 pm
Ceremony
The statuary garden
Twenty minutes under the arch, lit by candles. Heaters line the allée, and there are wraps on every third chair.
5:45 pm
Cocktails
The long gallery
A string quartet, oysters and a gin martini the way Theodore's grandfather made them.
7:00 pm
Dinner
The hall of columns
One long table under the chandeliers. Toasts between courses, kept short, we promise.
9:00 pm
Dancing
The ballroom
An orchestra until midnight, then the doors open onto the front steps for the send-off.
What to wear
Black tie, if you please
Ceremony & dinner
Black tie
Dinner jackets or tails; floor-length gowns or an elegant cocktail length. Black, ivory, champagne and deep jewel tones all belong here. The garden paths are gravel and marble, so bring shoes you can stand in for twenty minutes.
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Sunday breakfast
Come as you are
Coffee, pastries and the last of the cake in the orangery from ten. Sunglasses welcome.
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Getting there
San Marino, California
Delacourt House sits at the end of a long drive lined with oaks, ten minutes from Old Pasadena. Burbank airport is about 25 minutes away and LAX about an hour, traffic willing. Valet parking is at the forecourt from 4:15 pm, and a car will take anyone staying at the hotels home after the send-off. (Delacourt House is invented for this demo.)
Pasadena is at its best in December: crisp blue mornings, the San Gabriels clear above the city and the first camellias out. If you arrive on Friday, the old gardens and galleries nearby are open until five, and the cafés on Colorado Boulevard are open late. On Sunday we'll be in the orangery with coffee and the last of the cake.
Good to know
Questions, answered
Is it really black tie?
Yes, and we'd love it if you leaned in. A dark suit and tie is perfectly fine if a dinner jacket isn't in your wardrobe.
Can I bring a plus-one?
If your invitation names one, yes. The table in the hall of columns is set for exactly who we've invited, so please check yours before you reply.
Will it be cold?
December evenings in San Marino drop to the low fifties. The garden has heaters along the allée and wraps on the chairs, and everything after the ceremony is indoors.
Are children welcome?
We love your children, but this is an evening for grown-ups. We're happy to share sitters' numbers near the hotels.
Can I take photos?
Please keep your phone away during the ceremony; our photographer has it covered. After that, take as many as you like.
Registry
If you'd like to give a gift
Your company is the gift. If you'd still like to give something, here are two ideas.
