Elisheva and David met as they “embarked on life journeys of our own,” Elisheva said. The strangers shared a passion for yoga and poetry and a zip code in Encinitas, California—“We finally met while teaching yoga in the same studio, and fell into a beautiful friendship,” Elisheva said. “From the start, we felt so open and comfortable with the other, and more than a hint of deeper soul connection.” The couple later planned a wedding at Rancho Valencia Resort that would celebrate their Jewish faith and spiritual practices.

“We both wanted a place with lots of nature, peace and tranquility,” Elisheva said, and so, the ranch was an easy choice for the couple’s wedding venue. The rest, Elisheva said, followed because the couple stayed true to their vision as a couple. “Wedding planning can often distract us away from what is most important in life and in our relationships with others,” she said. “Always and in everything put love first, everything else has a way of taking care of itself.” The couple’s menu included vegan New Mexico Chile enchiladas. And they tackled several do-it-yourself projects, including cutting heart-shaped escort cards, which hung from string and clothespins at their reception.