The Hay

Golf Social at the Hay

The Cypress House

Welcome Party

The Old 5th Hole at Pebble Beach

Wedding Day

Old 5th Hole at Pebble Beach

Ceremony

Stillwater Pier

Cocktails at the Stilwater Pier

Pebble Beach Club

Reception

Our Wedding

We first crossed paths in the crowd at the Snowglobe music festival in Lake Tahoe in 2019 - just a brief moment, but one that stuck with both of us. Three years later, in October 2022, we reconnected in Los Angeles, went to dinner, and from that night on we’ve been inseparable. Since then we’ve explored Southeast Asia, chased the northern lights, and spent countless days on the slopes skiing and snowboarding together. In 2023 we moved to San Diego for Lena’s graduate program, and on July 13th, 2025, Mark proposed in the San Diego Botanic Garden... the easiest “yes” of all time.

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

11:00Mark Stilwell Sr.Theodore StilwellLance JohnsonDan McCormickTim Dudek11:10Dan ChristianMichelle ChristianVince PiroJohn Donaldson11:20Mark Stilwell Jr.Zack OlivasRyan LefevbreHarrison Shulman11:30Trey CoppingerCarson CoppingerTracy Coppinger11:40Richard StilwellTheodore RubinSydney StilwellMatt Spuria11:50Kyle JohnsonDylan BergmansBailey McCormickNancy McCormick12:00Lucia WahlSebastian SharpeChloe KimSam Lewis12:10Alex HallBlaise SummersMichael Hall12:20Trevor BianchiAlexandra BianchiDanny HalaAngelina Hala12:30Matt GibsonJarrett SilveyJeremy WalchTrevor Moore12:40Josh LawDonovan PiroDante PiroHarry Robinson

Q + A

There are only a handful of hotels in Pebble Beach proper. While lovely, they sell out months in advance and are quite expensive. Instead, we recommend staying in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pacific Grove, or Monterey. These locations are located on either side of Pebble Beach and are just a short drive away. We also recommend looking at Airbnb! There are countless hotels in these areas- some of our favorite Carmel hotels are below:

Stilwell Hotel set amid upscale shopping and dining in the city center, is less than 0.6 mi from Carmel Beach. The Stilwell Hotel is within 5 minutes' walk of Ocean Avenue. Pebble Beach Golf Course is 10 minutes' drive from the hotel.

Stilwell Hotel

This boutique hotel in Carmel is less than two blocks away from unique shopping, galleries and fine dining and Ocean Avenue, the main street, is just 3 blocks away. Carmel beaches are 10 minutes' walk away. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is 6 miles away.

Tradewinds Carmel

Carmel Mission Inn is a cost-friendly option just outside downtown Carmel, close to the Crossroads and Barnyard shopping and restaurants.

Lena & Mark

Lena & Mark

Things to Do

There are so many amazing things to do around Pebble Beach! See some of our favorites below :)

Monterey Bay Aquarium

17 Mile Drive

Cannery Row

Carmel Beach

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Carmel Valley Wine Tours / Tours Monterey