Aly and Mike Pedersen Tap into the Bride’s Event-Planning Experience to Craft the Perfect Day

“Mike was there offering advice on cuts and patiently handling my very picky requests,” she recalls. “Over time, we started sharing more about our lives with each interaction and realized we had much more in common than just our passion for quality food.”

That chance encounter led to a first date at Tin Roof Bistro, an engagement, an elopement and, finally, a long-awaited wedding celebration marking five years of marriage. After postponing their original 2020 wedding due to the pandemic, the Torrance couple knew they wanted their eventual celebration to be especially meaningful.

“We stayed at Terranea the night before, where we all got ready and did our first looks,” Aly shares. “We wanted a luxurious, relaxing experience. Waking up to gorgeous coastal views—then staying on afterward for a mini-moon—was absolutely perfect.”

As a seasoned professional in the events industry, Aly was intimately familiar with the South Bay’s top vendors and had a clear vision for the day. “I wanted a classic, timeless look with a mix of current event trends and a few unconventional touches. Aesthetics are incredibly important to me, and I wanted that reflected in every detail of the design.”

The ceremony was especially emotional. Having lost her father, Aly asked her aunt—his sister—to walk her down the aisle. She also prerecorded a love letter to her dad, played over one of his favorite songs, “Over the Rainbow,” as she made her entrance.

“Our ceremony location faced Point Fermin, where both my dad’s and my grandma’s ashes are scattered,” she explains. “It felt like they were watching over us as we reaffirmed our love, and that was a big reason I chose that venue.”

Mike, who had also lost his father, shared in the tribute. Aly had charms made with photos of both fathers so they could keep them close throughout the day.

Although the couple had already eloped, they chose to exchange personal vows in front of their family and friends. Adding a joyful, personal touch, the wedding party escorted the couple’s four rescue pugs down the aisle.

“Including our pugs was incredibly important to us,” says Aly. “Our wedding party was made up of my closest friends of over 20 years, Mike’s son and daughter, her husband and our grandbaby. It truly felt like a celebration of family.”

Both the ceremony and reception were held at The Plaza at Cabrillo Marina in San Pedro, offering sweeping ocean views.

“Our first dance ended up being a highlight, which was surprising since we learned it just five days before the wedding,” Aly laughs.

Another favorite moment came when the couple invited guests by table to join them on the dance floor for photos. “Our photographer suggested it, and it was such a great way to personally say hello to everyone and make sure we had photos with all our guests.”

True to Aly’s culinary roots, the reception featured an unforgettable food experience. Instead of a traditional cake, guests enjoyed liquid nitrogen ice cream, a snacks-and-sweets table and late-night smashburgers with duck-fat fries from local favorite Proudly Serving.

“Our ‘cake-cutting’ moment was replaced with us sharing a smashburger,” Aly says. “We wanted the food to feel fun, unique and ongoing throughout the night, so we had different vendors creating moments all through the reception.”