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Nicole Knox & Dave Rickards | September 29, 2007
When Dave Rickards, the host of top-rated 101.5 KGB-FM morning show Dave, Shelly and Chainsaw, and his fiancée, Nicole Knox, planned their wedding, they had a clear plan in mind: “We wanted it to be a great party and for everyone to have a good time, with good music, good food and a good location,” says Nicole. “At the same time, we wanted it to be unforgettable, elegant and beautiful.”
They were married at the Four Seasons Aviara, where the 130 guests arrived for the 5 p.m. courtyard ceremony to the sounds of a string quartet. Dave and Nicole exchanged vows and rings beneath an iron canopy topped and sided in ivory organza, complete with a “kissing ball” bouquet of black roses (matching Nicole’s bouquet) hanging from a chain of orchid blossoms.
The couple then asked Dave’s daughters Carly, 15, and Allie, 11, to join them for a family prayer, surprising them each with a diamond pendant necklace. “We exchanged vows with the girls and all joined hands, blessing our union as a family,” says Nicole. The bride then released butterflies, a symbol of new beginnings, which officially marked the end of the nuptials.
Following the ceremony, the wedding party was whisked away for formal photos and Dave and Nicole practiced their first dance one more time, says Nicole with a laugh—which was set to Frank Sinatra’s “The Best Is Yet to Come” come reception time.
The reception room was decked with the wedding’s color theme: warm tones of copper, bronze and chocolate brown. Tables were adorned with nine-branch iron candelabras and topped with floral sculptures of roses, dahlias, hydrangea, vanda and cymbidium orchids. At the place settings, guests discovered edible chocolate menus. Dinner included a gourmet meal of butternut squash ravioli, champagne sorbet and petit filet of beef with pommery mustard sauce and Pacific prawns—all followed by wedding cake and a chocolate “tree” crafted of wrought iron and adorned with chocolate-dipped strawberries hanging from the branches. As the party kicked into high gear, guests could make a stop at a martini bar or dance to the sounds of the high-energy Inside Out band. “I heard them years ago and knew then that I wanted them to play at my wedding,” Nicole says.
Guests found room for self-expression at the vintage photo booth. “Rather than a conventional guest book, we thought it would be fun to ask everyone to take their photos and then personalize them with a message,” says Nicole. “People were lined up at the booth all night. And the later it got in the evening, the more interesting the photos were.”
Party-goers could then retire to a cozy outdoor fireplace terrace decorated with chocolate-colored suede furniture—a perfect place for quiet conversation, regeneration and repose. For the more stalwart, a stop at a cigar and whiskey bar (the cigar bands were monogrammed with the couple’s initials and wedding date) was a must. When the clock struck midnight, the music stopped but the memories did not. “We heard from so many people that it was the best wedding they’d ever been to, and that was our hope,” says Nicole. “It was the best day ever.”
Nicole's Favorites
Victoria Schroeder, Coronado Weddings
Selecting a wedding planner was at the top of the to-do list for Nicole and Dave. “David’s priority—and he wasn’t shy about saying it—was he didn’t want a Bridezilla,” Nicole says. “He wanted someone who could help me get this done so I could go on with my daily life and activities.” Thankfully, Nicole found Victoria Schroeder, owner of Coronado Weddings, who kept her scheduled and structured.
“Nicole and I connected from the day I suggested a particular wedding dress and it became the one she fell in love with and wore,” Schroeder says. “We successfully designed a wedding that reflected her vivacious personality and incorporated her ideas in every aspect.”
Schroeder, who has more than 14 years of experience, developed her client-focused philosophy while working in New York City for five years. “Part of surviving there meant being proactive about your client’s needs and getting things done immediately. It instilled a sense of urgency to this day that makes my brides know they are being heard and quickly responded to,” says Schroeder.
“We couldn’t have done it without her,” Nicole says. “Victoria kept me scheduled and structured, told me what needed to be done and when, and, at the same time, she did a lot of the work. I was really able to live my life and plan this wedding.”
Four Seasons Resort Aviara
Dave and Nicole hadn’t originally planned their wedding at the Four Seasons Aviara. However, while reviewing the terms of their contract with the original venue, they discovered a clause giving the hotel the liberty to relocate the wedding with 30 days’ advance notice. When the manager of the venue was inflexible about the terms, Dave mentioned his frustrations on the air.
Enter longtime listener Stuart Burdette, director of sales at the Four Seasons Aviara, who was listening and e-mailed David. After meeting with him, it was obvious that the Four Seasons was the right place, says Nicole. “The setting is beautiful, and they made us feel so welcome,” she says.
Burdette’s 31 years’ experience in the hospitality industry is evident in his guest-centered philosophy. “In this industry, you’re joining families and lives,” he says. “Not much else is more important. Our entire operation is engaged in the meeting and event business, so you’re likely to feel special long before and after you meet with me.”
Jason Taylor, Taylor Films
Immortalizing the beauty and unique energy of a wedding on film is not easy, but Jason Taylor succeeded. “Every time David and I watch the video from the reception, one or both of us cry,” says Nicole.
Taylor has been filming weddings in San Diego for more than 15 years, and his approach to creating memorable wedding films is uniquely his own. “A vital element when creating beautiful images of a wedding day is to capture real moments, not staged or posed inventions,” Taylor says. “To achieve this, the producer/director must be one step ahead of every priceless passing moment and know how to make it live forever, on film.”
Nicole agrees. “He arrived two hours before the wedding and videotaped everything—me getting ready, the ceremony, the reception. He didn’t miss anything and we were never aware he was there. He never intruded,” she says.
“The final motion picture tells the story of their wedding day and highlights the essence of their love,” Taylor says. “Each bride and groom possesses unique personalities and qualities. My job is to make them the stars in their wedding movie. Not only are the bride and groom the stars, so are the family and guests at the wedding. I want to make everyone feel honored and part of a memorable event.”
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