Stunning venue alert! Sarah, an attorney, and Joe, an engineer, live in the San Francisco Bay Area, which isn’t exactly short on gorgeous views. But they found something really special in Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor ERIA Sausalito, just across the Golden Gate Bridge. The space overlooks the water with sweeping views of the city, which formed the breathtaking backdrop to the couple’s chuppah. Don’t miss it in the wonderful photos by Victoria Kurkina.
Sarah and Joe can’t stop raving about their experience with ERIA. In the bride’s words, “ERIA isn’t just a venue—it’s a fully immersive experience. Having so much handled in-house made everything feel effortless, cohesive, and incredibly well-executed. We worked with Nikita Khandheria, founder of ERIA Events and owner of the venue, and she was truly extraordinary. From the very beginning, we felt an immediate connection—she intuitively understood our vision and brought it to life in a way that felt effortless. Her level of creativity, organization, and taste is incredibly rare.”
We love that Sarah and Joe went for an immersive cocktail party vibe for their big day, full of rich plum tones and dark, romantic florals—and, of course, delicious food. Instead of a seated dinner, the duo opted for an interactive dining experience with multiple stations. How fun is that?!
We’ll turn you over to Sarah, who looked so chic in her ivory silk gown by Caroline Castigliano, for the rest of the story…
How We Met
Sarah, the bride: We met the old-fashioned way—through wonderfully meddling Jewish aunties. A mutual family friend set us up despite us living in completely different places at the time (Texas and Portland). Our first date was in Sausalito at Bar Bocce, and we dated long distance for several years, including a stint when Joe moved to Switzerland for work. Eventually, we couldn’t stay apart—I left my role at the Justice Department, moved to be with him, and we got engaged in Ticino near Lake Como. We’re now back in San Francisco, living the dream.
Venue
We got married at ERIA Sausalito, and it was truly the heart of the entire experience. The space overlooks the water with sweeping views of the city, and it immediately felt special—especially given its proximity to where we had our very first date.
What made it even more exceptional was the team behind it. ERIA isn’t just a venue—it’s a fully immersive experience. Having so much handled in-house made everything feel effortless, cohesive, and incredibly well-executed. The space evolves beautifully from day to sunset to night, creating a natural sense of drama and celebration throughout the evening.
Theme
We wanted the wedding to feel like an elevated, immersive cocktail party—classy, moody, and a little bit sexy. The palette leaned into rich plum tones with dark, romantic florals, allowing the natural beauty of ERIA Sausalito to really shine without over-designing the space.
We worked with Nikita Khandheria, founder of ERIA Events and owner of the venue, and she was truly extraordinary. From the very beginning, we felt an immediate connection—she intuitively understood our vision and brought it to life in a way that felt effortless. Her level of creativity, organization, and taste is incredibly rare.
What stood out most was that nothing ever felt difficult. The team at ERIA never said no—they simply found a way to make everything happen. Nikita was phenomenal in working not only with us, but also with our families, ensuring everyone felt aligned and taken care of. Everything came together exactly as we had hoped, if not better. We genuinely couldn’t recommend her more highly.
Dress
My dress was an ivory silk gown by Caroline Castigliano, purchased at Glamour Closet in San Francisco. I fell in love with its pearly luster—it felt timeless but still unique, and perfectly complemented the elegant, candlelit feel of the venue. I paired it with playful rosette kitten heels in matching fabric, a cathedral veil borrowed from my sister-in-law, and a late-night look: a champagne fringe flapper dress I thrifted years ago.
Ceremony & Chuppah
We were married under a chuppah overlooking the water, which made the ceremony feel incredibly intimate yet expansive at the same time. One of the most meaningful moments was circling Joe seven times—it’s such a beautiful, symbolic ritual.
My brother performed our processional song, Yedid Nefesh, on the flute, which made the moment deeply personal. The entire ceremony flowed seamlessly thanks to the coordination and support from the ERIA team, allowing us to be fully present.
Ketubah
Our ketubah was designed by Jessica Tamar Deutsch and featured two interlocking pomegranate trees. It was displayed during the wedding on a table handmade by Joe’s father, which added such a meaningful, personal touch within the beautifully curated space.
Our music choice
We had a string trio for guest arrival and the ceremony, followed by a DJ for the reception. The transition from elegant live music to a high-energy dance floor felt completely seamless within the flow of the venue. The space at ERIA really lends itself to that kind of progression—it naturally builds momentum as the night goes on.
Flowers
Florals were designed by The Bloom Bar Co., and they perfectly complemented the moody, romantic tone of the space. We kept the design intentional and refined, trusting both the florist and the venue to work in harmony—which made everything feel elevated without being overdone.
Photographer
Our photographer, Victoria Kurkina, stood out to us for her warm, candid style and ability to capture genuine moments. We loved how she documented both the intimacy and energy of the day, especially within such a visually striking setting like ERIA Sausalito.
Food and cake
Food was the centerpiece of our wedding. Instead of a seated dinner, we created an interactive dining experience with multiple live stations—custom pasta and tacos from NNW Experiences, sushi from Sushi Ran, and more—designed for guests to explore and enjoy throughout the evening.
The flexibility of the venue made this possible in such a seamless way—it felt elevated, intentional, and incredibly fun rather than chaotic. We also had signature cocktails (espresso martinis and passionfruit margaritas) and crowd-favorite mocktails. For dessert, we served chocolate cake from SusieCakes—simple, nostalgic, and universally loved.
Extra Details
We wanted the entire evening to feel abundant, joyful, and effortless—like an incredible party rather than a rigidly structured event. One of the most special aspects was how naturally everything flowed, which we credit so much to ERIA and Nikita’s guidance and execution.
The setting, the pacing, the energy—it all came together in a way that felt completely seamless and genuinely fun.
Honeymoon
We got engaged in Ticino near Lake Como, which already felt like a dream trip—and set the tone for future travels together.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Choose a venue and team you trust completely—it changes everything. For us, working with ERIA Sausalito and Nikita meant that so many moving parts were handled seamlessly, allowing us to actually enjoy the process.
Having an in-house approach simplified decisions and reduced stress in a major way. It gave us the freedom to focus on what mattered most—food, music, and creating an incredible experience for our guests—without getting overwhelmed by logistics.
SARAH & JOE’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Victoria Kurkina
Venue & planner – ERIA Sausalito
Ketubah – Jessica Tamar Deutsch
Bride’s dress – Caroline Castigliano found at Glamour Closet
Flowers – The Bloom Bar Co.
Catering – NNW Experiences, Sushi Ran and SusieCakes
If you’re a Jewish or Jew-ish bride-to-be, you’ll want to join Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club. Guided by the world’s number 1 Jewish wedding expert, Karen Cinnamon, Brides Club is the private community for Jewish and Jew-ish brides that removes wedstress and indecision and gives you what you need to plan with confidence during these uncertain times. Join our Brides Club here.
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