Grass Room

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Ryan &amp; Gabrielle are aware that their wedding would likely not be happening without the collected works of Nora Ephron. They are forever indebted. (However, they can agree that Mixed Nuts was a mistake.)

Our Wedding

Growing up on the east coast, Gabrielle and Ryan shared the same dream: to find the love of their life. In Los Angeles, the city of dreamers, they found the worst pizza they've ever tasted in their lives—but, also, each other. When Ryan attended a party in summer 2019 that Gabrielle was invited to but refused to attend because people would be there (she’s a woman of principles), he took this socializing opportunity to extol the virtues of the 2015 Nancy Meyers film, The Intern. Most people were wondering who had invited this eccentric writer, but Gabrielle’s friend in attendance took a picture of Ryan (without his consent, it should be noted) and told her about this fellow at the function who shared her idiosyncratic taste in movies. It was love at first digital recognition of Nancy Meyers’ most underrated film.&nbsp; After meeting, Gabrielle and Ryan were friends for a while. Ryan found himself wondering why the only woman he wanted to talk to was Gabrielle. He didn't know what this meant, in spite of all the rom-coms he'd watched. Gabrielle decided to just wait him out, hoping one day Ryan could connect his feelings to his actions. (Cut him some slack, the man was only *checks notes* 34-years-old at the time…) After attending a screening of Titanic as friends (?), Ryan summoned the courage to ask Gabrielle out on a date – he genuinely had no idea if she’d say yes. She responded, “Ryan, I went to see Titanic with you!” — which, dear readers should note, is not an answer. She followed up this text with a second one, saying, “Of course I’ll go out with you.” This was all done via text message because Ryan was what the Greatest Generation would call “a coward.” Gabrielle and Ryan’s first date was on March 1, 2020. (A wonderful omen.) When the pandemic lockdown started thirteen days later, a lot of people re-evaluated their lives. Ryan decided to try something new — dating a woman who actually liked him! Four and a half wonderful years later, Ryan proposed marriage to Gabrielle, and she said, “No, no, no, no, no” (because her nails weren’t manicured) before finally saying, “Yes.” They will be married in Los Angeles on April 11, 2026.&nbsp;For their honeymoon, Ryan is hoping they can go to Wilmington, North Carolina to visit Dawson’s Creek filming locations. Gabrielle is undecided (about where she wants to go on their honeymoon — she’s committed to getting married as of 8/20/25). Oh, yeah, back to when Ryan met Gabby… They were at a fiction reading where Ryan was about to share a short story about a talking baby who rips off adult faces and wears them. He was kind and charming as he talked to Gabby, saying something a bit sarcastic or (what he imagined to be) clever, perhaps trying to shock her. In return, Gabrielle was unflinchingly sassy and empathetic—a rather unique combination of personality traits. Ryan didn't realize it until months later, but what he felt in that moment — talking to her for the first time — was the kind of peace that can last a lifetime. He knows he will spend the rest of his days trying to be as captivating and funny as his bride-to-be. He will fail, but it will be a lot of fun to try.&nbsp; When asked to add to this recollection, Gabby said, “I think I barely spoke to you.”&nbsp;

How Ryan Met Gabby...

Photos

Brian Ariotti, Best Man &amp; Co-OfficiantBrian is known to some as Ryan’s best friend, best man and co-officiant of Ryan &amp; Gabby’s wedding, but he should best be known as Gabrielle’s favorite podcast co-host. (Side note: Gabrielle and Gabby are being used interchangeably, but they’re the same person and Ryan only ever calls her Gabrielle — we want that on the record.) Brian is an incredible, Emmy-award winning documentary producer, all around funny guy and a desperately average Madden player (that’s a joke, he always beats Ryan). While visiting Ryan last year, he participated in a tour of Vanderpump Rules-related restaurants — the photos from which received 84 likes on Instagram — and is generally a great guy.

Maddy Newquist, Maid of Honor &amp; Co-OfficiantThere are very few people on God’s green earth that Ryan can bare to spend any considerable amount of time with, but Maddy is one of them. She was a key figure in Ryan &amp; Gabby’s relationship development, watching such terrible movies as Cats and The Heart Specialist (don’t look it up) with them during the early days of the pandemic. Maddy is an amazing friend to Gabrielle, and the two of them are as close as friends can be. When she’s not being a delightful and hilarious person or the most amazing librarian in Austin, Maddy can be found helping out with Gabrielle &amp; Ryan’s annual cookie party every holiday season. They are very excited to have her in their life forever.

Wedding Party

Traveling To Los Angeles By Airplane

Bob Hope Airport aka Burbank Airport (BUR)We will always recommend flying into Burbank if it’s possible for you! It’s generally easier to get in and out of that airport quicker &amp; with less traffic than at LAX. Despite being slightly farther on the map from downtown LA (DTLA), it will likely end up taking you the same amount of time by car (based on the usual traffic).&nbsp;The best option for getting to and from this airport is a rideshare app. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) You will have many more flight options here, and it's technically closer to downtown LA (DTLA). If arriving for a flight by car, please keep tabs on Google Maps &amp; plan for about an extra half hour of traffic near the airport.

Traveling Between LAX and DTLA

The Flyaway Bus Take this from LAX to Union Station. From Union Station, we would suggest taking a short rideshare or cab ride to your hotel. A one-way ticket is $12.75.&nbsp; The LAX Metro Transit Center Take the LAX Metro shuttle to the LAX Metro Transit Center. From here, you can take a metro C-Line train directly to Union Station. A one-way fare is $1.75.&nbsp; Rideshare App/TaxiRideshares/Taxis can drop-off directly at the terminal entrance, but they have a separate lot for pick-ups. You will have to take a free LAXit shuttle (follow the signs!) from the arrivals area to the pick-up point.&nbsp;

Where To Stay

We recommend staying in the downtown Los Angeles area for the wedding weekend. Please see our <a href="https://www.whenryanmetgabby.com/us/ryan-sartor-and-gabrielle-costa-2026-04-11/hotel" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hotel page</a> for information about our room block.

Hotel Shuttle

For guests of Hotel Per La, shuttle transportation will be provided to and from the wedding venue. The shuttle will leave promptly at 4:45pm. Please meet the shuttle at the hotel's front entrance on Olive St (by the valet).

Driving to the Venue

For those who are local to Southern California, the venue is located in a part of downtown LA with very limited parking options. For this reason, self-parking is not advised. Valet parking will be provided. Please indicate on your RSVP if you will be driving by car so that we have an accurate count for the valet.

Travel Help

A free travel coordinator is available to our guests. She can help book activities, travel, and lodging for longer stays in the Los Angeles area. Please contact her using the information below. Shaunté Caraballo562-714-2656shaunte@sosmittenevents.com

Travel

We recommend staying in the downtown LA (DTLA) area, as it is close to the wedding venue.

The wedding party will be staying at the Hotel Per La. If you'd like to join them, there is a room block with a discounted rate. We recommend booking as soon as possible because there are a limited number of rooms available at this price!

For guests of Hotel Per La, shuttle transportation will be provided to and from the wedding venue. The shuttle will leave promptly at 4:45pm. Please meet the shuttle at the hotel's front entrance on Olive St (by the valet).

HOTEL ROOM BLOCK UPDATE

The deadline for our room block has passed! If you are still interested in a room, you can reach out to Chinonso Ezeh at Hotel Per La. She'd be happy to assist you with booking, subject to availability. Chinonso EzehEvent Sales @ Hotel Per La213.441.1432

Hotel

Advice for Getting Around Los Angeles 

- Give yourself a lot of time to get anywhere, and always check Maps/Waze to get an ETA. LA traffic is not quite as bad as you’ve heard, but the worst of it happens when you least expect it.&nbsp;- This is not the kind of city where you walk around and wander. You might be able to do this in certain neighborhoods, but you should map out your plans in advance – they’re probably farther apart than you think.&nbsp;- Is there public transportation? Yes. Should you attempt to take it? If you’re adventurous, you have a lot of extra time on your hands, and you’ve planned it out in advance. If you decide to do this, it would help to do some research and learn more about the Metro Micro rideshare app.

Tourist Attractions

First, a few warnings…&nbsp;The Hollywood Walk of Fame is kind of gross, to be honest. But you do you!&nbsp;The Pacific Ocean is VERY FAR and there will be a LOT OF TRAFFIC. We’re sorry you’ve been lied to about how easy it is to go to the beach in LA. If you really want to see the ocean, consider taking the Metro E line directly from 7th Street/Metro Center to Downtown Santa Monica. (This train ride will take approximately one hour.)&nbsp;Disneyland requires an entire day. You WILL get stuck in traffic. We WON’T feel sorry for you if you miss the wedding because you tried to spend the morning on Space Mountain.&nbsp;

Some (relatively) nearby sites we recommend:&nbsp;WB Studio Tour in Burbank (requires a ticket booked in advance)Universal Studios in Studio City (the Metro's red line will take you straight from DTLA to a station just outside the park)Griffith Observatory in between Los Feliz and Glendale (you can hike or drive to the top!)&nbsp;Skylight Bookstore in Los Feliz (this is in a great area to walk around!)&nbsp;Echo Park Lake Swan Boats in Echo Park (as seen in the movie Chinatown)&nbsp;Dodgers Stadium in Echo Park (even if you don't have time for a game, tours of the historic stadium are available year-round. Make sure you book ahead!)The Americana in Glendale (is this a glorified mall? Yes. Is this an easy place to access an In-N-Out, Din Tai Fung, a movie theater, and general shopping? Also yes! And you’ll finally understand that running joke from Hacks on HBO.)&nbsp;The Vista movie theater in Silverlake/Echo Park (Gabrielle &amp; Ryan went on a not-quite-date to this beautiful, historic theater to see Titanic)New Beverly Cinema in Fairfax/Melrose (another restored historic theater!)The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Miracle Mile (a favorite of locals and tourists alike, so definitely buy tickets in advance. Make a day of it by heading to LACMA next door before/after.)The Huntington Gardens in Pasadena (this is an amazing and beautiful way to spend an afternoon if the weather is nice)

Where should I go if I want to...

...Explore Downtown LA? The Broad Museum, Angel's Flight, Grand Central Market, The Bradbury Building, The Last Bookstore, and the Grammy Museum are all walkable from our suggested hotel. Hop in a quick rideshare (please, don’t walk) to Little Tokyo or the Arts District for the best restaurants and bars....Go Thrifting? Figueroa Street in Highland Park, Glendale Blvd in Atwater Village, or Magnolia Ave in Burbank...Eat Street Tacos: Figueroa Street in Highland Park (go to Villa’s tacos or just stop at any taco truck you see)...Stand Kind Of Near The Hollywood Sign? Lake Hollywood Park...Be In The Middle Of An Insane Crowd And/Or Spend Half An Hour Trying To Park? The Grove, Venice Beach, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Universal CityWalk...Visit The Best Museum In The City, Even If It’s Very Far? The Getty (in Santa Monica) or The Getty Villa (in Malibu)...See Celebrities? Gabrielle still hasn’t figured this out, but you could try hiking at Runyon Canyon in Hollywood.

Things to Do

While Gabrielle can't personally cook for every single one of you while you're in town, she wants to make sure you eat delicious food while you're here. Here are some of our favorite restaurants around the city, in case you’re sightseeing and need a good meal! Various Locations Around LA: Sugarfish - sushi, great for any time you want to eat sushi and only sushi – there are only seafood options on their menu!Mendocino Farms - sandwiches/salads, great for a quick lunch/dinner – this is Ryan’s favorite! Zankou Chicken - Mediterranean, this is a Los Angeles staple &amp; great for a quick/cheap mealSalt &amp; Straw - ice cream, great for trying some truly weird (but delicious) flavors DTLA: Grand Central Market - there are food stalls throughout featuring some of the best restaurants in the city. There's something for everyone!Olivera Street - a promenade full of amazing, budget-friendly Mexican food options and shops!Manuela - Southern, great for dinner – Gabrielle &amp; Ryan took her parents here and they loved it!De La Nonna - Italian, great for lunch, dinner, or a leisurely cocktail (they have a great happy hour from 3-6pm every day)Sushi Gen - Japanese, this is a beloved &amp; relatively affordable sushi spot open for lunch and dinner (for these reasons, prepare to wait in line to get in)KazuNori - sushi handrolls, another reasonably priced spot known for their quick serviceSonoratown - Mexican, great for amazing tacos Melrose/Fairfax/Miracle Mile: El Coyote - Mexican, a classic LA spot that you might recognize from movies &amp; TV (most recently the site of a girl's-dinner-gone-bad on The Valley)Canter's - one of LA's most famous delis - Gabrielle spent many a late-night hang here with friends dissecting her crush on Ryan! Republique - French, great for breakfast and lunch (don't skip dessert, they're known for their pastries)Larchmont Village Wine Spirits &amp; Cheese - Deli, great for sandwiches Hollywood: Musso &amp; Frank’s - Italian, an old Hollywood classic that you may recognize from movies &amp; TV (most recently seen in The Studio)El Compadre - Mexican, a classic LA spotStout - Gastropub, great for lovers of beer &amp; fancy burgers Burbank/Glendale: Porto’s - Cuban, a beloved Los Angeles staple, great for breakfast or lunch or even just a snackBacari - small plates/wine bar, great for taking a break from walking around the AmericanaOlive &amp; Thyme - California style, great for brunch/lunchPaty’s - Diner, great for any timeBob’s Big Boy - an LA staple, great for any time but especially breakfast Los Feliz/Atwater Village Messhall - Southern, great for dinnerAll Time - California style, great for any mealLoupiotte Kitchen - French, great for brunch/lunchGoldburger - Burgers, great for, well, a burger!Dune - Mediterranean, great for lunch or dinner Silverlake/Echo ParkGreekman’s - Greek food/shareable plates, great for dinner – this is Gabrielle &amp; Ryan’s favorite date night spot!Woon - Chinese, great for lunch or dinnerPijja Palace - Indian-Italian fusion, great for trying something out-of-the-box Highland Park/Eagle RockJoy - Chinese, great for lunch or dinnerHomestate - Tex-Mex, great for a quick meal any time of day and/or frozen margaritas, if that's your thing – this is a Gabrielle &amp; Ryan favorite! Ikigai - sushi/Japanese, great for dinner – Gabrielle’s favorite sushi spot! Max City BBQ - BBQ, great for a quick-but-filling lunch or dinner while you’re exploring Eagle Rock

Ryan & Gabrielle