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The Menu At Emily Mariko’s Wedding Sounds Unreal (Because Duh)

Emily Mariko, the well-known California TikToker who went viral for her salmon rice bowl video in 2021, tied the knot to long term partner Matt Rickard the weekend of July 22. The couple — who got engaged back in October 2021 — held a luxurious outdoor wedding in California, with several outfit changes and a wedding menu that looked to-die-for. 

Mariko decided to take her 12.7 million TikTok followers along her wedding journey from start to finish. Mariko worked with Mirror Palais to create a one-of-a-kind dress for her special day. The simple gown, with a cinched waist, had an elegant open back and long train, letting her gorgeous engagement ring (a cabochon sapphire surrounded by smaller diamonds) shine. Her wedding hair and makeup were just as timeless as her dress. Her hair was placed in a sleek low bun with a long, flowy veil, while her makeup left her face ~glowing~. Once the ceremony was over, Emily made it to her reception in a silk ivory slip dress with a cowl neckline. A matching shrug and white heeled sandals completed the look.

With such a gorgeous look, it could be easy to forget about the food guru’s menu at her wedding — but you truly shouldn’t. The colorful menu had a full layout of the courses that were created by Chef Ali Cengiz, the head chef of their wedding. The courses were full of color and an array of tastes.

The first course was full of fresh fruits, and a special appearance of Mariko’s famous lemon pasta. The entire first course included fresh burrata with marinated stone fruits, herbs, pistachio dukkah, and borage; baby gem lettuce salad with anchovy and lemon vinaigrette, toasted seeds, chives, and aleppo; and pasta al limone.

The second course of the menu included olive oil-braised artichokes and fennel with fresh fava beans; branzino with blistered cherry wine tomatoes, lemon, and oregano sauce; and pistachio-and-herb-crusted filet mignon, crispy smashed fingerling potatoes, and salsa verde.

Last but certainly not least, dessert featured pavlova with lemon curd, cream, and Harry’s Berries strawberries. Guests were served family-style as they sat at one long outdoor table with fairy lights strewn overhead. Candles and white roses acted as centerpieces, while a combination of crystal and blue china were used as dinnerware.

Chef Ali explained what it was like cooking for Mariko’s wedding on his Instagram. He said, “It was a total blast bringing your wedding vision to life. Thanks a million for trusting me with such a big role. Your wedding was unforgettable and will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Emily Mariko’s wedding had to be one of the most elegant weddings of the decade, down to the most minute detail. I only wish I got an invite.

Lila Bartolomeo is National Lifestyle Writer for Her Campus. She oversees the latest trends and pop culture as well as gives advice on how to land important roles as a college student. Beyond Her Campus, Lila has her own video production and photography company, where she designs and performs content production for diverse public and private events. She has written for Valnet covering traveling tips and must-see destinations. She has interned at the U.S. Department of State, United Legwear, Linking Lives, and Linking Lives Rwanda. Lila is about to embark on her next internship as a documentary intern at Virginia Tech. She is also the co-founder of Let’s Build A Rink Ice Hockey Campaign, where she is working on building an ice rink on campus. She is currently a senior at Virginia Tech, majoring in International Relations with a concentration in Spanish with a double minor in International Business and Marketing. In her free time, Lila plays ice hockey at Virginia Tech and serves as the vice president of her team. Other sports that she enjoys include lifting and surfing. Besides sports, Lila enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. So far, she has been to 19 countries and hopes to continue to travel more. Her goal is to take a road trip throughout the United States one day.