Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell met his wife, Isabelle Ford, at the University of Oregon in 2018. He was a football player for the Ducks, while she was on the cheer squad—so it didn’t take long for them to meet through mutual friends. In 2021, Penei was selected by the Lions in the NFL Draft and two years after that, on April 18, 2023, he proposed at the couple’s new home in Michigan, surprising Isabelle by covering their foyer with flowers and candles while the couple’s favorite song, Chris Lane’s “Big, Big Plans” played in the background. When they started to plan their July 12, 2024, nuptials, the couple knew that they wanted to pick a venue that was convenient for both of their families. (Isabelle’s family is in Oregon, while Penei’s is split between Utah and Hawaii.) They soon settled on Cielo Farms in Malibu, California. 

Isabelle, a stay-at-home mom, says they were drawn to the venue’s stunning mountain views and the on-site vineyard, which gave their wedding “a taste of Tuscany.” The rustic and elegant location fit right into the bride’s vision: a classic timeless aesthetic with white florals and pops of baby blue. Tori Perano with Passera Events made that dream a reality. “The process with Tori was so easy,” Isabelle exclusively tells Brides. “I truly don’t know what I would have done without her.” 

While the couple wanted their big day to be elegant and intimate, they also prioritized having fun. “Penei and I both love to have a good time, and we wanted to make sure our wedding day reflected that—and didn’t end up being too serious or traditional,” Isabelle says. “We made the day exactly what we wanted it to be!” Ahead, see every photo from their joyful welcome party, ceremony, and reception, as captured by Katie Wilson.

The couple kicked off their wedding weekend with a vibrant poolside welcome party at a private estate in Los Angeles. “I knew our wedding day would be very timeless with soft and neutral tones, so we went for a more fun and colorful direction for the welcome party,” Isabelle says. Staying true to a classic bridal look, she selected a white Nana Jacqueline dress for the occasion. Pink, orange, and yellow balloons floated in the property’s infinity pool, matching the bright floral tablecloths and fuchsia sign spelling out the couple’s last name. The pre-wedding celebration also featured one of their favorite desserts: a gelato cart.

Isabelle says finding her wedding dress was the easiest part of the planning process—even though it ended up being a different look than she had originally envisioned. While she initially thought she wanted a fitted dress with straps, she quickly settled on a Netta Benshabu strapless ball gown with a slit. “It fit my body perfectly and made me feel like a princess,” she says. She completed her look with Sam Edelman shoes, and an Anthropologie veil, as well as a mix of old and new accessories: her mom’s tennis bracelet, pear-shaped diamond drop earrings, and a diamond necklace, which was a wedding-day gift from Penei. 

Wanting to achieve the perfect naturally-glam look, the bride flew in Katherine Green, a makeup artist, and Frankie Gray, a hairstylist, from Michigan to nail her vision. She added clip-in extensions to lengthen her hair before putting it in a half-up, half-down hairstyle with a braid and face-framing pieces. A French tip nail with a floral design and a spritz of Ledda 22 Orris complemented the whimsical look. The bride relied on her pre-wedding skincare routine—and a few pumps of Sol de Janiero Body Glow on the big day—to make her truly radiate. “Before my wedding day, I was getting monthly HydraFacials, and I swear by them!” she says. “They helped my skin so much and made me so naturally glowy.” 

While Isabelle says she initially envisioned her bridesmaids in dusty blue dresses, matching everyone proved to be more of a challenge than she was expecting. Ultimately, she went with black dresses in a style of her bridesmaids’ choosing paired with bouquets of white flowers with blue accents from Tula Rosa Florals. “It turned out so well,” she says. 

With the help of his stylist, Ricco Noi, Penei selected a custom-made Dior suit for the occasion, paired with Dior shoes. Wanting the groomsmen to “feel special too,” the couple decided to do custom tuxedos for them as well from Nota Bene Bespoke. Like Isabelle, Penei also made sure to prepare his skin for the big day. “She convinced me to get a HydraFacial a week before the wedding, and I actually liked it,” he says. 

The couple’s three-month-old daughter Mila, who wore a Popatu dress, and their 20-month-old son, Malaki, who wore a suit from Little Tuxedos with Nike sneakers, served as their flower girl and ring bearer, respectively. 

The ceremony began with a recording of “Wildest Dreams” by Duomo for the processional, before Isabelle’s dad, Michael, walked her down the aisle to a cello cover of Calum Scott’s “Biblical.” 

Underneath a nine-foot arch (designed to accommodate Penei’s height!) adorned with baby blue and white flowers, the couple exchanged vows they had written themselves. “I can confidently say Penei blew mine out of the water,” Isabelle says. “His vows were absolutely incredible and left me speechless. He is not always the best at saying how he feels, so I didn’t really know what to expect, but he had me crying happy tears.”

During cocktail hour, guests could select from the couple’s two specialty drinks: a Hennessy sidecar with orange liqueur, lemon, and a sugar rim in honor of Penei and an espresso martini with vodka for Isabelle. The prominence of florals continued into the reception space, as white arches imprinted with greenery beckoned for guests to “ring for a drink” by pulling on a silver bell. The couple tapped Joshua Kahula, the lead singer for Nuffsaid, a popular Maui-based band, for live music during cocktail hour and dinner.

Wanting to bring texture, softness, and elegance into the mountainside venue, the couple selected tan white-wash farm tables topped with white linens, blue plates, and gold-rimmed glassware. String lights, taper candles, and copper flatware added a touch of coziness to the outdoor space. They also hung white leis from the 10-foot-tall trees surrounding the head table, a nod to Penei’s Hawaiian roots. 

Personalized menus from Wildhouse Ink with blue floral accents and an arched design showcased one of Penei’s priorities for the day: the food. Guests could choose from Korean BBQ chicken, slow-braised short rib, and wild mushroom ravioli.

The couple selected Matt Stell’s “Prayed for You (Wedding Version)” for their first dance. And the happy tears continued for the bride when it came time for the speeches. “The speeches of our siblings, who were our maid of honor and best man, were amazing and had us both in tears,” she says. 

Prioritizing comfort for the rest of the evening was key. Penei slipped into a pair of all-black Louis Vuitton trainers with white laces, and Isabelle pulled her hair into an updo.  

Skipping a large cake, the couple opted to cut into a small red velvet version before inviting their guests to enjoy a dessert wall full of sweet treats, including donuts, pies—and even milk and cookies.

Vox DJs led the entertainment as guests proceeded to hit the dance floor. The couple embraced the care-free, fun vibe with their reception outfits; Isabelle changed into a short, white scoop-neck Watters dress with straps, while Penei opted for a comfortable white t-shirt and sunglasses. The evening ended with the newlyweds and their attendees singing along to John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” 

“Make sure you enjoy the day as much as you can,” Isabelle advises future couples. “Be present and stay with your spouse all night! It’s easy to get pulled in a different direction, but we made sure to stay together all night, and it was so much fun!”