Emily Tabor & Jack Cozort
April 1, 2023

“We wanted the wedding weekend to feel like a group vacation,” says Emily Tabor of her wedding to Jack Cozort. And that’s no surprise, considering the couple met as interns at Southwest Airlines. After traveling with friends over the summer of 2018, Jack and Emily started to date. But it wasn’t until a mishap-laden trip to Colorado that Emily was sure steady and calm Jack could be her travel partner for life. After dating for three years, Jack proposed. 

The couple landed on Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, for their spring nuptials. Emily had grown up visiting the area, and Jack had fallen in love with it, too. “We love golf, and the mountains, and hiking, and the beach, and it’s one of those places that has all of those things,” she says. They booked the historic Mission Ranch for its natural beauty.

Emily brought in Karli Spangler of Karli Spangler Events to create an event with “the joy of a Ted Lasso episode with the look and feel of a Nancy Myers movie.” They decided on a natural spring palette of yellows and blues that complemented the pastoral scenery of the 22-acre ranch. 

As is the case with any travel plans, there’s always a risk that something could go wrong with a destination affair. Indeed, the Carmel area had experienced record-breaking flooding leading up to the celebration, and there were high chances for rain the week of. But the day guests arrived, a rainbow arched over Pebble Beach. “We knew then that it was going to be a great time,” Emily says. 

That’s So Fly

“I had a minor obsession with monarch butterflies [when I was] growing up, and my mom calls me her ‘little butterfly,’ ” says bride Emily. “I benefitted from butterflies being trendy right now.” Found everywhere from the custom playing cards and hat in their welcome bags to the butterfly details on her wedding invitation, the sweet nod to Emily’s childhood appeared throughout the wedding weekend. But Emily’s idea for a guest book turned work of art was one of the most creative uses. She had long admired Fort Worth–based artist Sarah Gentry’s 3D butterfly art, so she asked her to make a disassembled version for guests to sign. After the wedding, Sarah assembled them into a piece of art that now hangs in the Cozorts’ home. “It’s my favorite detail from the wedding,” Emily says.

Sparkle and Shine

“I tried on so many dresses, but when I tried on this one, I immediately felt beautiful,” says Emily of the Anne Barge dress she purchased from The Bridal Salon at Stanley Korshak. “I didn’t want any sparkle, but the shimmer on it is so subtle. And it is so movable and bouncy. I could just be myself and move about.” She wore a custom lace Anne Barge cape for the ceremony. 

Let’s Hang

Karli and Emily agreed that bringing the height of the venue down for the reception would create a more intimate vibe. “Hanging items from the ceiling helps to create a more ‘closed’ effect,” says Karli. “We brought in large circular rope chandeliers as a nautical nod and adorned them with floral to create a focal point for the space.” 

Guests: 170

First Dance: “Always Be My Baby” by Anderson East 

Appetizer: Mini grilled cheese with tomato soup

Signature Cocktails: “Hogan,” a Paloma named after their Australian shepherd; an old fashioned dubbed the “Cozy Cocktail” as a play on their last name

Honeymoon: Bali