Our weddings specialists are dedicated to customizing your experience and making your every dream come true.
Jill Hilts 
Director of Catering Sales
A fifth generation Californian, Jill loves the history of Pasadena which fuels her passion for The Langham Huntington and its legendary traditions. An expert in luxury weddings for over 12 years, she delights in showing off the hotel’s enchanting venues and finding the perfect spot to suit each couple’s needs.
Jill’s hobbies include France and all things French – most especially Ladurée macarons (although those prepared by The Langham Pastry Team definitely rival those at Ladurée!), spending time in her garden, 20th century California plein air art and photography.
Jill was Director of Catering Sales with The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa for eight years and stayed with the property when it transitioned to The Langham Huntington in 2008. Previously, Jill was the Associate Director of Catering Sales at The Beverly Hills Hotel and enjoyed a 15 year career with The Marriott Corporation where her last position was as The Director of Food and Beverage at The Santa Clara Marriott in Northern California.
Nickie Andrews Catering Sales Manager
Nickie's passion is planning weddings and events – the more unique the better! She loves that The Langham Huntington gives her the flexibility of helping to make every bride's unique wedding dreams come true!
Chris Sullivan Director of Meetings & Special Events
Chris enjoys planning weddings and events for any occasion at the hotel due to the sheer beauty of its locations! The property is such a special setting – from the grandeur of the historic ballrooms to the serene gardens – and he finds it such a rewarding experience to see a bride's eyes light up when she recognizes that this is the perfect place for her wedding.
Chris began his hospitality career in his early 20s at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Orange County, California. He loved meeting all the new people who walked through the doors and delivering enchanting service to each and every guest. He started out in the security department and later held key positions in the front office, including Assistant Rooms Executive. After more than 10 years with The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, Chris moved to The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel, which, in 2008, became The Langham Huntington, Pasadena. He was Rooms Director at the property for a number of years and also served as the hotel's Spa Director.
Now, as the Director of Meetings and Special Events, he truly enjoys creating successful and memorable events every day and building lasting relationships with brides, grooms, families and guests.
Christie C. Joseph Senior Meetings & Special Events Manager
Christie is a native of Pasadena and has had a special place in her heart for The Huntington Hotel since she was a child when her mom would bring the family to brunch for special occasions. Christie never imagined that she would be able to work at such a beautiful landmark hotel, but her dreams came true in July 1997. She began her 13 year tenure at that time with The Ritz-Carlton and was delighted to stay at the property when Langham purchased the hotel in January 2008. Previously, Christie enjoyed working with Crystal Cruises and Princess Cruises.
Christie has raised two sons and now enjoys traveling with family and friends, attending USC football games and cooking. She also loves going out for sushi! Christie also stays involved with her boys and attends their sporting and school events, and participates in their school’s PTA association.
Christie attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration.
Amanda Hardesty Meetings & Special Events Manager
Amanda’s passion for planning events started at a young age when she would eagerly help her mom plan large family gatherings. This early passion turned into a career when she was in college and began interning with a wedding and event planning company. Her attention to detail and keen organizational skills, combined with her love of weddings, makes event planning a perfect fit for Amanda. She loves working with each couple to ensure that their special day turns into the truly magical one that they have envisioned.
Amanda’s hobbies include details related to weddings. Whether it’s attending local bridal shows, catching up on the latest wedding reality TV shows, reading bridal magazines, or helping friends and family plan their own weddings, she enjoys it all! Amanda also loves being outdoors; going to the beach with her yellow lab Dakota, kayaking in Catalina, white water rafting or just spending time with her friends and family, especially her little niece!
After spending 4 1/2 years working for The Walt Disney Company, Amanda transitioned into hospitality and began her career with The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa in 2006, and has been with The Huntington property ever since. A graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Communications, Amanda is a native of Chino Hills, California.
Chelsea A. Rowe Meetings & Special Events Manager
Chelsea had always dreamed of becoming a wedding planner, and a chance encounter with a friend who worked at a resort in Santa Fe, New Mexico led her to the opportunity of a lifetime. Chelsea has been very lucky to be able to work with amazing brides and grooms from around the world and she loves witnessing the memory making process and seeing couples’ dreams come true.
Some of Chelsea’s favorite activities include hiking, socializing with family and friends and searching through Yelp! reviews to keep up-to-date with the latest dining scene. She is a true foodie at heart and loves exploring new restaurants!
Previously, Chelsea was a Wedding and Social Catering Sales Manager with The Bishop’s Lodge Ranch, Resort & Spa in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A graduate of St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas with a degree in political science, Chelsea is a native of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Laura Reynolds Meetings & Special Events Manager
Laura has always been a “planner,” ever since she was little. She has loved gathering details and making plans whether it was for school outings, summer getaways, birthday celebrations or trips around the world. Her passion for planning took a more serious level when she was senior class secretary in high school and has never stopped planning events since then! She enjoys the social aspect of planning and has helped many friends with the details of their own weddings. Laura is so passionate about what she does and does not consider this a “job” – this is truly her hobby.
In her spare time, Laura loves to read and watch movies – any romantic “chick flicks” are her favorite. She also loves to travel and has been fortunate enough to visit 33 countries!
Previously, Laura was a Meetings and Special Events Manager with The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa and most recently with The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua in Hawaii. A graduate of California State University, Northridge, and a native of Northridge, Laura has come back to her family and friends in Southern California to continue her passion for event planning here at The Langham Huntington.
We will customize your menus, make traditional family recipes or create brand new dishes to ensure you enjoy the food of your dreams!
Denis Depoitre Executive Chef
As Executive Chef of The Langham Huntington, Chef Denis Depoitre is responsible for the hotel’s complete culinary operation including two restaurants, banquet facilities, menu and recipe development, as well as management of the hotel’s kitchen staff. He also serves on the hotel’s executive committee.
Chef Depoitre joined The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa in March 1993, which was re-branded as The Langham Huntington in January 2008. Previously, he served as Executive Chef at The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage in Palm Springs. Prior to joining The Ritz-Carlton hotel company in 1990, he was Executive Sous Chef at the Grand Kempinski Hotel in Dallas for three years.
A native of Nanterre, France, Chef Depoitre graduated from Paris’ Mederic Culinary School. His culinary career in Paris includes work as Demi-Chef de Partie at Le Doyen Restaurant and as First Sous Chef at Prunier restaurant, both of which have a two-star Michelin rating.
Rosalie Aranda Banquet Chef
Chef Rosalie Aranda was born and raised in Montebello, California, and realized she wanted to be a chef at a young age. Growing up, she spent a significant amount of time cooking in the kitchen with her entire family and attended The Los Angeles Trade Tech College to learn the culinary arts and explore all different types of cuisine.
Upon graduation in 2000, Chef Aranda obtained a position as Line Cook/Banquet Cook for The Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles where she worked in the main kitchen. After two years, Chef Aranda secured a position as Banquet Cook for The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa. She held the position for four years and in 2006 was promoted to Banquet Sous Chef. As Banquet Sous Chef she managed and supervised parties, special events and production on a daily basis. She also oversaw 10 cooks and the employee dining room.
After just a year and a half as Banquet Sous Chef, Chef Aranda was promoted to Banquet Chef.
In her current position, Chef Aranda organizes ordering for the kitchen, conducts tastings with guests, oversees production and supervises 12 cooks. She is also responsible for the conceptualization of menus for events, and is exceptionally skillful at creating lavish banquets for any type of cuisine, custom tailored to each group. Some of Chef Aranda’s specialties for weddings, social gatherings and corporate groups include Indian, Thai food, Chinese and Hawaiian cuisine.
Jesse Flores Garde Manger Chef
Jesse Flores grew up in Downtown Los Angeles and knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a chef. Growing up, he enjoyed helping his mother in the kitchen and eventually took charge of cooking for his large family functions. He attended Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles and graduated in 2004 with honors.
He conducted his externship at The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa under Chef de Cuisine Craig Strong and worked his way up through the kitchen ranks to become team leader. In the summer of 2009 when Chef Strong left the restaurant, and in the absence of a Chef de Cuisine, Chef Flores led the culinary team in executing the product of The Dining Room. Chef Flores continued working in The Dining Room kitchen under the new Langham ownership of the hotel and Chef de Cuisine Michael Voltaggio, and in early 2010, he was promoted to head cook.
In late 2010, Chef Flores was promoted to Garde Manger Chef after years of hard work and commitment in the kitchen at the hotel’s Dining Room. As Garde Manger Chef, Jesse Flores oversees the preparation of small plates and cold foods for the hotel’s Afternoon Tea, Club Lounge, Sunday Brunch, Banquet operations and the “Bar Bites” menu for The Tap Room.
He enjoys adding Latin accents to his menus using modern techniques in many of his dishes, and is particularly excited about the Tapas-style direction in which he’s taking the Bar Bites menu in The Tap Room. New additions such as Empanadas and Croquettes have been immediate favorites among guests.
John Quinn Executive Pastry Chef
Chef John Quinn’s first job out of culinary school was with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Boston, where he assisted the Executive Pastry Chef as number one pastry cook. He was there for two years and then moved to the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston where he prepared plated desserts for Boston’s only five star, five diamond hotel restaurant. Simultaneously, Chef Quinn was also Assistant Pastry Chef at Patisserie Vanille, a French-owned patisserie. There he supervised more than 40 variations of breads, pastry and handmade chocolates, as well as developed and produced upscale tarts, cakes, petit fours and pastries.
In 2000, Chef Quinn became the Executive Pastry Chef at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, where he developed all pastry items for two restaurants, room service, the tea room and the hotel’s banquet facilities. In 2003, Chef Quinn moved on to Le Meridian hotel in Boston. As Executive Pastry Chef he developed all pastry items for two restaurants, banquet facilities, room service, special amenities, centerpieces and the massive chocolate bar. He then spent a year as Pastry Chef for The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York.
Eager to get to California for mild weather and great access to fresh, quality ingredients, Chef Quinn accepted a position in 2006 as Executive Pastry Chef at the The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa.
In his current position, Chef Quinn oversees all aspects of the pastry department while adding flare to the desserts and show pieces. One of his latest accomplishments includes the development and execution of the Chocolate Afternoon Tea, which features chocolate pastries of all kinds and elaborate sculptures made of chocolate and sugar. Chef Quinn also teaches monthly pastry cooking classes for children and was a U.S. Pastry Competition Finalist in 2009.
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