Amberly & Coleman Ferguson both grew up in Virginia Beach, VA. They met through mutual friends at Hot Tuna in 2009, but officially became an item in 2013. Within months of dating, they started their first business together, Mix It Up, a gourmet shop that quickly expanded into a restaurant, becoming a staple for locals.

 

They married in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the wedding business. The company originally began as Ferguson Wedding Company, a luxury wedding planning company servicing the East Coast from New York City to Miami.

​

After a few years of creating seamless experiences for couples in a many different types of venues, the couple set out to build a Wedding Venue with all the amenities so many venues they had worked with didn't have.

 

In 2019 they found the perfect location to match their vision, an indoor|outdoor 10,000 square foot space located on Long Bay Pointe Boating Resort in Virginia Beach. They brought the vision to life during the build-out, ensuring top quality and attention to every fine detail. There is no inch of The Gala 417 that has not been thoroughly and thoughtfully designed by both Amberly and Coleman as a team.

 

As of 2026, they have hosted nearly two thousand weddings and events at The Gala 417. 

​

The couple works in the venue every single day. The Gala team has grown to 40 employees- but the big boss is their 6 year old son, Brantley. Brantley loves to help prepare Hors D’oeuvres, come up with content ideas and test out the new video games in the Grooms Suite! 

​

​