Heather Locklear's Daughter Ava, 28, Ties the Knot in Romantic Outdoor Wedding – Photos

The cameras were rolling, the flowers were in full bloom, and a rock legend was wiping away tears — but nothing could have prepared the world for just how breathtaking Ava Sambora looked the moment she stepped onto that aisle.

Ava Elizabeth Sambora, the 28-year-old daughter of "Melrose Place" icon Heather Locklear and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, married Tyler Farrar on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the luxurious Rosewood Miramar in Montecito, California.

Photos and clips from the ceremony — capturing a day full of tears, laughter, live music, and one very memorable father-daughter dance — have been circulating on social media, sparking buzz among fans.

Ava was nothing short of a vision in a strapless, full-length ballgown featuring intricate lace embroidery across the entire skirt and bodice. She carried an all-white bouquet of lush peonies and wore a long cathedral veil, her blonde hair swept into a soft, romantic updo.

Tyler cut a sharp figure beside her in a classic black tuxedo with a black bow tie, a white dress shirt, and a delicate white boutonnière pinned to his lapel — polished, understated, and very much in love.

Photos online show the couple sharing their first kiss as husband and wife outdoors, Ava's veil catching the California breeze, as two photographers crouched nearby to capture every angle of the moment.

An aerial shot of the ceremony is particularly striking: Ava walked the long grass aisle flanked on either side by cascading white floral arrangements, escorted by both her parents.

Richie, 66, was beaming and waving as he walked his daughter toward her future husband, while Heather, 64, glided alongside them in a sleek black gown, her signature blonde hair flowing over her shoulders.

At the altar, another photo captures the exact moment Richie and Heather handed their daughter to Farrar — a split second of tenderness, as Heather reached out to embrace her new son-in-law while Richie stepped back, watching his little girl begin her next chapter.

The Guests: A Front Row Full of Familiar Faces

Seated in the front row were some very recognisable faces. Actor Lorenzo Lamas — Heather's longtime partner — sat beside her in a navy suit and sunglasses, looking relaxed and every bit the handsome leading man fans remember.

Beside the couple sat singer Orianthi in a navy halterneck dress, and next to her, Richie — unmistakable in a black tuxedo and bow tie — grinned broadly, clearly overjoyed. The candid snapshot prompted quite the reaction online, with more than a few commenters zeroing in on the seating arrangement.

"Who's Heather with. He's a hottie! [sic]," one viewer gushed. Another chimed in cheekily, "Heather new hubby is much better looking [sic]." And Richie himself didn't entirely escape scrutiny. "Wow! Didn't recognize Richie at first😬," another observer remarked.

The Bride Everyone Couldn't Stop Talking About

Social media was also taken with Heather's gown. "Ava is absolutely stunning. That smile says it all. The dress is incredible," one person raved. The family resemblance was impossible to miss.

"She looks like her mom!!" another marveled. "She is Heather's twin❤️," a third declared. And the couple's chemistry didn't go unnoticed either, with one fan swooning, "They are an amazing couple!!!"

The Man She Married

Tyler is an investment associate at Pacific Partners Real Estate in Los Angeles. The couple's relationship traces back to at least fall 2018, when photos of them together began appearing on his Instagram, both students at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Ava made things Instagram-official in March 2019 with a St. Patrick's Day post captioning a photo of herself on his lap with, "My lucky charm 🍀." Tyler then popped the question in February 2024, surrounded by a white rose-adorned arch and candles at sunset. The couple jointly captioned the moment, "Hard launch!"

Heather was among the first to celebrate publicly, posting a photo of the couple with the caption:

"Second best day of my life. First was the day she was born. Sweetest couple ever. Congratulations!"

Their formal engagement party followed in October 2024, and Ava wrote on Instagram the morning after:

"Had the most beautiful night celebrating our engagement! Thank you for being my biggest blessing Tyler William 🤍 ."

Richie, for his part, has made no secret of his affection for his new son-in-law. Speaking on the "Howie Mandel Does Stuff" podcast in November 2024, he said he had grown genuinely close to Tyler since he began dating Ava.

"It's like, you know, my speech [at the engagement party] was they're really in love. I love the kid," Richie told the host. "I mean I've taken him on vacation. I like to put him right in the limelight so I get to know him, I get to see him, we get to talk."

He later told People, "Ava and Tyler have been together over five years. It's like they are already married! They just really love the heck out of each other, and I do too."

The Reception: A Rock Star Dad Delivers

If the ceremony was emotional, the reception was electric. Richie shared several video clips to his Instagram from the celebration, and each one more moving than the last.

In one clip, he took to the stage with the live band and launched into Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" as Ava and Tyler danced together, laughing and singing every word, with the entire room joining in.

But the most affecting moment of the entire day belonged to Richie and Ava alone. The proud father shared a video of the two sharing their father-daughter dance — set to his own 2012 song "I'll Always Walk Beside You," a track he wrote specifically for Ava.

He also posted a tender video collage of childhood photographs set to the same song, a montage of memories from her earliest years, captioned simply, "I'll Always Walk Beside You, Ava."

More Than Just a Beautiful Bride

What makes Ava's story so compelling is that behind the dazzling gown is a woman of genuine substance. Born Ava Elizabeth Sambora on October 4, 1997, in Los Angeles, she began her public life early — making her acting debut at around 14 in the Judd Apatow film "This Is 40" (2012), playing a friend of Maude Apatow's character.

She later appeared in episodes of "Good Luck Charlie" (2013) and "Fresh Off the Boat" (2018), as well as the TV movie "Mommy Be Mine" (2018) and the feature "A Dark Foe" (2020). She has another film, "Room 13," currently in post-production.

At the same time, Ava pursued an equally impressive academic path — earning a bachelor's degree in psychology from Loyola Marymount University and a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from the USC Rossier School of Education in May 2023.

Heather celebrated her daughter's graduation on Instagram with the words, "Such a proud mama. Congratulations my baby, with your masters in MFT. With your hard work and perseverance and kind heart."

Ava has also begun working toward her doctorate at Pepperdine University after being accepted last year. "Richie is extremely proud of Ava," a source told People at the time. "She is the sweetest reflection of him."

Earlier in May, ahead of the wedding, Ava celebrated with a floral-themed bridal shower alongside Heather and close family friends. In her Instagram caption, she wrote:

"The most beautiful bridal shower. Thank you to all the amazing women who hosted, organized, and attended this special day. I am beyond grateful for each of them, especially my mama, God mother Juliet, future mother in law Mary, and sister Monica."

On May 16, all of that planning — the flowers, the vows, the music, the tears — came together on a sun-drenched lawn in Montecito. And as Richie walked his daughter down the aisle, the words of that song he once wrote for a little girl rang truer than ever: I'll always walk beside you.