San Ysidro Wedding from Desi Baytan Photography + Twine Events
If San Ysidro Ranch would let me live out the rest of my days in their pretty gardens, I'd be packed and ready in a millisecond. No question. That little spot is the perfect blending of Santa Barbara beauty and rustic charm making it one of our favorite spots on the West Coast for marrying; especially when the ranch is decked out with a layer of cozy details by Oak and the Owl and all caught on film by Desi Baytan Photography. That is a truly beautiful combo. See so for yourself right here.
From the Bride...My groom and I both love three things: good food, old-world charm, and open space. We wanted a venue that was close to nature and had a cozy and relaxed ambience. San Ysidro Ranch is this perfect little gem nestled in the Montecito foothills of Santa Barbara California's wine country. The ranch is filled with hillside creeks and tree-lined paths, quaint cottages, lily ponds, and even a lavender field. The grounds are very serene and private, and just makes you want to wander off and explore. It has this effortless, old-world charm that’s a rare find in Southern California, and we couldn’t have been happier with our decision.
In regards to the look of the wedding, I worked closely with Nancy of Oak & the Owl in trying to decide on color and style direction. I knew I wanted it to feel fresh and vibrant with a slight antique feel. The colors I originally wanted, and kept going back to, were whites, creams, and spring greens with accents of blue and gold. Through the many style boards Nancy created to help me visualize, we came up with the overall design as being white and yellow flowers, with the touches of blue coming through the linens. Nancy was able to create continuity between our ceremony and reception locations with her use of color and texture so that the guests experience of both spaces flowed seamlessly. She was amazing to work with, and her flowers were probably my favorite thing about the day as they set the tone for the whole wedding.
As a nod to my half-Persian heritage, my father and I designed the sofreh aghd. Since we couldn't invite our extended family, we opted for an intimate setting with just parents, siblings and a few of our closest friends. It was important to me to infuse some Persian cultural traditions into our wedding, even if my extended family couldn't be there to see it. My dad helped gather the spices and hand-painted some of the eggs with watercolor, gouache and oil paints. Since most of our guests were unfamiliar with the sofreh concept, our stationer created a sign to display the meanings and symbolism of each of the sofreh items. On the day of it was placed near the table for all guests to enjoy.
After visiting three bridal salons, I found and purchased an Alençon lace fluted gown by Alvina Valenta. I loved the delicate eyelash-lined bodice, sweetheart neckline, and overall silhouette of the dress that was a modern twist on the traditional lace gown. The dress came in, was altered to fit my 5'3'' frame, and I felt quite satisfied with my decision. Then time flew by. Days passed, weeks passed...venue plans changed. I began to wish for a more dramatic train but didn’t want to carry around a huge, heavy dress on my wedding day. In Orange, California I found a seamstress who promised me the best of both worlds. She promised to keep my gown intact and “build” a separate train that could be added on and then simply detached after the ceremony. I was very skeptical at first, but she managed to pull it off without a hitch.
Photography: Desi Baytan Photography | Ceremony Venue: Santa Barbara Courthouse | Reception Venue: San Ysidro Ranch | Getting Ready Venue: Canary Hotel | Event Coordinator: Twine Events | Florist + Event Stylist: Oak and the Owl | Stationery: Pitbulls and Posies | Calligraphy: Katrina Centeno of Maison du Papier | Linens: La Tavola | Hair + Makeup: Team Hair and Makeup | Ceremony Music: Andromeda Strings | Officiant: Santa Barbara Wedding Minister | Wedding Dress: Custom Alvina Valenta | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Sofreh Aghd: Designed by the Bride
In regards to the look of the wedding, I worked closely with Nancy of Oak & the Owl in trying to decide on color and style direction. I knew I wanted it to feel fresh and vibrant with a slight antique feel. The colors I originally wanted, and kept going back to, were whites, creams, and spring greens with accents of blue and gold. Through the many style boards Nancy created to help me visualize, we came up with the overall design as being white and yellow flowers, with the touches of blue coming through the linens. Nancy was able to create continuity between our ceremony and reception locations with her use of color and texture so that the guests experience of both spaces flowed seamlessly. She was amazing to work with, and her flowers were probably my favorite thing about the day as they set the tone for the whole wedding.
As a nod to my half-Persian heritage, my father and I designed the sofreh aghd. Since we couldn't invite our extended family, we opted for an intimate setting with just parents, siblings and a few of our closest friends. It was important to me to infuse some Persian cultural traditions into our wedding, even if my extended family couldn't be there to see it. My dad helped gather the spices and hand-painted some of the eggs with watercolor, gouache and oil paints. Since most of our guests were unfamiliar with the sofreh concept, our stationer created a sign to display the meanings and symbolism of each of the sofreh items. On the day of it was placed near the table for all guests to enjoy.
After visiting three bridal salons, I found and purchased an Alençon lace fluted gown by Alvina Valenta. I loved the delicate eyelash-lined bodice, sweetheart neckline, and overall silhouette of the dress that was a modern twist on the traditional lace gown. The dress came in, was altered to fit my 5'3'' frame, and I felt quite satisfied with my decision. Then time flew by. Days passed, weeks passed...venue plans changed. I began to wish for a more dramatic train but didn’t want to carry around a huge, heavy dress on my wedding day. In Orange, California I found a seamstress who promised me the best of both worlds. She promised to keep my gown intact and “build” a separate train that could be added on and then simply detached after the ceremony. I was very skeptical at first, but she managed to pull it off without a hitch.
Photography: Desi Baytan Photography | Ceremony Venue: Santa Barbara Courthouse | Reception Venue: San Ysidro Ranch | Getting Ready Venue: Canary Hotel | Event Coordinator: Twine Events | Florist + Event Stylist: Oak and the Owl | Stationery: Pitbulls and Posies | Calligraphy: Katrina Centeno of Maison du Papier | Linens: La Tavola | Hair + Makeup: Team Hair and Makeup | Ceremony Music: Andromeda Strings | Officiant: Santa Barbara Wedding Minister | Wedding Dress: Custom Alvina Valenta | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Sofreh Aghd: Designed by the Bride