I think we can all agree that this San Ysidro wedding by Jessica Lewis is a little slice of wedding perfection. Let’s start with the exquisite backdrop nestled in picturesque California wine country and boasting jaw-dropping views and romantic woodland wonderlands. Then comes the beautiful bride and her wowser one-of-a-kind Jenny Packham gown. Add lush, dreamy florals and delightful, gilded details and wedding magic happens! See it all here!
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From the Bride…I had no idea where to begin when it came to planning a wedding. We knew we wanted something different than the norm, something small and intimate, something very special with lots of attention to detail. We loved the idea of an elegant dinner party…with my family coming all the way from Texas, and my husbands family in California, we wanted a very relaxed yet very memorable experience for all. I wanted the focus mainly on the food, but I also wanted a beautiful, natural setting. I have always loved the Santa Barbara area for its small town feel and romantic appeal. As soon as we checked in to the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California for a romantic getaway, the signs were everywhere…the lush gardens, the green mountain tops and ocean air…the antiques in every room, the old Hollywood mystique.. you can’t help but be relaxed as soon as you arrive! This was the place for a perfect wedding.
Kelly Clark Leonard of the Event of the Season was the first and ONLY wedding coordinator I considered. As soon as we spoke on the phone six months before our August 20th wedding date, I knew she was perfect person to guide us along the wedding planning journey. She just makes everything SO easy. I have no idea how she does it, but I would never have done it without her! She helped create the elegance I wanted, with a touch of whimsy and lots of glamour. The colors we used were gold and ivory, and Laura Sangas of Cody Floral Design added to the whimsy with some blush touches in the amazing table florals and rose petal carpet.
The next important detail for our wedding was the gown. I had been eyeing the Jenny Packham 2011 Collection and just knew that her sexy yet ethereal approach to design was right for me. Getting my hands on the Persephone gown was no easy feat! My husband, Zach, embarked on a mission to get it for me!! He wrote an email after we were told that the gown was stuck at customs, which got forwarded to Jenny and company and without his amazing words, I wouldn’t have seen my dreamy Persephone gown at all. I was absolutely thrilled and felt so lucky to have that exact gown! It meant everything to me.
With the help of Sharyl Smith of Presence Studio City, we were able to set the tone for the day with beautiful letter pressed invitations, and used calligraphy on everything from the invitations to the butterfly place cards to the escort cards. Our guests seemed to really appreciate that personalized touch. I am so glad we did it. We kept the romance going with beautiful Spanish guitar by Anthony Ybarra during the dinner. Because my name is Joy, Kelly came up with the very cute idea to have “Enjoy” in calligraphy on our favor boxes, which were placed at each guest’s seat at the table. Inside, our guests found delicious mini- bread puddings in dulce de leche and white chocolate blueberry from Sweet Arleen’s Bakery. It was an homage to my Southern upbringing. Those were a definite hit!
Jessica Lewis Photography captured the magical feeling of the day so beautifully! Her photos expressed exactly what we felt. There was love and beauty everywhere we looked! I got so emotional just seeing her photos for the first time..it was exactly the way I felt that day..in addition to all of the fun we had!!! On the day of the wedding, I felt very at ease and surrounded by love from every direction. It was important to us that our guests enjoyed amazing cuisine, a gorgeous environment, and the feeling of a family style dinner party. We even had family style macaroni and cheese! The entire event was pure magic.
Wedding Photography: Jessica Lewis / Wedding Coordinator: Kelly of Event of the Season / Floral Design: Cody Floral Design / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham (One of a Kind) / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Venue: San Ysidro Ranch / Music: Tony Ybarra / Make-up: Avril Lipsky / Groom’s Attire: Gucci / Officiant: Nancy Little Moon / Hair: Page Berse of About Face Makeup Artistry / Invitations: Crane & Co. via Presence Studio City