Santa Barbara Wedding from Amy and Stuart Photography & Pryor Events

Any couple that can get married in a manor of great style, class, and elegance and then hop on their paddle boards is a couple I can love. Especially when the soiree was planned by Pryor Events, so you know it was gorgeous, and the paddle boarding was done in their formal wear. Amy and Stuart Photography was the lucky team brought on to capture a phenomenal wedding, and lucky for all of us, they've filled our galleries with beauty!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

In 1995, Kelly was a student at the Purnell School, in Pottersville, New Jersey. It was there that she met her best friend, Jessie Peterson, who lived in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

One weekend, Kelly went back to Ridgewood to hang out at Jessie's house. And this is where the story begins. Conor lived only a few blocks away from Jessie and was in Ridgewood on this very same weekend. Conor and Kelly were introduced by Jessie and spent almost every minute of that weekend together. They went to a local lacrosse game, listened to their favorite songs by the "Beastie Boys" in the car, and Conor even prepared a 'romantic' picnic at Graydon, the local park in town. After a great weekend together, it was time for Kelly and Jessie to head back to school. Conor distinctly remembers that day, at Jessie's house, trying to figure out how to say goodbye to Kelly - and wondering when he might see her again. Mr. Peterson had already started the car and most of their bags were in the car. But Conor couldn't find Kelly! He ran into the house and didn't see her, since she was outside - looking for him. So Conor ran outside to find her. But Kelly had just gone inside to find him! They finally found each other near the car and their time had run out. Conor wrote Kelly's phone number down on a napkin, they said goodbye and the car drove Kelly back to school.

13 years later, Conor noticed a familiar name on Jessie's 'friend' list on Facebook. He took a chance and wrote an email to her on May 6th, 2008 (the day after her birthday): "Didn't I meet you YEARS ago - friends with Jessie Peterson, when you were visiting her in Ridgewood?"

Kelly wrote back and from there, they never stopped writing. The writing turned into calling, and calling turned into a trip to see each other. They flew to Sun Valley, Idaho (where they would later become engaged) and began their first of many adventures together.

Kelly and Conor flew out to Sun Valley, Idaho for a week long vacation over the end of June and through the 4th of July, 2009. We had also just shipped out 2 new Stand Up Paddle Boards to use on Pettit Lake.

After arriving at the family cabin, we couldn't wait to get on the water. We paddled for awhile, taking in the huge mountains that fall straight into the lake and the crystal clear views everywhere we looked - all the while, with an engagement ring in the pocket of Conor's board shorts.

With no one else on the lake, it was the perfect opportunity for Conor to propose and for the two of us to begin our lives together. We reached a shallow part of the lake where the river gives life to Pettit Lake and Conor got down on one knee, in the water, and proposed to Kelly. (Conor put a floating keychain through the ring, just in case…) and Kelly said "YES!!"

It is something that we will never forget and it made a beautiful place even more beautiful. We have been paddle surfing for the entire time that we have been together.



Photography: Amy and Stuart Photography / Coordinator: Julie Pryor of Pryor Events / Cinematography: Barnaby Draper / Floral Design: S R Hogue / Cocktail Music: Sean Kelly of The Samples / Reception Music: Surf City All-Stars / Rentals: Classic Event Rentals and Unique Tabletop / Linen: Resource One / Bride's Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Bridesmaids gowns: Jenny Yoo / Mother of the bride's gown: Carolina Herrera / Wedding Cake: Four Seasons / Venue: Four Seasons Biltmore / Groom's Cake: Rosebud Cakes / Chocolate Favors: Generations of Lee Gelfond Chocolates / Hair and Makeup, Bride: Lucia Ochoa and Veronica Lane / Hair & Makeup, Wedding Party: The Studio Agency