This is the kind of wedding that everyone wants to be a guest at mixed with the kind of wedding that everyone wants to have. It’s a layered affair full of the brightest, happiest flowers by Rockrose Floral Design, details by All You Need is Love Events so fun they will be blasted all over pinterest within minutes (hello single serving size tequila and sunnies for each and every guest). And last but certainly not least are the images by Braedon Photography. He has a way of finding beauty in even the most unusual of details. Say for instance a Pabst Blue Ribbon can. Curious? See it all right here.
From the Bride… Sam and I were set on having our wedding by the beach, but our (amazing) wedding planners told us to check out the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. I remember driving up to look at the venue and thinking it was a waste of time because I HAD to have it near the water. The minute we pulled into the entrance, everything changed. We spent the afternoon walking around in awe of the property. It’s extremely special there, and it has such an inviting energy that we just couldn’t escape. Right then, we decided that we wanted our friends and family to experience that very same energy we felt that afternoon.
I was never really a girl who thought very much about her wedding day, so when it came time to plan I was starting completely from scratch. Very early on in the process, Sam and I both decided that we wanted a laid-back and fun, yet still elegant, vibe. Although the day is about the bride and the groom and our union, we wanted our guests to look back and remember an amazing celebration. Almost every decision was based on the answer to a simple question, “Would I want this at a party I was attending?” Neon Sunglasses? Yes. Burgers, french fries and mac and cheese for dinner? Yes. Photo booth? Yes. Late night nacho bar accompanied by margarita shots and Coronitas? Yes, please. We were so very lucky to find Vikki and Shannon from All You Need Is Love Events, who understood the importance of adding a little bit of our personalities to the day — okay, a lot of our personalities — and Braedon Photography for capturing all of the beautiful and crazy moments. One of the DIY projects that I took on was the escort cards. Sam and I thought long and hard about this and had a very tough time coming up with exactly what we wanted. One night Sam and I went to a bar where they had PBR cans in brown bags, and Sam jokingly said, “Now, these would be cool escort cards.” I don’t think he ever thought I was seriously considering it until I showed him the first mock up bag I made. I painted chalkboard paint on the front, and in a chalk marker I wrote the guests’ names and their table numbers and threw a tall boy PBR inside. They turned out perfectly and were a total hit! This was one of my favorite things about the wedding decor, and I feel that it really helped to set the vibe for the entire evening.
To look around a room full of people you love from different parts of your life, dancing and laughing with each other is a memory I will never forget. I can honestly say that my wedding day was the best day of my life. Looking back, we cannot think of anything we would have have done differently. Everything went without a hitch, and that would never have been possible without our amazing vendors and awesome friends and family.
Wedding Photography: Braedon Photography / Wedding Venue: Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, California / Floral Design: Rockrose Floral Design / Wedding Coordination + Event Design: All You Need is Love Events / Band: West Coast Music / Hair + Makeup: Kacee Geoffroy