Santa Barbara Wedding from Matt Edge Photography

Erin Lepperd
May 15, 2013
Categories: Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance
Tags: Inc., Outdoor Ceremony

The word glamorous doesn’t really do this wedding justice because it’s so, so much more than that. It’s a balance between the elegance of Bacara Resort and Spa and the natural beauty of the shores of Santa Barbara. That is a combo that can’t be beat – ocean air, sunshine and a gorgeous white wedding captured by Matt Edge Photography. See so much more right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride: My husband Jonathan and I both grew up in a suburban city outside Milwaukee, WI. We met in 7th grade and somehow I always knew he was the one for me. The two of us dated on and off in high school and went to just about every school dance together. We had great memories in High School and I truly feel like the luckiest girl to have married my sweetheart! After High School we both attended colleges in Wisconsin. However, like most do we seemed to go our separate ways meeting new people and enjoying the freedom and adventures of our college life. We stayed in contact as often as we could and made it a priority to see each during Holidays. After college, Jonathan received a great job and stayed in Wisconsin. Where as I headed off to Los Angeles to study at the Fashion Institute of Design Merchandising (FIDM). On my 26th birthday, I decided I wanted to celebrate my birthday back in Wisconsin with my family and friends. Jonathan came out to celebrate with me that night and it was like 7th grade all over again. From that night forward we talked every day. Jonathan came to visit me in California one month later and many more times after that. We decided we wanted to keep things going so we started dating long distance which continued for 2 years. After dozens of flights and hundreds of hours on the phone, we decided we had to be in the same city. Luckily, Jonathan was able to move to California and work from home.

After two years of living together Jonathan proposed to me at the Bacara Resort and Spa in Santa Barbara, CA. It was a perfect proposal during a sunset walk on the beach with a gorgeous ring. It was a magical day and yes I was surprised! Because Santa Barbara is our favorite city and the Bacara Resort seemed like the perfect location for a wedding, it only made sense to get married there. The challenge of having our wedding in California was that we knew we had to take most of the wedding planning on ourselves. Because our families live in Wisconsin it soon became apparent there would be many long days ahead of us. A few months in, after many visits with vendors and interviews that followed we finally had our wedding dream team. We could not have pulled off the day without them. From our wedding planner Katie Seefeldt to our calligrapher Laura Hooper, our photographer Matt Edge to our florist Joni Papay at Santa Barbara Style, Make-Up artist Emi Grave (who made me look flawless), Scott Topper our fun DJ and the team at The Bacara Resort and Spa. In my opinion we truly had the best of vendors together in Santa Barbara that day!

Our wedding day was perfect and we will remember it forever. I can close my eyes and instantly see the beauty of the white and blue hydrangea flowers, the smells of the ocean on Bacara’s Miro Lawn during our ceremony, the stunning white and gold decorations all around the reception hall and the energy on the dance floor. In addition to the vendors and saying “I Do,” Having our family and friends celebrate with us is a memory we will never forget. Many people have always said that your wedding day will be the happiest day of your life and it truly is. I wish for every bride and groom to have as memorable a day as we did. To all the newly engaged couples, Happy wedding planning and enjoy all the memories that you will have this year!

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