Whenever I come across a ballroom wedding, more specifically one filled with sleek modern details, I do a little happy dance. It’s not every day we get to dive into one of these beauties after all. The all white tablescapes designed by Alexandra Kolendrianos mixed with centerpieces a ripe with tulips and succulents by Camellia Floral Design are the perfect amount of glamour. And seen through the lens of Michael Costa? There’s nothing like it!
From Michael & Anna Costa Photography…Nico and Anne met in 10/2007 at Urth Cafe in Santa Monica for “coffee”. Hardly an auspicious start–since Anne hates Urth, and Nico hates coffee! Nevertheless, they spent the next few hours chatting on the at the beach until it was too cold to stay any longer. Luckily, Nico invited Anne to dinner to continue their chat, and later, Anne invited him to drinks. Their first date lasted about 13 hours…ending in a parking ticket for Nico, which he claims he wasn’t even mad about!
A few weeks later, Nico left for 6 weeks to shoot a movie in Alabama. Though Anne usually hated talking on the phone, she found herself making frequent exceptions. By the time Nico came home, they knew they were both very i interested in spending more time together, and that they had a ton in common. They both love the outdoors, Edward Abbey writings, skiing, the beach, and that Anne was going to have to get over her cell-phone phobia if this was going to work! Many years and many adventures later, Nico and Anne got engaged in April, 2012 on a camping trip in Grand Gulch National Park in Southern Utah in the pouring rain.
They started planning their wedding, and knew that they wanted a beach wedding. They had spent many “LA getaway” weekends wine tasting in the Santa Ynez valley and immediately thought of Santa Barbara. After stopping in at The Four Seasons in Montecito on a whim, they fell in love with the location, and knew that was where they would be married. It was magical! The couple have made their first home in Venice, CA, where Anne works as a physician, and Nico as a Sound Supervisor.
Photography: MICHAEL + ANNA COSTA PHOTOGRAPHY | Event Planning: Alexandra Kolendrianos | Floral Design: Camellia Floral Design | Wedding Dress: St. Pucchi | Ceremony Venue: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Rings: Steve Hanna, Beverly Hills | DJ: Mark Reitman | Grooms Suit: Requisite Clothing | Ceremony & Cocktail Music: Anthony Ybarra | Furniture: Fusion Event Rentals | Hair & Make-Up: LunaBella Make-up and Hair | Lighting Design: Bella Vista Designs, Inc | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Town And Country