It’s hard for any of us to imagine planning a wedding this beautiful in just three weeks, but when you combine a talented bride with a network of incredible vendors…well, anything is possible. Oh, and if the gorgeous photos from Buena Lane Photography are any indication, their big day went off without a hitch. Treat yourself to the full gallery here.
From the Groom… I’d been thinking about marrying Alissa as long as I’ve known her. There was something about that morning. On her birthday I woke up and said, “This will be the day.” I didn’t even have a ring. We went for a hike in Harper Canyon, a special place to us. At the top of the trail I shouted, “Will you marry me?” so loudly it echoed through the canyons. She said, “Yes.”
From the Bride… We made our guest list in 5 minutes while driving home. After sharing the big news with our families we also let them know we had a short engagement and quick wedding in mind. We considered eloping but decided that we wanted our closest family and friends to be present to support our commitment. Our idea of a dream wedding was intimate, stress free, delicious, warm, and simply beautiful. We wanted to do each detail well and not be concerned about expense.
Anthony first told me “I love you” in Santa Barbara. That is one reason why we thought it would be the perfect town to return to for our wedding. Anthony loves being near the water and I love the Spanish influences present in the town. Most of our close family and friends reside in Northern or Southern California so Santa Barbara is a perfect mid-point. San Ysidro Ranch was the dream location to host 45 of our favorite people. Anthony took the train from LA to Santa Barbara and I drove down from Monterey to visit the property. We booked our wedding for 3 weeks from that day!
With 3 weeks to plan the wedding we only had to make 5 major selections to make. Having a swift wedding prevented us from getting lost in the minutia and allowed us to focus on doing a few things quite well: 1. dress 2. flowers 3. photographer 4. location 5. suit
I am a letterpress printer and work in the wedding business. Thankfully I’ve been exposed to many talented people in the industry and it was simple for me to ask the best folks to be involved in our wedding. I trusted each one explicitly and was so excited to have their talents poured into our impromptu day.
It is important to note here that our wedding was on a Tuesday. We were really on an unconventional kick it seems. We picked that day because it worked for our families and businesses… we both work for ourselves. Plus, we wanted the day to feel like an island – away from the rest of the world. Having the wedding on a Tuesday delivered that feeling like a weekend never could.
On the day of our wedding, my best friend Cassie, my mom, and I got ready in a cottage at SYR. We did our own hair and make-up and relaxed with a bottle of champagne. Anthony spent the morning with his best friends. The wedding was at 11:00am so the ceremony really snuck up on us! I will note here that the day involved lots of happy tears. I started crying in the cottage… first when my mom prayed with Cassie, my sisters and me, then when my Grandpa came to say goodbye, and finally just when I thought I would make it out of there without crying anymore my dad pulled me aside and said a few of the kindest words to me. Thank God for fake eyelashes.
From Buena Lane Photography… Alissa and Anthony had planned to elope or have a simple ceremony at the courthouse, but when they visited San Ysidrio Ranch in Santa Barbara, they couldn’t resist the idea of an imitate celebration on this stunning property. Their ceremony and reception were so elegant and stylish, it’s hard to believe the whole thing was planned in THREE WEEKS. Not only that, but the bride spent two of those weekends in friends’ wedding parties and the last moving her letterpress business from the Central Coast down to Los Angeles.
Alissa and Anthony knew their priority was to be married and living together in LA and Alissa knew she’d end up filling a long engagement with new tasks to fuss over and worry over decisions that hadn’t been made.
After a touching ceremony beneath the mountain, guests were invited to the hacienda lawn for lemonade followed by lunch on the wine cellar patio. Alissa and Anthony’s classic style complimented the charm of San Ysidro, which is rich with Old Hollywood lore. In the end, they created a lovely, romantic soiree reminiscent of the days when Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O. holidayed in Montecito.
Photography: Buena Lane Photography | Planner: imagine…Weddings & Special Events, LLC | Floral Design: Burst And Bloom | Dress: Badgley Mischka | Calligraphy: Unforgettable Affairs | Favors: Bread & Butter Caramels, Monterey | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Wedding Venue: San Ysidro Ranch | Jewelery: Foxy Couture