Rustic, Elegant Barn Wedding in Santa Cruz

I’m already completely obsessed with every single thing Jana Williams snaps up, but this rustic barn beauty takes that admiration to the next level. The images are stunning, the couple is beyond gorgeous and every detail is honestly perfection. It all makes for a gallery of images I would hang on my very own wall if I could, and you can see them all here.

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From the Groom…Myriah and I both went to the same university in Santa Barbara, she played tennis and I played soccer. However, somehow our paths never crossed until we both moved to San Francisco to start our careers. We were introduced by Myriah’s sister and her then fiancé, who was a colleague of mine at the time. Once we were introduced, we immediately hit it off; we had so many things in common. Not only was this girl beautiful, but she was independent and passionate about travel and exploring the world; something near and dear to my heart. I truly believe that I began falling in love with Myriah the moment I met her.

I proposed to Myriah at our secret little picnic spot on Mount Tam (in Marin, right outside of San Francisco). This is a special place for us because this same picnic spot is where we had one of our first dates. Since that first date we regularly would go back to hike Mount Tam and have our picnics (cheese, baguettes, and a bottle of wine).

From the Bride… The vision of our wedding was a combination of rustic glamour and romantic elegance. I wanted it to feel classic and timeless. Once we selected Rancho Soquel for the venue, the colors and fabrics quickly came together. Corey had chosen a slim-fit black tuxedo, and I fell head over heels in love with my dress; a combination of peony colored lace and tulle. I found the most beautiful Amsale tulle bridesmaid dresses, which so perfectly complimented my dress. Naturally, I chose blush for Keira and black for Kelsey. This color theme influenced our choices for linens, flowers and vintage rentals.

When choosing the flowers, I wanted a subtle blend of both feminine and masculine, tying the blush and black themes together. I was craving the perfect pop of color, and I found that in the chip and dale garden rose, which complimented my lip shade (Dior Addict Extreme: Lucky). I worked closely with Laurie (the owner of Seascape Flowers), describing my vision, selecting each flower and vintage rental. I was overcome with such emotion the moment I saw my bouquet the day of my wedding. She exceeded any expectation I had; they were truly the most beautiful floral arrangements I had ever seen.

Flowers used: Cream and blush garden roses, café au’lait dahlias, white anemones, chip and dale garden roses, white ranunculus, scabiosa pods, olive and camellia leaves, privet berries, and jasmine.

When we first visited Rancho Soquel, it was love at first sight. The grounds were so serene, the colors of the landscape so lush and bold; we simply felt like we were in a secret garden oasis. That is exactly how we wanted to feel on our wedding day, and the experience we dreamed of for our family and friends celebrating with us. The estate is sprawling, incredibly private, and includes a barn, water tower, Spanish style hacienda, gazebo with a romantic bare-bulb lit dance floor, and so much more. Every time we stepped foot on the property, we were overwhelmed and left speechless with it’s beauty.

For our reception, we wanted to share our favorite things with our closest family and friends. We had an incredible guitarist playing Bossa Nova jazz during our cocktail hour. I grew up listening to that music, and Corey and I listen to it nearly every night. The signature cocktail was champagne with Saint Germain liqueur; a huge hit. We love to travel, and made sure to incorporate that theme by having guests pin us a wish to their favorite destination (on a wooden framed map). The dance floor was so beautiful and romantic, lit up with candles and bare-bulb lighting. From the ceremony to the emotional speeches, I think that everyone felt very connected, not just to us, but the other guests. It was the most loving celebration I’ve ever experienced.

Photography: Jana Williams Photography | Cinematography: Tim And Co Motion Pictures | Wedding Coordinator: Rancho Soquel | Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia | Cake: The Buttery | Brides Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Catering: Feast for a King Catering | Makeup: Raquelle Lozada | Hair: Bay Area Beautiful | Groom's Attire: Calvin Klein | Officiant: Ken Robins | Floral & Vintage Rentals: Seascape Flowers | Music: Santa Cruz DJ | Private Estate: Rancho Soquel