A bounty of beauty from Michael + Anna Costa Photo is a thing to cherish. And if you’re craving lush brights, this next little coral number is just the ticket. A hometown affair brimming with dazzling hues, a hand-built arbor and mountain backdrop, every detail is seriously stunning. From the handwritten vows followed by Matrimonial Margaritas, it’s all waiting for you in the gallery.
From the beautiful Bride… Ryan and I met on the dance floor of a favorite bar in Boulder, Colorado in July 2011. I was impressed by his large, inventive dance moves. We had an immediate connection, which kicked off the best summer of my life. Fast-forward two years. Ryan casually suggested a fall weekend getaway in Aspen, Colorado to see the changing leaves. I was pleasantly surprised that he offered to plan the entire weekend, as I’m typically the planner in our relationship. On Saturday morning (after a sleepless night for Ryan), we decided to go on a hike. As soon as we got on the trail, Ryan couldn’t wait a moment longer, and told me he had a question. His face was pale white, and I knew then what was coming. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. We excitedly and tearfully finished our hike before calling all our friends and family.
We decided to have a brief 8-month engagement so we could get married between the time I finished graduate school in Colorado and began the final year of my doctoral training on internship in North Carolina. Plus, we couldn’t imagine waiting longer than that! We knew we wanted to get married at my parents’ home in Santa Barbara, California and found a fabulous wedding planner in Donna Romani. It was a destination wedding for most of our 80 guests, and we wanted to treat them to a quintessentially California experience. We had a clear vision of what we wanted – a small, intimate gathering outdoors with bright colors, great food, and a lively band – and Donna implemented this flawlessly.
We got married in the rose garden with the mountains serving as our backdrop. We started the ceremony with a mindfulness exercise written by my graduate school advisor, which was a welcome opportunity to pause, take a deep breath, and really enjoy the moment. Ryan is a carpenter and he built the arbor under which we were married using trees from our backyard in the week leading up to the wedding. We wrote our own vows, which was stressful but totally worth it, and sharing them was my favorite moment of the day. The cocktail hour was in our old oak grove and our guests enjoyed “Matrimonial Margaritas” made by Ryan’s brother. We enjoyed dinner at big farm tables, before hitting the dance floor (constructed over the pool!) to an 8-piece band (Area 51). A highlight of the night was when my brother played the drums for a few songs including a pretty fierce drum solo that got everyone dancing.
Our wedding was everything we envisioned and more. We are so grateful to Donna for making our dream a reality, and to Anna Costa for capturing the beauty and joy of the day.
Photography: MICHAEL + ANNA COSTA PHOTOGRAPHY | Event Design: Donna Romani Events | Floral Design: NLC Productions | Cake: Lele's Patisserie | Stationary: Lazaro Press & Design | Catering: Feast & Fest | Hair & Makeup: LunaBella Make-up and Hair | Lighting: Bella Vista Designs, Inc | Officiant: Miriam Lindbeck | Ceremony Music: Classic IV Quartet | Venue: Ranch | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Reception Music: Area 51 | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Rentals: Found Rental Co. | Valet: Signature Parking