“If I wasn’t moved by something when wedding planning, I’d cut or rework it.” This right here, lovelies, is the ultimate advice. And the photos of this wise Bride’s wedding absolutely prove it! With a dream team including Flowerwild‘s creative direction and floral design, Twine Events‘ planning, Michael Radford’s images, Wade Koch’s cinematography, Team Hair and Makeup’s beauty skills, La Tavola’s and Found Vintage’s rentals (among many other talented vendors) and coupled with the Bride’s own artistic talents, these cuties created a day equal parts romantic and whimsical – with a healthy does of rockstar – that just may move you to tears, it’s so beautiful. The pictures and video speak for themselves, so we’ll leave you to it.
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From the Bride… I wanted every last detail of my wedding to evoke emotions from our guests and ultimately myself as well. That was my vision. If I wasn’t moved by something when wedding planning, I’d cut or rework it. I used that as my gut check throughout the process. We got married in wintertime at Rancho Dos Pueblos outside Santa Barbara, California. It was very important to me that the color palette and style fit both the region and the season. We chose stark, ivory whites, bright pops of burnt orange and citrusy corals with dark, moody greens, and we asked our guests to wear their version of winter whites as well. I felt it was essential that our wedding feel cohesive but not over-styled.
The ranch sits on an unspoiled portion of the California coastline, which is unique and rare. Our reception was in a rustic barn on the property. Overall the setting was striking, so Kate and I wanted to accent the barn with warm and approachable tones but also weave in some drama so when guests walked in, it would take their breath away – and that’s exactly what ended up happening. Soft linens intertwined with greenery were draped at the entrance revealing these insane, flower chandeliers Kate dreamt up. Kate custom-made metal spheres and covered them with citrus branches, climbing jasmine, rose vines, amaryllis; the effect was so mystical and enchanting. There were hundreds of dripping candles, which made the glassware twinkle. The tone for the night was magic for sure.
I’m an artist, so I provided all the art direction for the wedding. I designed the paper elements and crafted watercolor portraits for our invites, save the dates, and ceremony program. I also did all the calligraphy on the envelopes and hunted for antique stamps. I consulted with Stephanie Fishwick for the calligraphy on our main invitation; she is so talented, and her work was an inspiration for me throughout the paper process. I drew our escort cards by hand and pinned them with a fresh bay leaf from our home in Northern California – a subtle nod to the north. Our table numbers were stenciled then covered in vintage glitter glass; kind of a rockstar touch for a wedding on New Year’s Eve. I was able to make a ton of memorable and personal additions myself since I have experience with digitizing and printing. I had such a blast doing all of it.
An uncharacteristic cold snap hit Santa Barbara right before our wedding. I had to pivot and make some very last minute changes, which in the moment was heartbreaking. Due to weather, our team created a space for our ceremony in an old growth eucalyptus forest under a tent instead of on the beach as planned. The day of our wedding, out of nowhere, there was a gap in the storm and the clouds parted to reveal the gorgeous, California winter-weather that I had spent the last year dreaming about. After our perfect ceremony in the woods, my husband and I ran down to the beach; our hearts were so full. We couldn’t stop smiling, giggling, kissing, and holding each other as we watched the sun go down over the ocean. Emerging from the woods to walk on the beach as a newly married couple was absolutely my favorite moment. The turn of events two days prior gave birth to a scenario that could never have been planned. Nothing’s perfect about your big day, or life for that matter, but our fleeting moments on the beach in the sun, the way my new husband was looking at me, the spontaneity of it all – it was perfection.
You know when people say yes to the dress? I said yes to the veil. My veil was this insane horsehair cathedral creation that I fell in love with at first sight. I actually chose the veil before the dress. Leaves stuck to it in that perfectly messy way as I walked down the aisle, and it whipped around my husband and me as we climbed the rocks on the beach after our ceremony. It was the ultimate accessory. My dress was ridiculous. It was whimsical but not precious – almost like it had been lifted from a Shakespearean play – silk flower petals and chantilly lace were sewn all around with layers and layers of french tulle.
We worked with Flowerwild who made all of my weird, romantic, quirky flower dreams come true. I really wanted untraditional florals, and I knew she’d have fun carrying out my vision. She custom made an orb for our altar, which we were married under.
From the start we knew we wanted delectable food but a no frills menu so we asked our friends, Mark and Colette Evans, to BBQ. They did an amazing job and added such a fun element as our guests made their way down the “buffet line” aka several huge grills filled with killer BBQ goods. Since we asked everyone to wear white, we gave guests lobster bibs. It was casual, delicious, and romantic. Our cake was a perfect, “naked frosted” red velvet confection that I had five pieces of.
At the end of the day, your wedding is a huge party, and you are the host. Vibes don’t lie, so let your guests see your authentic self. Let them see you feeling all the feels and surrender yourself to that unique energy you get when you put everyone you love to death in one room. I also think having gratitude for everyone who is there to celebrate with you and your spouse will guarantee an unforgettable night.
Photography: Michael Radford Photography | Cinematography: Sharkpig | Event Planning: Twine Events | Floral Design: Kate Holt Creative | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Lele's Patisserie | Invitations: Custom by Bride | Catering: Mark + Colette Evans | Makeup: TEAM Hair and Makeup | Calligraphy: Stephanie Fishwick | Lighting: Bella Vista Designs, Inc | Band: Teahouse Company | Vintage Car: Tours A La Carte | Venue: Rancho Dos Pueblos | Bridal Shoes: Tabitha Simmons | Charcuterie: C'est Cheese | Creative Direction: Kate Holt Creative | Event Staffing: Top Shelf SB | Guitar: Anthony Ybarra | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Photo Booth: Brooke Courtney Photography | Rentals: Town And Country | Shuttles: Jump On The School Bus | Specialty Rentals: Found Rental Co.