It’s elevated elegance all the way at this Carmel Valley wedding. Carefully curated details planned by Allison Weddings added to the natural beauty of Santa Lucia Preserve, and flowers designed by Barefoot Floral are beyond beautiful. Each artfully captured image shot by Carlie Statsky is more incredible than the last, see them all inside the full gallery.
From the bride… After waiting more than a year from our original wedding date and a few postponements, it was a surreal experience to finally celebrate with all of our dear family and friends. The Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel, California has been such a special place for us and our families, so we were thrilled to share it with our guests. Teeming with untouched, natural beauty, the Preserve was such a perfect place to host the people we love most! Everyone tells you the weekend moves fast, but you have no idea just how fast until things get underway! We kicked off the weekend with an outdoor pizza oven on Thursday at my family’s home and it zoomed by from there! We wanted our friends to soak up the Preserve’s beautiful surroundings, so Friday’s activities were all outdoor and involved golfing, hiking (led by none other than the mother-of-the-bride!) and pickleball.
That evening, guests joined us at Folktale Vineyards, one of Carmel’s most charming wineries and a personal favorite, for our Welcome Party. With over 500 wine barrels stacked from floor to ceiling, the Barrel Room was a perfect introduction to Carmel Valley. Our dress code was “California Chic” and our guests did not disappoint! In honor of my dad’s birthday, we even served a local favorite, Revival Ice Cream, for dessert which was topped with torched marshmallow fluff. The day of the wedding was a whirlwind of pure joy and excitement. For the ceremony, we shared vows in what my family calls the “Redwood Chapel.” The 800 year-old redwood grove was the most blissful and sacred setting, especially with the chuppah of our dreams, designed by Barefoot Floral. After getting married in 2020 with only a few family members, it was so special to finally share our commitment to one another with all of our family members and friends by our sides. Our officiant reminded us that, although Redwood trees stand alone, it’s their closeness, shared canopy and co-mingled roots which provide support and allow them to hold the water they need for life.
After the ceremony, our guests gathered on the beautiful Hacienda lawn for hors d’oeuvres and carnitas street tacos, the groom’s favorite! As the sun began to set, our amazing photographers whisked us away for sunset photos atop a gorgeous vista that we will treasure forever. And then the party really started as guests danced the night away in the 100 year-old barn. We brought in the Pop Rocks from San Francisco and their unreal disco moves and many outfit changes knocked the socks off of our guests. We kicked off dancing with the mother-of-the-bride and father-of-the-groom’s favorite song, Hotel California, and it felt like the fun never stopped! We wrapped up the night with late night churros and In-N-Out inspired burgers before the sweetest farewell. The next morning, we said our goodbyes at our farewell brunch at Quail Lodge over breakfast burritos and much needed coffee. A few of our favorite pups joined too! Although the celebrations went too fast, the weekend was beyond our wildest dreams. Special thanks to the vendors and team that made it happen!
Photography: Carlie Statsky | Cinematography: Spencer Sarson | Event Planning: Allison Weddings | Floral Design: Barefoot Floral | Wedding Dress: Lazaro | Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav | Invitations: Prim & Pixie | Ceremony Venue: Santa Lucia Preserve | Reception Venue: Santa Lucia Preserve | Beauty: Glamsquad | Menus: Heart Paper Soul | Rentals: Chic Event Rentals | Signage: Deco Ink Designs