A Romantic and Whimsical Wedding at Serra Plaza
Elaine and Tom's keywords for their wedding were "romantic and whimsical." The vendor team and couple achieved this by combining a soft palette, floral textures, and magical lighting. Elaine's floral textured dress inspired other elements, such as the invitation suite and wedding cake design. "We loved Serra Plaza the moment we saw the venue - the arches, beautiful water fountain, and Spanish vibe were the perfect style we were looking for. We also loved that it had a combination of indoor and outdoor vibe. Did I also mention that the bridal suite is every bride’s dream?! :) The venue was also very close to the historic Mission, where we took our first look. On our actual wedding day, we felt like we were transported to Spain - setting a destination wedding vibe for Tom and me." - Elaine
Tom proposed to me at our favorite winery in Santa Maria, CA — Presqu'ile Winery. I am not the type that loves a lot of attention, especially in public places. Knowing this, Tom booked a private tour at the winery and popped the question when we were overlooking the views on a private deck. We enjoyed a bottle of wine and lunch right after and enjoyed the rest of our day in the city of Santa Barbara. - Elaine
Elaine wore an a-line chiffon dress with delicate 3-D flowers and pearls designed by Dany Tabet. She completed her bridal style with steel blue satin evening sandals by BADGLEY MISCHKA (that also matched the bridesmaid's dresses!) and a floral appliqué cathedral length veil. "I loved the simple yet delicate style that it offered. It had a hint of blush undertone with glitter underneath the dress that created the right sparkle." - Elaine
"Since I was wearing chiffon, I wanted my bridesmaid to match the same fabric. I loved the steel blue color that made the wedding party stand out from our color scheme. They deserve to shine as well" - Elaine.
Elaine and Tom worked with Jay's Catering to provide a delicious Buffet-style dinner. "We wanted to have a balanced meal offering a full variety of options - from Shrimp spring rolls appetizers to Santorini Chicken and Tri-Tip carvery paired with a pear salad. We also had the classic old-fashioned and cosmopolitan as His and Hers drinks." - Elaine
The team at De Flora Event Flowers used an array of pastel hues and greenery to transform the ceremony and reception. Floor floral bunches lined the ceremony aisle, and the fountain, which served as a focal point for the ceremony, was decorated with overflowing florals, adding an enchanting element to their nuptials. Elaine and Tom held a tea ceremony during their cocktail hour. To honor this, the team decorated the fireplace backdrop with greenery and delicate florals. Flower types: butterfly ranunculus, ranunculus, brownie tulips, taupe lisianthus, light blue sweet peas, roses, light blue larksphur, jasmine vine, and sage greenery.
Elaine knew she wanted to incorporate her wedding dress details when it came to her wedding cake. MCakes Sweets designed a two-tiered wedding cake with a delicate flower design that matched Elaine's wedding dress. Elaine and Tom wanted to surprise their guests with a late-night snack of one of their favorite treats...a boba bar incorporating their favorite tea flavors: peachy-lychee green tea, winter melon milk tea, strawberry guava green tea, and green Thai tea.
It was important to Elaine and her family to honor their heritage by incorporating a tea ceremony. She envisioned a backdrop setting that would create a focal point for tradition with a chic twist. With the help of De Flora Event Flowers and Radiant Love Events, they worked on creating a design that feels modern and airy with an asymmetrical design with smilax greenery. Elaine wore a beautiful red-laced Qipao to honor her Chinese culture.
