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Real Weddings:

Angie and Jesse’s Santa Barbara Historical Museum wedding

photography by Lavender and Twine

YOU GUYS! Angie and Jesse’s wedding at Santa Barbara Historical Museum is SO GORGEOUS! The couple enlisted Rebecca at Imagine…Weddings & Special Events to help them create their perfect day which included a palette of natural tones with pops of Santa Barbara’s seasonal (amazing) color  and an emphasis on farm-to-table. We love the mix of styles—romantic with a hint of boho—with florals by Coco Rose Design stationery by Honey Paper, cake by Lele Patisserie and vintage get-away car. The details are vibrant and joyful, just the the couple, and we love the way Daniele Rose with Lavender and Twine captures it all so beautifully in these film images.

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How did you meet?

The old fashioned way…On Match.com! Jesse was my first date and last kiss. Truth be told, we both believe we would have met eventually anyway. I (the bride) years ago, was working at Saturday Night Live and regularly in contact with my now husband’s previous company, The Writers’ Store, in California.

Describe the proposal.

We love spending occasional weekends at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. Under a full moon in November, Jesse got on one knee under an old oak tree and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him.

Tell Us More About Your Story:

The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is rich with history, yet a blank canvas for any event. We did natural tones and our pop of color was the seasonal and regional offerings that Santa Barbara provides. We believe in farm to table which carried through in our flower and plant choices. Phillipe with Catering Connection created an amazing menu that was French inspired, California Cuisine. It was tapas style, but a lot of food and extremely filling. Our wedding was uniquely us, a blend of tradition, with the forward spirit that we each bring to the relationship. For example, our dinner was served tapas style because we wanted all of our guests to experience the excitement we do around amazing food.

Rebecca brought our wedding to light with a collaborative, supportive, and focused energy along with her eye for all of the beautiful details. What sets Rebecca apart from the rest, is her ability to bring the bride’s vision to fruition without imposing her own stylistic choices, unless she is asked. Rebecca removed the noise around us, which allowed us to focus on the moment.

Describe your vision/inspiration for your wedding day.

We knew right away we wanted to get married in Santa Barbara, therefore, the majority of our vision was based in the beauty that Santa Barbara has to offer. I am from the south and the groom from CA & NY. We wanted to share with our out of town guests the exquisiteness of California, while still hosting an intimate event. We wanted to eat, drink, and dance under the warm moonlit sky in one of our favorite places and with our absolute favorite people!

What was your favorite part of your wedding day?

We have three! Our first was the ceremony itself, which culminated in feeling and seeing the love and support from all of our friends and family. Our 2nd was our first dance! Jesse is not a natural dance, but on our wedding night, with lessons behind us, we owned the dance floor to King Floyd’s “Groove Me”. Our 3rd was the fact that nearly everyone spent the entire night on the dance floor.

How would you describe your personal style and fashion (wedding dress/tux)?

Having lived in NYC while working for Saturday Night Live, I was swept up with the style the city has to offer. Heading west, I could not help but be inspired by everything that is classic Hollywood. So I would say our style is a blend of southern charm, meets NYC fashion, mixed with the glamour old Hollywood has to offer.

The dress: Finding the perfect wedding dress is an event in itself, one to be celebrated with loved ones, and what better destination for a wedding dress celebration than New York City. My mother and sister flew in from North Carolina to the city I lovingly called home for almost 5 years while working at Saturday Night Live. Bergdorf was high on the list and when I found out they were having a trunk show with Austin Scarlet, first season winner of Project Runway, our date was set. The experience was nothing short of amazing. I met with Austin, who was warm, creative and seemed to know what I was looking for before I knew it. Later he followed up with hand sketches and in no time the dress was taking shape. Weeks out from our wedding day I brought the dress into a local, Los Angeles designer shop, L’ezu for some last-minute alterations. While working with Patricia Nevil, the owner and designer, I fell in love with a one of a kind, fun and sassy dress that Patricia made herself, and luckily, fit me like a glove.  A really neat part about the dress is the not one piece of lace was the same, and all from different parts of France. This dress was the perfect party dress and a great excuse to do a wardrobe change before our first dance.

 

 

 

What was the most memorable moment of your reception?

There are so many! Our first dance as mentioned above, but after the first dance the band played one of our favorite Grateful Dead songs, “Shakedown Street”, where all our friends and family hit the dance floor in celebration. Our band Modern Tribe learned and played songs not on their typical set list with complete precision.

Other Special Touches included:

  • Suzy and My Something Blue
  • The wrap on my bouquet was made complete with an embroidered flower from my dear toy poodle Suzy’s favorite sweater. At eight pounds and known for her sassy ways, Suzy was my trusted and beloved companion for over 18 years. Adding an embellishment from her sweater brought her presence to our special day along with my something blue.
  • Spoons: A perfect finishing touch came together through the love, creativity and energy of my sister Natalie. She found a beautiful Haiku, Patience by Kewayne Wadley that inspired her to find unique, antique teaspoons for each guest, and that served to direct our guests to their designated table. What’s more incredible is the journey of the 80-pound board Natalie made herself in Asheville, NC and brought to Santa Barbara to hold the spoons.

Wedding Planner: Imagine…Weddings & Special Events Rebecca Gigandet // Photographer: Daniele Rose, Lavender and Twine // Florals: Nina Kincaid Coco Rose Design // Invitations & Calligraphy: Honey Paper // Wedding Venue: Santa Barbara Historical Museum // Videographer: Santa Barbara Wedding Films // Ceremony Dress: Austin Scarlett / Bergdorf Goodman // Reception Dress: Patricia Nevil L’ezu // Bride’s Shoes: Ceremony: Badgley Mischka // My something borrowed from my sister Natalie: SJP // Bride’s Earrings: Patricia Nevil L’ezu Beverly Hills // Cake: Lele Patisserie // Groom’s Tux: Ted Baker // Groom’s Shoes: To Boot Adam Derrick // Groom’s Watch: Shinola Limited Edition Rambler 600 // Rings: Single Stone // Catering: Catering Connection // Officiant: Nanette McIntyre // Rentals & Linens: Town & Country Event Rentals // Lighting: Bella Vista Designs // Entertainment: Modern Tribe // Getaway Car: Ala Carte // Transportation: Santa Barbara Trolley

 

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Real Weddings:

Vivian and Peter’s wedding at Half Moon Bay

featuring Manna Sun Events

Vivian and Peter’s romantic, fairy tale-inspired wedding was befitting of their modern Pride & Prejudice love story that can be traced back to elementary school. After a decade of friendship, the couple fell in love and despite heavy coursework and long distance, love prevailed and they enlisted event planner Manna Sun Events to design the perfect celebration. Spectacular pastel florals Nicole Ha Designs adorned every detail at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay including graphic ceremony structures and elegant ballroom centerpieces. We’re loving the artful cake by Cake Coquette and the horse drawn carriage gave off major real-life-cinderella-vibes. Photographer VID Studio was on hand to capture all the spectacular details in these lovely images.

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Event Planning, Design & Coordination: Manna Sun Events // Photographer & Videographer: VID Studio // Florist: Nicole Ha Designs // Invitation Set: Minted // Wedding Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay // Calligraphy: Blushtype // Make-up and Hairstyle: Yi Bridal // Bride’s Wedding Gown: Homemade by Bride’s Family // Bride’s Wedding Shoes: René Caovilla // Lighting: Magical Lighting // DJ: Big Fun Disc Jockeys // Officiant: Officially Yours // Rentals: La Tavola Fine Linen / Standard Party Rentals // Bakery: Cake Coquette // Horse Carriage: Grand Carriages & Baraat Horses // Ring Box: The Mrs. Box

 

Real Weddings:

Susie and Max’s Santa Cruz Wedding

photography by This Love of Yours

Susie and Max met on their first day of work at Google. They both moved to San Francisco as transplants and connected over their southern upbringings love of their SF district: The Mission. The couple celebrated their nuptials in a destination Santa Cruz wedding with ceremony at the historic Holy Cross Church followed by a beachfront reception at the retro-inspired Dream Inn Santa Cruz. The couple let the locations chine and kept their details simple including white florals by Wild Child Flowers and Minted stationery. They enlisted the eye of  This Love of Yours to capture all the special moments in these adorable photographs.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

We tried to make every detail represent us. Having our wedding in Santa Cruz, a place where neither one of us are from, felt unique. Santa Cruz is a special place and we ensured that our guests experienced everything it had to offer from the moment they landed. We held small, informal get-togethers throughout the weekend that put less pressure on the actual wedding day. All three days felt like an ongoing celebration!

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

The gown is from Lovely Bride and designed by two sisters based in LA — Tara Lauren. Their style embodies a feminine, vintage vibe. The Farrow was one of the first dresses I tried on and it felt different from the rest. The long veil made me feel especially lavish.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

We’re big winos and beer nerds. We chose all of the drinks ourselves and tried to include beverages that were local to California (the Turley Zinfandel and Trumer Pilsner were big hits). We also featured our love for travel with our guest book. We asked guests to fill out a postcard with advice or a travel recommendation. We read and reread all of the postcards; such memorable tokens from our wedding.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Our last song stood out to both of us. We played “Shout” and every single person came out to the dance floor. We stayed close to one another but moved and danced around the room, taking it all in. What a feeling to have everyone you love in one place!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We met on our first day of work at Google. We both came out to San Francisco as transplants and connected over our southern upbringings and our love of living in the best district in SF: The Mission.

Susie & Max – Dream Inn Wedding from IZ Cinema on Vimeo.

Planning & Design: Katie Hillenga, Dream Inn // Reception Venue: Dream Inn Santa Cruz // Photographer: This Love of Yours // Florist: Wild Child Flowers // Stationery: Minted // Ceremony Venue: Holy Cross Church // Gown: Tara Lauren & Lovely Bride // Hair & Makeup: Urban Beauty Loft // Bakery: The Buttery // Rental Company: Alexis Party Rental // Lighting: Bay Area Event Lights // Videographer: IZ Cinema // Reception Music: Elite Entertainment // Photobooth: 143 Photobooth

 

 

Real Weddings:

Alex and Drew’s wedding at Devil’s Thumb Ranch

featuring Jamee Photography

Alex and Drew had no doubt High Lonesome Barn at Devil’s Thumb Ranch was their perfect wedding venue—Drew was scoping it out before they were even engaged. The Colorado location played an important role in Alex’s childhood and inviting all their friends and family to there to celebrate their nuptials was a must. Calluna Events planned a day filled with voluminous lavender-hued florals and cascading greens by Cori Cook Floral Design, periwinkle paper goods by Whimsy Design Studio and personalized rustic details throughout. Jamee Photography was behind the lens and captured all the beautiful moments in these stunning images.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

I grew up going to Devil’s Thumb Ranch. It is just down the street from the home my grandparents built in Granby, CO, after my Grandfather became sick and could no longer travel. They built it with the hope that family and friends would use it to visit them and it would be a place to gather and celebrate. Devil’s Thumb was always a place that served for special occasions and beautiful, nearby hikes. It became equally special to my husband, Drew. We love hiking around the area and ending the day with a glass of wine on the restaurant’s deck. Before we were even engaged, Drew had already reached out to DTR to see what dates they had open for summer 2019. He knew that it was the only option. We did not look at any other venues and had Devil’s Thumb locked in for Labor Day just two days after our engagement. Having all of our family and friends in a place that is so special to us and being able to share that with them was incredible!

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

The gown is Romona Keveza. I found it at Felice Bridal. It was the last dress I tried on there. I was deciding between two strapless gowns but something just did not feel right. The associate said there was one dress that they had just gotten in that day and she still had not seen it on anyone. It was the same as one of the strapless gowns I had tried on, but in a different cut that I had been liking on other dresses. I put it on and knew it was the one. I love that dress SO much!

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

For our ceremony, we had Drew’s Uncle, who everyone lovingly refers to as “H”, officiate the ceremony. We wanted to be married by someone who we personally knew and someone who knew our relationship from day one. He killed it. It was the perfect combination of love, religion, humor, and personal touches. We had my Grandmother, who first introduced me to Devil’s Thumb, do a blessing, which included how we truly believe that we were meant to be together, and Drew’s sisters did a reading. It was so special to have people who we love so much be a part of our marriage. Some other fun touches we did were personalized cocktail napkins with fun facts about the couple, Alex (a HUGE Elvis fan who got third place in an Elvis impersonation contest in 3rd Grade) walked down the aisle to Can’t Help Falling in Love, we brought the outdoors in with beautiful ivy hanging all over the beams inside the reception, and had a 12 piece band that kept everyone on their feet all night!

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The entire day I was so worried that it was going to rain. The weather had been beautiful up until that day and, of course, Saturday was the only day where rain threatened. You can see in a lot of the pictures how ominous the clouds look. There were a few drops during our first look and bridal party photos before the ceremony, but nothing crazy. In the middle of our ceremony, right when we started saying our vows, it started to rain. It was not a rain that makes you want to run inside or that will even get you super wet. It was a few heavy, scattered drops, but nothing more. I felt like, at that moment, my Grandfather, and all our other loved ones who are no longer with us, were there and making their presence known. It was comforting and peaceful. Looking into the man I love’s eyes and reciting our personal vows with this overwhelming sense of love was truly remarkable.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

The amount of small world connections that Drew and I have made it clear that we were meant to meet one way or another. Drew is from Lake Forest, IL and Alex is from Denver, CO. Drew moved to Denver for a job, not knowing anyone but his sister and an old friend from high school. That old friend turned out to be the boyfriend (now fiance) of Alex’s lifetime best friend (and maid of honor) and introduced them only two weeks after Drew moved to Colorado. Once the two met, they were immediately inseparable and knew that something was different. Alex’s best friend from college was also from Lake Forest, IL, and Drew’s sister used to babysit her growing up. Both were bridesmaids in the wedding. Drew needed to sublet his apartment in Chicago after moving to Denver. Alex’s friend from high school had just moved to Chicago and was looking for a room, so she ended up subletting from Drew. After 4 years of dating, Drew and Alex decided that they were going to combine Christmas with both their families that year and everyone was invited to celebrate in Avon, CO, where Drew’s parents live. On a snowy morning walk overlooking the mountains, Drew got down on one knee and proposed with his Grandmother’s (and Great Grandmother’s!) ring. The surprises continued as Drew had planned for Alex’s best friends and grandparents to drive up to the house shortly after. We ended the night with a snow cat ride to Beano’s Cabin in Beaver Creek where we celebrated!

Photography: Jamee Photography // Planning: Calluna Events // Floral: Cori Cook Floral Design // Paper goods: Whimsy Design Studio // Venue: High Lonesome Barn at Devil’s Thumb Ranch  // Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza from Felice Bridal // Bridesmaids Dresses: Hayley Paige // Hair: Shear Bliss // Make up: Bobbi Brown // Decor & Rentals: Pink Monkey Solutions  / Tents and Events // Linens: La Tavola Linen // Band: Denver Radio Band // Cinematography: Lupher Arts // Ring Box: The Mrs. Box

 

Real Weddings:

Iris and Michael’s wedding at Gamble Gardens

featuring Lynette Boyle Photography

Iris and Michael’s stunning spring soiree at Gamble Gardens was designed by none-other than Kaella Lynn Events. A perfectly romantic garden party, the event was filled with (even more) elegant, gathered florals by Lauras Floras in a rainbow of dusty pastels.Brown Fox Calligraphy introduced the event with a timeless stationery suite and Studio Cake punctuated the day with a silk-ribbon wrapped cake accented with twigs of lavender. We love the sunlight-streaked joy of the day and it’s all captured beautifully by Lynette Boyle Photography.

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What made the wedding special and unique? 

First of all, the setting at Gable Garden was amazing. It was May and the garden was in full bloom. There was serenity and peace to the whole place and the extra flowers for the wedding made the scene luscious. The most unique feature though, was that the ceremony itself was arranged in a circle. When we stood there in the center, and said ‘I do’ we could feel the love and energy from everyone around us in every direction.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

I found the dress at the first place I went. I went alone, and was just starting to look; they brought out 5 dresses and one of them was perfect.  I left the store without buying it and called Michael and sent him a picture. The dress showed my full back, and I was worried it might be too revealing for him. But he said okay, and I made a u-turn and went back and bought that dress right then and there.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Michael’s father was the Officiant, and his mother read a beautiful poem. Also – we created (with Kaella’s guidance) lots of little outdoor lounging areas, where people sat and talked. Every time we looked around, people were smiling and having a great time. And one more also – we had this wonderful family-style long table for dinner, with the perfect place settings, under a tree on the garden patio. It felt magical.

What was the most memorable part of the day? 

After we said our vows, we walked out of the center of the circle, with our kids behind us. We all gathered as a new family and spontaneously hugged as a group, and one of the kids said ‘We did it!’ and we all cried.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We met online. We lived 2 miles apart and it took the computer months to match us. Our first date was at Pete’s and it was okay but neither of us really felt much. Then we went to dinner for our second date, and sparks flew right away. Iris made Michael laugh a lot, which was a requirement and Michael saw Iris cry which was his requirement.

We got engaged after talking about it at length, and making sure our kids could get along. We went ring shopping together but Michael handled the details of getting it made.  We went away for a weekend in Napa and Michael surprised Iris (a little) with flowers in the room, and ring in hand.

Photography: Lynette Boyle Photography // Planning + Design: Kaella Lynn Events // Floral Design: Lauras Floras // Paper: Brown Fox Calligraphy // Venue: Gamble Gardens // Bridal Gown Designer: Michaela Bridal // HMU: Skyla Arts Beauty // Cake: Studio Cake // Table top rentals: Frances Lane // Lounge furniture: Found Vintage Rentals // Catering: Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme // Linens: La Tavola Fine Linen // Lighting: Impact Lighting // Music Trio: Rob Reich // Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab