Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Ariel Yve Design…The wedding of Karin and Roberto was an intimate family affair. The couple exchanged tearful vows on a sunny September afternoon in the lush wedding garden at the San Ysidro Ranch. The guests in attendance spanned 4 generations, and even included two of the couple’s adorable Jack Russell Terriers…Cricket and Rio.

Karin and Roberto originally fell in love with Santa Barbara on assignment as art directors for an editorial photo shoot many years ago. Both the bride and groom are quite accomplished in the Advertising/Marketing world, and both are fabulously creative. Roberto, the groom, took an active role throughout the planning process by employing his keen eye and graphic design talents…creating every single printed item for the wedding. He designed everything from the save the dates, to the custom wedding logo, to the invitation, the programs, menus, table numbers….and even an extraordinarily creative escort card idea that looked like a hotel registration book, but was a guide for the guests to find their seating assignments.

The bride’s sweet sentiment and southern style set the tone for the celebration. She wanted a classic color palette with pops of color for interest. From the very beginning, the couple wanted to create a gracious environment with an abundance of food, conversation and fun…and that is exactly what they got. Everyone in attendance truly had a phenomenal time…even the vendors! 

After guests dined on a bountiful buffet dinner of local and seasonal foods, (including the San Ysidro Ranch’s signature Prosciutto di Parma with four cheese mac and cheese) Roberto surprised the Karin with a serenade sung by a lively mariachi band.

Later in the evening as guests danced to the couple’s favorite mix of songs from the 80′s, the couple “cut” their cake. Well actually, they exchanged cake balls. Rather than a traditional tiered cake, Karin wanted to serve something that was popular from her hometown in Texas…a cake ball wedding cake display. Between dance sets, guests helped themselves to as many red velvet, chocolate truffle and strawberry champagne cake balls as their heart’s desired.

As the celebration came to a close, the party continued for the couple’s 40 guests in the hotel’s Angel and Plow lounge far into the wee hours of the morning. No one wanted the great conversations, festivities or memories of that magical night to come to an end.

Planning + Design: Ariel Yve Design / Wedding Cake: Vanilla Bake Shop / DJ: Goodbeat Productions / Floral Design: Modern Day Design / Invitations: The Groom, Roberto Saucedo / Hair: Sheila Raye Stone / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Make-up: Meghan McClain / Officiant: Reverend Jeff Holland / Wedding Photography: Megan Sorel Photography / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Venue: San Ysidro Ranch

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Post tags: Ariel Yve Design, California Weddings, Classic Party Rentals, Goodbeat Productions, La Tavola Linen, Megan Sorel Photography, Meghan McClain, Modern Day Design, Roberto Saucedo, San Ysidro Ranch, Sheila Raye Stone, Vanilla Bake Shop
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Michael + Anna Costa Photographers Ltd.…Carmen & Robert’s wedding was a beautiful event to behold. Their choice of venue for one, at the glorious Bacara Resort & Spa was the perfect place to encapsulate their vision of modern Hollywood glamour combined with a serene coastal atmosphere.

Carmen wore Vera Wang while Robert and his groomsmen adorned classic tuxedos. Beautiful, delicate floral was done by Modern Day Design featuring roses and peonies in pink pastels and white. As usual Bacara’s cake designers worked their magic, this time featuring an architectural simplicity with delicate pave like detail surrounding.

Ybarra Music’s cool sound and visual style emanated in the courtyard as guests dinned during sunset before heading into the stunningly lit ballroom by SWANK Audio Visual to dance the night away.

Venue, Catering + Wedding Cake: Bacara Resort & Spa / Wedding Photography: Michael + Anna Costa Photographers Ltd. / Planning: Jennifer Lopez / Lighting: SWANK Audio Visual / Officiant: Richard Tobin / Band: Ybarra Music / Floral: Modern Day Design / Hair + Makeup: Beatrice Najera / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Film Work: Richard Photo

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Post tags: Bacara Resort & Spa, Beatrice Najera, California Weddings, Michael & Anna Costa Photographers Ltd., Modern Day Design, Richard Tobin Officiant, Santa Barbara, SWANK Audio Visual, Vera Wang, Ybarra Music
Post categories: The Blog, Traditional Elegance

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Peter and Jessica met nine years ago at Brown University.  They now live together in Brooklyn, NY. They chose Santa Barbara as their wedding location because Jessica is from Los Angeles and grew up going to Santa Barbara, because her parents had a place there.

El Mirador is an absolutely magical overgrown estate in the Santa Barbara area.  They wanted the guests to get to experience all the amazing areas of this “secret garden” so they had the guests enter at the top of the property and exit at the bottom, having wandered and experienced the many incredible areas.  Guests drove up a dramatic palm-lined driveway where they were greeted by the valet. They then entered the old foundation of the original house, with a koi pond in the center, built in the 1920′s, that has since been torn down and never rebuilt.  Guitar music greeted them as well as fresh lemonade with a spiked option.  The guests could then wander under the foundation to the Grotto that was used during Prohibition.  With wooden arrows leading the way, guests found their way through old stone paths to the pond with a Japanese garden.  At the pond were the bass and violin players playing Django Reinhardt music.  There was another beverage option of cucumber water.  After the guests explored this amazing backdrop they were queued by a gong to head towards the ceremony lawn, a beautiful grassy area surrounded by huge trees.  The chuppah for the ceremony matched the wild beauty of the location.

After the ceremony, guests were led to another lawn near the reception area where the cocktail hour was held.  While guests enjoyed cocktail they also participated in a Polaroid sign in book that Jessica’s photography friends helped run.  Joaquin Trujillo shot Polaroids of the guests for the sign-in.  Guests strolled over to the old carriage house and courtyard for the reception with strung lights hanging across the structure.  The flowers were a brilliant array of jewel-toned purples, oranges and greens arranged in vintage tins and vases provided by Jessica, Rebecca Stone and Camille (florist).  All the guests had silkscreen printed mini sacks of wildflower seeds on their plates as a party favor listing that a donation to the Natural Resources Defense Council had been made in their honor.  The food from Seasons Catering was displayed as a family style buffet featuring homemade mushroom ravioli as well as local vegetables from Ojai.  The cake mirrored the rustic design of the event with a “Betty Crocker” style of butter cream frosting with organically placed fresh figs, berries, champagne grapes, and flowers.  The wedding was an intimate affair in a naturally beautiful, organic, and warm setting on a perfect late summer day.

Wedding Photography: Corbin Gurkin Photography / Wedding Coordination: {duet} Weddings / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: El Mirador Estate / Rentals: Ventura Party Rentals / Floral Design: Modern Day Design / Catering: Seasons Catering / Wedding Cake: Christine Dahl Pastries / Officiant: Rabbi Evan Goodman / Wedding Invitations: The White Aisle / Wedding Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Musicians: Ivan Johnson / Wedding Reception Music: Gavin Roy of Santa Barbara DJ’s / Hair Accessories: Pluma (the bride!) / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale + J.Crew + Priscilla of Boston + Joanna August / Groomsmen Attire: Bloomingdale’s / Hair & Makeup: Kelly of The Studio Agency

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Post tags: Amsale, Bloomingdales, CA, California, Christine Dahl Pastries, Corbin Gurkin Photography, Duet Weddings, El Mirador, Family Style Buffet, Green, intimate wedding, J. Crew, Joanna August, Modern Day Design, Montecito, Orange, Outdoor Wedding, Pluma, Priscilla of Boston, Purple, Rabbi Even Goodman, Rustic Chic, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara DJ's, Seasons Catering, Southern California Wedding, The Studio Agency, The White Aisle, Ventura Party Rentals, Vintage Chic
Post categories: Casual Elegance

1.  The gorgeous bride, Ashley, looked absolutely stunning in a lacy Monique Lhullier gown. (The Duchess of Cambridge isn’t the only bride rockin’ the lace these days!)  We found this similar (and equally as gorgeous) gown via the WTOO Collection by Watters.

2.  Don’t worry, we won’t forget those glittery, gold shoes.  Glam. O. Rous.  Ashley stepped into a pair of uber-stylish Jimmy Choos on her big day, but we are also loving this fab pair by BCBGirls… and their price!

3.  I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love vintage soda bottles, so when I saw those Pop Shoppe bottles scattered amongst the gorgeous tables, I was pretty excited.  Luckily, we found those exact bottles at the Old 52 General Store.  And, if Pop Shoppe isn’t your soda of choice, they have many more options for you vintage soda bottle lovers out there.  It’s such a simple and inexpensive way to add some “pop” to your decor.

4.  You may not be getting married at a vineyard, but that doesn’t mean you can’t include your love of vino in your wedding day.  Start with these used wine barrels we found at the Rocky Mountain Barrel Company.  Cover them with potted flowers and plants, à la Jill La Fleur and Modern Day Design, use them as an escort card table or dream up your own creative way to incorporate them into your big day. The possibilities are endless.  And gorgeous.

5.  Oh wow.  How much do we just love the ribbon on the bride and groom’s chairs?  We found this extra-wide, Midori Luxe Wired Ribbon at Of The Earth and, lucky for us, it’s available in too many colors to name. It’s a wonderful and cost-effective way to really add some spice to your decor.

6.  Ashley’s bridesmaids wore J.Crew dresses in a beautiful espresso color that were the perfect compliment to the warm, rich tones of the wedding.  And, bonus points for the ladies actually being able to wear those gorgeous dresses again.

7.  You might not be fortunate enough to get your hands on a vintage fruit crate, like the one used in this wedding, but you can create your own by using this wooden crate we found at Target.  Love this.

8.  This wouldn’t be an appropriate Buying Guide without mentioning those ultra-cute little green vases. You know… those ones that are totally awesome? We found these similar vases at IKEA and are loving them, and their price, just as much. And, as a bonus, you can remove the wire (for tabletop decor) or mix it up a bit by hanging them about your space.

9.  In my humble opinion, there’s no better way to add a bit of that “rustic chic” feel to your big day then using a burlap table runner.  We found this burlap fabric at Stumps.  It’s cost effective and simply gorgeous.

10.  Candles hanging from the sky?  In amazing lanterns?  Be still my heart.  So, whether hanging from the sky or as the perfect accent to your tables, we found these lanterns via Amazon to add that simple touch of romance to your day.

11.  If you are one of the many brides planning on DIY-ing your flowers, we are loving these orange and white spray roses, orange dahlias and yellow craspedia billy balls from one of our lovely advertisers – Fifty Flowers.  Remember, you don’t have to be exact… It’s really the look and feel you are aiming for, so you can be flexible when it comes to your flower choices.

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Post tags: Amazon, BCBGirls, Burlap Table Runners, Candles, Fifty Flowers, Ikea, J. Crew, Jill La Fleur, Jimmy Choo, Joel Serrato, Jose Villa, Lanterns, Modern Day Design, Monique Lhullier, Of the Earth, Old 52 General Store, Rocky Mountain Barrel Company, Stumps, Target, Used Wine Barrels, Vintage Soda Bottles, WTOO by Watters
Post categories: Buying Guides

See what I mean? Beyond. Beyond. Beyond gorgeous. Before we jump into our buying guide, I had to share with you one more set of images from Jose Villa. We get pretty wrapped up in the details here on SMP, as we’ll always be a blog that focuses on the design and the inspiration behind all of the perfect little touches. But these images completely reminded me that sometimes the most beautiful details are the little moments of love, of beauty, of pure art behind each and every photograph.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Jill La Fleur… I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country, Santa Ynez, CA…the wine country region of Santa Barbara County. People come from all over the world to visit this area for it’s perfect climate, rolling hills studded with oak trees, incredible sunsets and of course the wine and wineries!

This wedding was at a beautiful winery in this valley, Foley Winery, and the couple chose one of the most beautiful times of the year to have their wedding here…in October.  This is harvest time here when the grapes are full on the vines and the sunsets fill the sky with oranges and yellows each evening. That’s where the term Harvest Moon comes from!  Ashley & Michael love this area, in fact they moved here since their wedding, and so they decided to embrace the colors of the sky and the season in their wedding, which is what I loved about planning their wedding so much!  The colors in their photos and film just remind me of the beautiful sunsets of this area and we incorporated lanterns, wine barrels, rustic farm tables, vintage fruit crates and lots of colorful floral to really pull together both the location and the season.  And to keep the beautiful scenery and starry sky in our sights all evening, we rented a clear tent to bring in the amazing views all night!

I think these amazing photos and this romantic film capture it all!  Congats to Ashley & Mike…best wishes for a colorful, beautiful future together and welcome to paradise!

Event Planning & Design: Jill La Fleur / Wedding Photography: Jose Villa / Cinematography: Joel Serrato / Wedding Venue: Foley Estates Vineyard and Winery / Lighting: Ambient Event Design / Floral Design: Camille Panzarello of Modern Day Design / Mar Romero of Team Hair & Makeup / Event Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Music: Jon Harris of JSH Music Productions / Wedding Cake: Decadence Fine Cakes & Confections / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Perry Ellis / Wedding Invitations: Jessie Zinke of Zinke Design

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Ambient Event Design, Brown, CA, California, Classic Party Rentals, Cream, Decadence Fine Cakes & Confections, Fall Wedding, Foley Winery, Gold, J. Crew, Jill La Fleur, Jimmy Choo, Joel Serrato, Jose Villa, JSH Music Productions, Lompoc, Mason Jars, Mauve, Modern Day Design, Monique Lhuillier, Orange, Outdoor Ceremony, Perry Ellis, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Southern California Wedding, TEAM Hair & Makeup, Tented Reception, Vineyard Wedding, Winery Wedding, Yellow, Zinke Design
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Michael went to Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Pasadena.  While he was in school, we would go wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley. Naturally, we fell in love with the area, the wine and the beautiful scenery. Once it became time to start wedding planning, we knew we wanted to get married in this special area. We chose Foley Estates Vineyard and Winery, because it was one of the first wineries we went to and for its picturesque view of the valley.

We knew we wanted a fall wedding as it is our favorite time of year. The weather is perfect and the vines are starting to change colors. We used the vine colors and the warmth of fall as our template (orange, yellow, brown, cream, gold). We wanted to focus on the natural beauty of the area, and Jill LaFleur knew exactly how to accomplish this! We were in love with all the little touches, from the lanterns hanging in the tent, to the split peas in the bottom of the mason jars.  Our wedding was everything we wanted and more than we ever could have imagined!! We would like to thank all of our vendors for giving us the wedding of our dreams! They took our ideas and turned them into reality!

Event Planning & Design: Jill La Fleur / Wedding Photography: Jose Villa / Cinematography: Joel Serrato / Wedding Venue: Foley Estates Vineyard and Winery / Lighting: Ambient Event Design / Floral Design: Camille Panzarello of Modern Day Design / Mar Romero of Team Hair & Makeup / Event Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Music: Jon Harris of JSH Music Productions / Wedding Cake: Decadence Fine Cakes & Confections / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Perry Ellis / Wedding Invitations: Jessie Zinke of Zinke Design / Film Work: Richard Photo

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 34 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Ambient Event Design, Brown, CA, California, Classic Party Rentals, Cream, Decadence Fine Cakes & Confections, Fall Wedding, Foley Winery, Gold, J. Crew, Jill La Fleur, Jimmy Choo, Joel Serrato, Jose Villa, JSH Music Productions, Lompoc, Mason Jars, Mauve, Modern Day Design, Monique Lhuillier, Orange, Outdoor Ceremony, Perry Ellis, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Southern California Wedding, TEAM Hair & Makeup, Tented Reception, Vineyard Wedding, Winery Wedding, Yellow, Zinke Design
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

Click here to see the full wedding gallery!

Lots of details went into our big day! I pulled inspiration from old pictures, rustic barns and all things romantic. From paper flowers made out of old sewing patterns to silver candelabras, I wanted the day to have a rustic elegant feel with a touch of whimsical. My mom and I dreamed together and went on the hunt to find old books and scrabble letters for the centerpieces. My dad built the arbour which meant so much to me. It was beautiful with curly willow intertwined and laterns hanging from it. Tim and I love the country and the barn was the perfect mix of chic and rustic.

Photography: Cameron Ingalls /Venue: Dana Power House /Flowers: Modern Day Design / Catering: Sea Shanty Catering /Cupcakes: Amy Bakes Cupcakes / Dress: Pronovias /Music: Miguel Bowser & Band / Hair and Makeup: Reeda at Faces  & Alamode / Invitation Design: Katie King Rumford

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 31 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Amy Bakes Cupcakes, California Weddings, Cameron Ingalls, Dana Power House, Faces & Alamode, Miguel Bowser & Band, Modern Day Design, Pronovias, Sea Shanty Catering
Post categories: Casual Elegance

From Gina of Lola Video…

Jill & Sam are really sweet people and it was reflected perfectly in all the details of their wedding. Everything was simple yet beautiful! From the corks holding the postcards at every table to the table of old family photos, it was really remarkable. I was so delighted to be part of capturing memories for them alongside my good friend Jose Villa.

The night ended with an amazing bluegrass / four square band from Chicago named “The Clumsy Lovers” that got everyone hopping around. The energy was outstanding and everyone had a great time.

Videographer: Lola Video / Venue: Crossroads Estate, Firestone Vineyard, Santa Ynez, California / Photography: Jose Villa / Floral Design: Modern Day Design / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Campbell / Groom’s Suit: Banana Republic / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: J. Crew / Hair and Makeup: Luna Bella / Invitations and Programs: Designed by Bride - Pulp & Pixel, printed by AccuColor / Calligraphy: Write by Mike / Ceremony Music: Jason Sulkin / Reception Band: The Clumsy Lovers / Caterer: Duo Events / Wedding Cake: Solvang Bakery / Coordinator: Robin Sonner (no website) / Officiant: Jono Shaffer

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: California Weddings, cinematography, Crossroads Estate, Jose Villa Photography, Lola Video, Modern Day Design, Santa Ynez
Post categories: California Weddings, Casual Elegance, Real Weddings, Santa Barbara Weddings, The Blog, Wedding Cinematography, Wedding Style