Santa Barbara Wedding by Kristin Banta

Okay, two very important things about this next wedding. One. The designer, Kristin Banta is awesome. She’s crazy talented, insanely sweet AND she just happens to be the official event designer for…wait for it…Patti Stanger, THE MILLIONAIRE MATCHMAKER! Which is like ridiculously cool considering I am a huge fan and watch the show every week. And two. It’s another gorgeous ballroom wedding! Big yay. So, although I could go on and on about one and two, instead, I’ll just get to the really good stuff.

{click here to see the full wedding, photographed by Elizabeth Messina}

The wedding was held at the Greek Orthodox Church of Santa Barbara.  Guests were bused from Bacara to the church, followed by a catered Greek cocktail hour and a performance by a Cretan duo giving guests the opportunity to dance in the church courtyard overlooking the hills of Santa Barbara.  Guests were then bused back to Bacara for a second cocktail hour followed by an 8 hour reception in the Bacara ballroom featuring The Jay Sterling Band, a performance by Michael Jackson impersonator Dev Gregory and a late night performance by the Spazmatics.  Guests entered the reception which was completely transformed into a Mediteranean Villa’s Piazza with twenty 23ft pepper trees and olive trees.  The bride & groom entered on horses and did a choreographed version of the Jai-ho along with 10 members of their bridal party.  Square and round tables were utilized featuring custom blue/gray full linens as well as runners on long raw wood tables, white square Provencal chargers, mixed hemstitch and paisley napkins, Bella Chameleon chairs and collections of multiple hurricanes and varied arrangements featuring apricots, cumquats, figs and olive branches.  The space featured Tuscan lounge vignettes and a stage front that was detailed with overgrown creeping fig.  The night ended with butler passed In n Out and chocolate shakes at 3am. The final day guests were treated to a tented brunch on the lawn looking over the lawn with an all white draped tent, white table and chairs with white linens, white lounge vignettes and bright pops of yellow sunflowers on each table.

Production & Design: Kristin Banta Events / Catering post ceremony reception at church: Petros / Chair Rentals (Reception) Chameleon Chairs / Ceremony Location: St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church / Entertainment (Church & Reception): Cretian Band / Entertainment (Reception) Jay Sterling Music & The Spazmatics and Michael Jackson Impersonator, Dev Gregory / Florist: R. Jack Balthazar / Lighting (Rehearsal & Reception): The Lighter Side / Linens: Wildflower Linen / Photographer: Elizabeth Messina / Rentals: Town & Country / Tree Rental (Reception): Greenset / Videographer: Manifest Videography