If you’ve spent some time perusing the pages of Style Me Pretty over the years you know that a timeless fête, one that exudes a level of elegance not worthy of any adjective we can put on a page, makes us melt like no other. That classic elegance will get us every time, and when it looks as pretty as this one does, and is photographed to absolute perfection thanks to Erin Hearts Court, we surrender. We throw up our hands, and give up our afternoon to a day of drooling over all the lovely in the full gallery – and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way. See so much more here.
From the Bride… As many brides say, I spent a good part of my life dreaming about how my wedding day might look and feel. But after a rainy Christmas Eve in Florence, Italy, when my boyfriend proposed to me after midnight mass, I was pretty sure nothing was ever going to feel better or more special than that night. However, being an event designer, I soon went into brain-storming mode. I knew that my goal was to somehow bring that special night in Italy back home to our guests, our families and ourselves for our wedding day. I also knew that there was no better place to do that than the coast of Santa Barbara. As one of my girlfriends once said, “Santa Barbara just glows.”
My fiancé, mom and I decided to drive from our hometown of Dana Point to Santa Barbara and were instantly in love with Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church and The Biltmore Four Seasons. But we continued our search just to be sure, even though my mom knew from the start that we had already found “the spot.” After getting the difficult task of picking a venue under our belts, we went into full design mode. My husband had three small requests: the dance floor must fit everyone, there needs to be ice cream, and the champagne should be flowing. Those items I could handle. All of the other details seemed daunting, but we forged ahead. One thing about me is, well, I am particular. I wanted the evening not just to look a certain way, but to feel a certain way. I wanted for every guest to feel as if the night was planned only for him or her and that no detail was missed. That year of planning became my passion. With the enormous help of my family and team of beautiful designers and our event planner, there was no stone left unturned and I think that showed. When it came to the wedding day I can honestly say that somehow we had captured the ambiance of that Italian night. The magic of that evening in Italy over a year before was there in Santa Barbara while we sipped champagne and danced the night away with all of our friends and family.
I know my husband’s favorite memories would probably include being pressed to the ceiling or giving his speech while standing on a table (yes, we were a serious bunch of partiers at such a fancy place). My favorite memory was my sister singing while we had our first dance, and even as particular as I am, I have to say the details turned out AMAZING. After all of the sweat and hard work that we put into the wedding, there really was nothing I would have changed and it was the best day of both of our lives. On the back of our programs was a small quote: “Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.” As the little details of the day fade, I will always remember that quote and how grateful we were for everything we shared at our wedding.
Wedding Photography: Erin Hearts Court / Photography Assistance: Jen Lauren Grant / Ceremony: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Santa Barbara, California / Reception: Four Seasons The Biltmore Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California / Wedding Planning: Paula Laskelle of Champagne Taste / Event Styling + Floral Design: Bluebirds p.c.h. + Keith Laverty / Wedding Cinematography: Artisan Production Films / Macaron Favors: Pistacia Vera / Wedding Invitations: Bella Figura / Calligraphy: Blooming Quill / Ceremony + Cocktail Music: Ybarra Music / DJ: Ian Gotler of Redshoe LA / Rentals: Town & Country Event Rentals / Dance Floor: Barker Decor Service Inc. / Lighting: Shine Lighting / Draping: Finishing Touch Weddings / Linens: La Tavola / Transportation: Classic Motoring Car Rentals / Live Wedding Painter: Rich Flynn / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Hair: Molly Shriver of Beauty-Full by Molly / Makeup: Julia Hiles / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss + Armani / Handkerchief: Linen Whites