Big Sur Wedding with Organic Elegance

Abby
April 21, 2015
Categories: Real Weddings, Rustic, The Blog
Tags: Centerpieces, Desserts, Outdoor Ceremony

We all know that the coastline of California produces some of the most spectacular weddings we’ve ever seen. Given. But for SMP, it’s in those little details – that embrace the beauty, that are inspired by their surroundings, that are organic and effortless – that give way to some of the most memorable. And this one, with florals by Christine Cater and photographs by Cooper Carras – is perhaps one of the loveliest. Click here to see even more and scroll down for the film by Michael Bromberg.

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From The Bride…I had a vision for my wedding day before I had a ring on my finger. Certainly I wasn’t picking out flowers and bridesmaid dresses as a little girl (otherwise you’d see Lisa Frank invitations and my guests eating Double Stuff Oreos). But once I fell and stayed in love with Henry, I couldn’t help but dream about how we’d eventually celebrate with family and friends. More than anything else, I knew I wanted nature to play a starring role. So, when I stumbled upon the Paion Estate in Big Sur, it was love at first sight. Drooling over photos of the location and a few weddings it held, I contacted Diane Allen of Elegant Events about getting married there. As she did for the rest of our relationship, Diane responded immediately, helpfully, and lovingly. After looking at a few other places that paled in comparison, Diane and I got to work on bringing my vision alive. She seamlessly changed directions to parallel my shifting preferences. Initially, I saw something bohemian and rustic; something with homemade touches and a pastel pallet. Over time, I moved toward a more minimalist, elegant take on an organic outdoor wedding. Along with the fabulous florist Diane recommended, Christine Cater, we got rid of the color, polished the edges, and focused on fusing the unique vibes of Big Sur with the elements of a timeless, sophisticated wedding. For instance, the music moved from Pink Floyd before the ceremony, to Frank Sinatra at dinner, to Rihanna remixes on the dance floor.

In short, the day surpassed my wildest expectations. And I’ve heard from more than one guest that opening the bar before the ceremony surpassed their expectations, too. In all seriousness though, I relive this weekend – the beauty, the warmth, the love, the conversations, the midnight wood-fired pizza – in my head all the time. The photographs and video keep the memories vivid. I wish I could thank everyone who worked with us to make this happen and everyone who attended a thousand times. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t specifically mention the most brilliant dress designer in all the world, Sam Walls Beasley, my ridiculously cool stylists, Laura Dorpat and Courtney Heart, our friend and videographer Michael Bromberg, and of course our photographer Cooper Carras. Our day was perfect for us, and I hope every future bride reading this has a wedding perfect for her.