A garden-inspired wedding is all about the flowers, and the floral details fromSweet Marie Designs at this Santa Barbara garden wedding definitely do not disappoint. The pretty continues throughout this dazzling fête thanks to a dream team of vendors like La Tavola, Ambient Event Design and Diana McGregor—head to the gallery to see it all.
From Soleil Events…From my first meeting with Alix and her Mom in a little coffee shop just north of Santa Barbara, I knew our partnership in planning an unforgettable event, would be equally unforgettable. The vision, at first, was more along the lines of bohemian summer romance, but as the design board and pins started to come together, a classic, elegant and romantic style began to emerge that was simply undeniable. Part of what informed the timeless look and feel of the day was the setting. The Valley Club of Montecito is nestled in one of California’s most exclusive neighborhoods where your Saturday morning cup of Joe at the local coffee shop means bumping into the likes of Oprah, Carol Burnett, or Ellen DeGeneres. The Club itself is among the most exclusive, boasting sprawling acres of green that extends from the Montecito foothills all the way to the shores of the blue Pacific. It’s breath-taking! What struck me about the location is its timeless, old world feel. One gets the feeling that every detail of its interior – from the equine themed oils on canvas, to the French antique furniture – has been preserved to perfection under the careful eye of the management and staff. Steve’s Aunt and Uncle were the member connection that secured the spot, and we were off and running!
What I loved about working with Alix is that she led first with her heart, and the priority was always to plan a beautiful but fun and inclusive celebration. She has traveled extensively around the world so her good taste met with a natural elegance, sprinkled with whimsy and humor. Since Alix and Steve already have the most ADORABLE child on the planet, Charlie, family was a theme that ran throughout our conversations.
The romantic and soft color palette of creams and peaches and greens worked well with the Club’s interior. One of the most unique rooms I’ve seen is the main dining room, which is beautifully painted with a garden motif from base-board to ceiling. Alise from Sweet Marie Designs was an incredible team member and brought in refined yet naturally striking floral design to accentuate the Club, rather than compete with its charms. Alise even went so far as to design and construct the wedding arch to our exact specifications – talk about the extra mile!
We chose ivory colored Dupionique silk linens from La Tavola, and footed mercury pedestal vases for the flowers. The element that tied the table together was the hand painted menu card from Lovely Paper Things. Carolyn created a little work of art to adorn the place setting, and it added depth, dimension, and beauty to the tables that perfectly tied into the flowers and the surroundings.
The weather on the wedding day was a Santa Barbara postcard in spades. Guest gathered for the ceremony on the driving range and enjoyed pre-ceremony beverages and a view to end all views. Vows were exchanged under the arch adorned with green vines, loose garden roses and blooming dogwood. Charlie was there clapping and breaking hearts as his parents sealed their vows. As a Grand Finale to the ceremony, Steve surprised his Bride with a flash mob of singers as they recessed up the aisle to a live chorus of The Beatles, “All You Need is Love”. Talk about romance!
Guests were invited to the Club Terrace for tray-passed champagne and cocktails, and as a nod to Alix and Steve’s good humor, a magician mingled among the crowd with some slight-of-hand that had everyone laughing. My absolute favorite detail of the event was the vintage family photo escort cards. Die-cut name tags from Honey Paper were attached to old Polaroid and Kodak photos that Alix found in a vintage shop. The photos were affixed to an over-sized picture frame with little gold pins and pale pink silk ribbon. The pictures were hilarious! Several guests wondered aloud if the photos were of long lost family members, and it was the perfect ice-breaker during the cocktail hour.
We moved inside the Club for an intimate, three course dinner, champagne toasts and speeches. During dinner, the team transformed the Terrace from cocktail hour to an after-party dance lounge with couches, overhead festival lights and fun photo ops with Outrageous Booth. To end the night on a sweet note, Amber at Enjoy Cupcakes helped translate Steve and Alix’s favorite desserts into not one, but 5 wedding cakes, each more decadent and gorgeous than the last. The cakes were displayed on a wooden in-laid table, atop sparkling
vintage cake pedestals. So sweet!
When I think back on Alix and Steve’s wedding, the words ‘love affair’ come to mind. They are two people completely in love with life, each other, their son, and their family and friends. Theirs is a wedding story that is as classic and naturally beautiful as they come. To them I lift a glass -cheers to a life of romance and moments like these! xoxo
From The Bride…My vision for the wedding was a combo of country club traditional, due to the location and relaxed California vibe since we are not as formal. Outdoors, as much as possible, romantic, warm, a lot of candle light, good food and drinks and of course music – we wanted people to have fun, most of all.
Our ceremony was incredibly special since our son was there! My brother pushed him down the aisle in a radio flyer tricycle and he clapped after we said our vows and Steve carried him back down the aisle with us as people planted in the audience sang All You Need is Love, a surprise arranged by Steve! The weather was perfect, sun was setting, blue sky. Steve’s cousin, an opera singer sang Some Enchanted Evening. Our reception had great speeches, good food, music and photo booth. A lot of dancing under the stars.
Photography: Diana McGregor Photography | Event Coordination: Soleil Events | Floral Design: Olive Willow Designs | Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza | Invitations: Stationery Collection | Bride's Shoes: Gucci | Jewelry: XIV Karats Ltd | Makeup: Tomiko Taft | Hair: Brianna Stewart | Lighting: Ambient Event Design | DJ: Daisy O'Dell | Groom's Attire: Bonobos | Ceremony Music: Aurora Ensemble | Venue: The Valley Club Of Montecito | Cakes And Dessert: Enjoy Cupcakes | Childcare: The Little Guest | Escort Cards: Honey Paper | Get Away Car: Classic Motoring Car Rentals | Groom's Shoes: Cole Haan | Groom's Tie: Thomas Pink | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Magician: Mark Collier | Photo Booth: Outrageous Booths | Photobooth: Outrageous Booths | Photography - Assistance: Michelle Boyd Photography | Rentals: Ventura Rental Party Center | Wedding Day Paper: Lovely Paper Things