Wedding Guide 2023 - Coastal View News

LaurenMarkColomyJenkins)

AUGUST 21, 2022 +

NOTES ON THE DAY…

IS THERE A MOMENT FROM YOUR WEDDING THAT STANDS OUT?

We loved how our bridal party came to play. We had a groomsman walk down the aisle with the bridesmaid bouquet in his teeth, which totally lightened the mood. Our flower girl was not about wearing the fancy dress and shoes, so she walked down the aisle in a tie dye t-shirt, floral leggings and sneakers (and ROCKED it) and our best friend was our officiant. According to our guests, the vows didn’t leave a dry eye in the place. For us, all of the speeches were so beautiful and funny, and we felt so seen and loved by all of our people.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR CEREMONY AND RECEPTION VENUES?

Mark always wanted to get married in the Sunken Gardens, which was perfect because my grandparents were married in the same spot in 1953. So that made the decision to have the reception at El Paseo easy. These two venues often go together, and El Paseo was the perfect solution to organizing and fulfilling the areas of weddings we did not want to coordinate ourselves (food, linens, drinks, seating).

DISCUSS YOUR ATTIRES, COLORS AND WEDDING THEMES.

This is the question I always avoided while wedding planning because I still don’t know how to answer it. We went with what felt like us, and our team of creatives did the rest. I wore a cotton eyelet dress that I bought second hand paired with hand-made floral earrings made by my dear friend Kathy, Mark wore a blue suit that brought out his eyes, and all I could give PacWest Blooms was that I wanted a sunflower incorporated in our bouquets. They delivered florals more beautiful than I could have ever designed or even imagined. Our color scheme ended up giving an indirect nod to us as Packer’s fans since our florals were primarily gold from the sunflowers, and my bridesmaids wore dark green.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON WHAT CAKE AND FOOD YOU WERE GOING TO SERVE? DID YOUR GUESTS ENJOY YOUR CHOICES?

This was one of the benefits of choosing El Paseo for the reception. We sat down with Troy (the manager) and Alex (the chef) and got to choose anything from a menu that sounded delicious (and delicious it was). They were also incredibly accommodating to meeting our needs for guests with dietary restrictions and allergies. I never worried about these guests because Chef Alex went out of his way to ensure all of our guests were fed something delicious. And we opted for the non-traditional dessert route – we ordered local from Tyler’s Donuts and had a donut-wall in lieu of cake. And a taco truck for the rehearsal dinner! Blue Corn Tacos went above and beyond for us, seriously hire them for your next event.

DID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CHANGE HOW YOU PLANNED YOUR WEDDING OR INFLUENCE THE DATE YOU CHOSE?

I mean, it definitely pushed the date! But that was such a blessing because we could take our time with decisions. Both of us were working full time. I am in a full-time graduate school program, and we moved twice since getting engaged. Yeah, we needed all the planning time we could get.

HOW DID YOU INCORPORATE YOUR OWN PERSONALITIES INTO THE WEDDING DAY?

The donut wall was definitely us, and it, along with all of our centerpieces, were hand-carved and decorated by Mark’s aunt Marlene. There were no two centerpieces alike and we loved that. I changed into a crop top, silk skirt and sneakers as soon as I could to be able to dance. The DJ played a Wisconsin Badgers hype up jam that Mark got to share with his college friends, and I shared a special mother-daughter dance to a slow cover of Free Bird that transitioned into the original. The dance floor was full all night. Honestly, our DJ nailed it with the music selection. It was a mix of oldies and '90s/'00s we all know and love. And it was all perfectly captured by one of my closest college friends (our photographer, Brian Lovelace). According to our guests, the whole day was perfectly “us.”

WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART FOR YOU IN PLANNING A WEDDING? WERE THERE ANY HICCUPS? IF SO, WHAT WERE THEY, AND HOW COULD THEY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?

So, funny story – but not at the time – we almost lost our venue five weeks before the wedding! There was an error in scheduling that impacted three couples at the courthouse, but our hero of the day was Vanessa who was able to get to the bottom of the issue, solve the problem for everyone and every couple ended up ensuring their date was safe. That stress took a few years off my life though. Luckily it all worked out!

ANY ADVICE FOR COUPLES PLANNING A WEDDING?

Double check your reservations and don’t sweat the small stuff. There are too many details in a wedding that you can get lost in. The whole day is such a whirlwind, chances are you won’t even notice it. We were both surprisingly calm the day of, because we knew the little things didn’t matter, the most important part was when we said, “I do.”

THE MAGIC MAKERS…

Wedding Planner/Coordinator: Dulce Dia Events

Cake/Dessert: Tyler’s Donuts

Photographer: Brian Lovelace (SoCal Wedding Photographer)

Invitations: Minted

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken

Gardens, El Paseo Restaurant

Hair & Makeup: Blair Dessert (Beauty Crew 805)

Dress Shop: Maggie Sottero Designs

Tux: Generation Tux

Flowers: PacWest Blooms

Music: DJ Zeke (Zeke Monarrez)

Officiant: Steven Lozier

Rentals: Casas Party Rentals

Honeymoon: Mini Moon in Monterey

Rehearsal Dinner: Blue Corn Tacos (at Manning Park)

Spray Tan: Sweet Cheeks IV

Bridal Gifts: Solid Goods (Caitlyn Damron)

Bridal Jewelry: Noah’s Garden Creation (Kathy Wang)

Wedding Rings: Bryant and Sons Jewelers

Perfect, Hydrated Skin: Lend Your Love Body Butter

The beautiful sanctuary of Carpinteria Community Church, adorned with stained glass windows and intimate lighting, is the perfect place for family and friends to gather on your big day. The rose garden creates a colorful backdrop for wedding photos. Stay & celebrate in the Parish Hall for your reception, with a seating capacity of 105 people (champagne, beer and wine acceptable). High beam ceilings, french doors, hardwood floor, and adjacent patio sets the stage for lasting memories.

Request a tour & book your date, today!

Please call for more information.

Diamond Ring with 4.02 Carat Emerald Cut

Annamarie Rivas Alexander Gonzales)

JULY 23, 2022

NOTES ON THE DAY…

IS THERE A MOMENT FROM YOUR WEDDING THAT STANDS OUT?

So many moments. Our ceremony was very special to us. It took place at Mount Carmel Church. The first dance and the father daughter dance was memorable.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR CEREMONY AND RECEPTION VENUES?

We always wanted to get married at Mount Carmel. Lion’s Park is beautiful and reminded me of family events. My grandfather Marty Macias always enjoyed BBQing there when I was young.

DISCUSS YOUR ATTIRES, COLORS AND WEDDING THEMES. Semi-formal. We used a lot of earth tones, with a touch of blush. The guys wore light grey suites. Our theme was an elegant rustic country style theme.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON WHAT CAKE AND FOOD YOU WERE GOING TO SERVE? DID YOUR GUESTS ENJOY YOUR CHOICES?

Our wedding coordinator Toby Theule recommended Pure Joy.

DID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CHANGE HOW YOU PLANNED YOUR WEDDING OR INFLUENCE THE DATE YOU CHOSE?

We had to postpone our wedding one year due to Covid-19.

HOW DID YOU INCORPORATE YOUR OWN PERSONALITIES INTO THE WEDDING DAY?

We incorporated country music, which we both love. We had an open bar with our personal favorite cocktails.

WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART FOR YOU IN PLANNING A WEDDING? WERE THERE ANY HICCUPS? IF SO, WHAT WERE THEY, AND HOW COULD THEY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?

No hiccups. We had plenty of time to plan with the Covid-19 delays.

ANY ADVICE FOR COUPLES PLANNING A WEDDING?

Use a full-service wedding coordinator. It makes things go a lot smoother.

THE MAGIC MAKERS…

Wedding planner or coordinator: Toby Theule

Cake/Dessert: Pure Joy

Photographer: Joshua Shelly

Videographer: Isaiah Lin

Invitations, Signage: Shabina Dahlid

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Mount Carmel Church/Lions Park

Caterer: Pure Joy

Hair: Unveiled Makeup & Hair

Makeup: Shannon Jordan

Dress Shop: The Dress

Tux: Panoyan Custom Tailoring & Men’s Wear and Men's Warehouse

Flowers: PacWest Bloom

Music: DJ Hecktik

Officiant: Dr. Father Lawrence Sayer

Rentals: Tent Merchant

Honeymoon: Bahamas

Rehearsal Dinner Location: Bluewater Grill

Ariana Garner Benjamin Hunt)

MAY 21, 2022

NOTES ON THE DAY…

IS THERE A MOMENT FROM YOUR WEDDING THAT STANDS OUT?

We did a log sawing tradition called Baumstamm sägen. This German tradition is celebrated directly after the ceremony. The newlyweds are expected to embark on their first challenge as a couple, mainly cutting a log of wood in half. The bride and groom must saw through the log together to prove their strength and teamwork as a couple. Our experience with this tradition stands out the most. At first it was difficult – our initial reaction was to argue about who was pushing and pulling properly. Our guests were laughing and cheering as the saw was bending incorrectly, watching us struggle to complete the challenge. It took some communication and support from our guests we were able to cut the saw, and everyone roared with excitement!

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR CEREMONY AND RECEPTION VENUES?

We spent some time researching venues in the Santa Barbara County area online and visited a few. While talking with friends about different venues we were visiting, one mentioned that they knew a family in Carpinteria that rented out their estate as a wedding venue occasionally. He then put us in touch with them and once we saw the property instantly knew this was the perfect space for our wedding. It was on an avocado orchard overlooking Rincon Point.

DISCUSS YOUR ATTIRES, COLORS AND WEDDING THEMES.

Our theme was rustic with a little bit of country. The guys wore bolo ties, and we encouraged cowboy boots and mustaches! Our colors were sage green, which were our bridesmaid dress colors. White and deep rose were our other colors. We also had a live painter there who painted our ceremony as it was going on, and then she finished it within the next six months and sent it to us.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON WHAT CAKE AND FOOD YOU WERE GOING TO SERVE? DID YOUR GUESTS ENJOY YOUR CHOICES?

Our food was an easy decision as my husband loves tacos. They are easy and you can’t really mess them up! I also like quality ingredients, so we were able to lock down our friends at Slate catering who did our tocos, rice, salad, chips, salsa and guacamole. The avocados used in the guacamole were picked from an avocado orchard.

Our cake and wedding cookies were made by my aunt Kelley Garner, who is an amazing home cook/ baker and holistic nutritionist. Like I mentioned, I love good quality ingredients and my aunt knows what ingredients to choose and how to use them to make the goodies taste delicious. Our cake was a four-tiered red velvet cake with cream cheese buttercream frosting. She also made many dozen chocolate chip cookies, snickerdoodles, butter cookies and Italian wedding cookies. She baked gluten-free version of each of those as well.

DID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CHANGE HOW YOU PLANNED YOUR WEDDING OR INFLUENCE THE DATE YOU CHOSE?

The pandemic did not influence our date or location. We always wanted an outdoor wedding, which allowed for most everyone to feel safe and enjoy their time!

HOW DID YOU INCORPORATE YOUR OWN PERSONALITIES INTO THE WEDDING DAY?

Yes definitely! Ben and his groomsmen wore bolo ties, mustaches and cowboy boots which is unique to Ben’s country living’ style. For me personally, I changed into a juicy track sweatsuit during the reception so I could be comfortable and stylish in all white still! I love to be comfortable, and I also was a big Juicy Couture track suit girl growing up!

ADVICE FOR COUPLES PLANNING A WEDDING?

The advice we would give to other couples is to do your wedding your own way. Not everything has to be super traditional. You can add your own flare and personality into the ceremony. We stood at the alter on non-traditional sides. We sawed a log in half in front of our guests right after we said, “I do.” Have fun and make it a unique, fun and memorable experience.

THE MAGIC MAKERS…

Wedding planner: Nicole Leza

Cake: Made by the bride’s aunt, Kelly Garner

Food: Slate Catering

Photographer: Campbell Family Photography

Invitations, Signage: Mother and step-father of the groom, Bill and Kim Cooper

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Regina Ranch, Carpinteria

Hair and Makeup: Pamela Butler and Lucia Flowers and Altar: Heather Day

Music: DJ Le Funk

Officiant: Maressa Garner, bride’s sister Honeymoon: Kauai

Rehearsal Dinner: Barbareño

Heather Nelson Photography

Jamie Goodwin Jamie Hill)

OCTOBER 2, 2022

NOTES ON THE DAY…

IS THERE A MOMENT FROM YOUR WEDDING THAT STANDS OUT?

Our first dance was spectacular! Neither one of us were particularly good dancers, so we went to Arthur Murray Dance Studio, and CC helped us choreograph a romantic, yet playful dance that incorporated salsa and flamenco. We practiced every week for three months prior to our wedding. Boy, did it pay off! We didn’t miss a beat and impressed the crowd (and ourselves).

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR CEREMONY AND RECEPTION VENUES?

Since we met and spent most of our lives together in Santa Barbara, it was important for us to have our ceremony at one of the most iconic sites in the city, the Santa Barbara Courthouse. We then researched nearby reception venues and Villa & Vine stood out immediately. The venue was gorgeous and only a five-minute walk from the courthouse. Chrissy was absolutely amazing to work with, and the food provided by Petros was delicious. We got so many compliments from our guests.

DISCUSS YOUR ATTIRES, COLORS AND WEDDING THEMES.

We went for a coastal Mediterranean look. Since it was fall, we wanted to incorporate warmer tones. The bridesmaids’ dresses had three different colors: taupe, terracotta and desert rose. The groomsmen wore dark grey suits with brown oxford shoes.

For my dress, I chose an elegant, off-the-shoulder style, with added button details on the back. My veil was cathedral length with an embroidered leaf pattern. My necklace was made from my grandmother’s 25th anniversary ring. My husband wore a custom ivory tux with a bowtie and patent black shoes.

The florals from PacWest Blooms complemented these looks perfectly, with blush and orange blooms, and varieties of greens, along with some dried vine wood for the table centerpieces. It turned out gorgeous! Suzie and team helped us build a design that allowed us reuse many of the ceremony flowers for the reception, which was great to help stay within our budget.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON WHAT CAKE AND FOOD YOU WERE GOING TO SERVE? DID YOUR GUESTS ENJOY YOUR CHOICES?

During the cocktail hour, we had passed hors d’oeuvres that included two varieties of bruschetta and truffle, honey and Gruyere grilled cheese triangles that were to die for. We did their “Victoria” family-style dinner in the courtyard – the short rib was our favorite! We brought in a personal cake from Crushcakes for cutting, and smaller cupcakes, or Bundtinis, from Nothing Bundt Cakes for the guests. All of the food and dessert were huge hits with our guests! 10/10!

DID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CHANGE HOW YOU PLANNED YOUR WEDDING OR INFLUENCE THE DATE YOU CHOSE?

When we got engaged in June 2021, we knew we would need to push out the date for later in 2022 in the hopes Covid-19 and the accompanying mandates would not impact our wedding. We had some safety protocols in place, but for the most part it felt like a pre-pandemic wedding.

HOW DID YOU INCORPORATE YOUR OWN PERSONALITIES INTO THE WEDDING DAY?

The coming together of both sides of our families and friends, and their support, made us feel so loved. Our personalities really came through in their toasts during the reception.

WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART FOR YOU IN PLANNING A WEDDING? WERE THERE ANY HICCUPS? IF SO, WHAT WERE THEY, AND HOW COULD THEY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?

Near the end of planning for the wedding, we got a little fatigued, but once we got to the actual wedding weekend, everything went so smoothly! We can’t think of anything that went awry, at least to our knowledge. Having a stellar vendor team and the support of friends and family helped prevent any hiccups. It was our best day!

ADVICE FOR COUPLES PLANNING A WEDDING?

It can feel overwhelming where to start. Prioritizing will help with this. Start by choosing a date and location where to have the ceremony and reception. This will help guide all the other decisions. Having a wedding planner or coordinator is a must! We are so grateful to our coordinator, Toby and her team. They were vital to helping us plan and making sure the day went smoothly.

THE MAGIC MAKERS…

Wedding planner or coordinator: Toby Theule

Cake/Dessert: Cake (Crushcakes); Bundtinis (Nothing Bundt Cakes)

Photographer: Amber Jean Photography

Videographer: Peter and Bridgette Videography

Invitations, Signage: Jamie Goodwin, bride

Ceremony: Santa Barbara Courthouse

Reception: Villa & Vine

Caterer: Petros/Villa & Vine

Hair and Makeup: Cheek to Cheek Artistry

Dress Drop: Mary Me Bridal

Tux: Enzo’s Custom

Flowers: PacWest Blooms

Music: Tony Ybarra Entertainment, DJ Darla Bea

Officiant: Sirague Krizwold

Rentals: Bright Event Rentals, Dreams America Linens, Open Air Photo Booth

Honeymoon: French Polynesia (Moorea, Bora Bora and Taha’a)

Travel Agent: Tahiti.com

Rehearsal Dinner Location: Shalhoob’s Funk Zone Patio

Other: Arthur Murray Dance Studio

Other: Kimpton Canary Hotel (accommodations, ready room, and first look)

Kelsey Whittaker Connor Bitzer)

JUNE 4, 2022

NOTES ON THE DAY…

IS THERE A MOMENT FROM YOUR WEDDING THAT STANDS OUT?

Walking into the empty venue before any guests arrived and seeing everything I was anticipating come to life was so incredible to see! Of course, having my mom, Anne, walk me down the aisle and seeing Connor’s reaction was absolutely priceless. I know this is up for debate, but the traditional first look down the aisle (instead of a pre ceremony first look) is so worth it.

The reception was also so, so fun for us all. My sister – my maid of honor – performed a beautiful hula, that basically brought everyone to tears. It was so special!

Ending the night on the dance floor having a big, giant party with all of our closest friends and family was definitely a highlight as well!

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR CEREMONY AND RECEPTION VENUES?

It was a really easy choice for us! I grew up here in the Santa Barbara area and knew about Elings Park and knew how beautiful and simple it was. We went and checked it out one day and booked it a few days after! Connor was sold from the minute we walked up there, too. We had the ceremony on the grass field overlooking Santa Barbara, and the reception out on the deck under the stars!

DISCUSS YOUR ATTIRES, COLORS AND WEDDING THEMES.

The theme of the wedding was very classy and simple. My bridesmaids wore a sort of rust orange, very simple, flattering dress. Connor was in all black, and the groomsmen were in all black with a white shirt under. I wore one dress the whole night. Very simple and form fitting. Low back, with pearls down the entire back.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON WHAT CAKE AND FOOD YOU WERE GOING TO SERVE? DID YOUR GUESTS ENJOY YOUR CHOICES?

We decided on a small cake to cut and then cupcakes for guests. We went this route because realistically not many people eat the actual cake, and cupcakes were easy and bite sized. Some people even ate them out on the dance floor! For food we had tacos and apps by El Zarape. Raul is a family friend and my sister actually had Zarape cater her wedding, so we knew we wanted something so delicious! Who doesn’t love tacos?

THE MAGIC MAKERS…

Wedding planner or coordinator: Crowned Events

Cake/Dessert: Sunny Dawn (Sunnysdlights)

Photographer: Gin & July

Videographer: SoHi Productions

Invitations, signage Invitations: Zazzle Signage

One of my best friends designed and printed the signs for me!

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Elings Park

Caterer: El Zarape

Makeup: Rose Jones

Hair: Caitlyn Damron

Dress Shop: Revolve

Dress Tailoring: Maria at Design Studio MZ

Tux: Panoyan Tailoring

Flowers: PacWest Blooms

Music: Jerry Rodriguez

Officiant: Jon Woodcock

Rentals: Amigo Party Rentals

Honeymoon: Italy

Rehearsal Dinner Location: Arnoldi’s Cafe

DID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CHANGE HOW YOU PLANNED YOUR WEDDING OR INFLUENCE THE DATE YOU CHOSE?

Covid wasn’t really a factor for our wedding! We kind of had it at the perfect time!

HOW DID YOU INCORPORATE YOUR OWN PERSONALITIES INTO THE WEDDING DAY?

We wanted to make sure the music was fun and lively since that’s the kind of music we love. We love spicy, delicious food, so we made sure to have our favorite salsa at everyone’s tables. All the decor was very neutral and simple which we also loved. We really kept the day simple and were able to enjoy the day with all of our favorite people!

WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART FOR YOU IN PLANNING A WEDDING? WERE THERE ANY HICCUPS? IF SO, WHAT WERE THEY, AND HOW COULD THEY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?

Surprisingly we didn’t run into many hiccups. I don’t feel that any part was particularly difficult – we just had a lot of fun with it!

ANY ADVICE FOR COUPLES PLANNING A WEDDING?

Definitely start planning early. I got most of the really important stuff out of the way early, that way we could enjoy the process and not be too stressed. I think a good way to look at it is act like you’re planning a big party! You want everybody – includ

ing you and the groom – to just have the best, most fun day with everyone you love!

Taylor Stanley Justin Fitzgerald)

FEBRUARY 5, 2022

NOTES ON THE DAY…

IS THERE A MOMENT FROM YOUR WEDDING THAT STANDS OUT?

Walking down the aisle was the moment that was most significant to both my husband and myself. The tradition of not seeing each other until the actual ceremony really heightens the excitement and surprise. It might seem old fashioned, but we loved it.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR CEREMONY AND RECEPTION VENUES?

We had both our ceremony and reception at the same place. It saves so much hassle and confusion that way. My very close family friends have a house at the beach at Rincon. I grew up at this house and it holds so many beautiful memories. It was a no-brainer when they offered it for our wedding. So, it was a blend of childhood memories, family closeness and the beauty of nature.

DISCUSS YOUR ATTIRES, COLORS AND WEDDING THEMES.

We only had two people in the wedding party: my maid of honor and best man. My maid of honor’s dress color was a long, light pink dress. I wanted this because the color scheme for the wedding was dark and wintery, so I wanted her in a lighter color. The best man was in a dark grey suit. Our colors were dark red, white, pink and green. A wintery theme.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON WHAT CAKE AND FOOD YOU WERE GOING TO SERVE? DID YOUR GUESTS ENJOY YOUR CHOICES?

For food, we knew our party guests were all foodies! We decided on BBQ and a buffet. We went with Beans BBQ and they were amazing! They brought their own Santa Maria style grill and cooked all the meat right there on location. The guests really enjoyed that. I think the biggest excitement was our dessert buffet we had. We ordered 100 single mini cakes from Renaud’s. All different styles and flavors. That was the best decision.

HOW DID YOU INCORPORATE YOUR OWN PERSONALITIES INTO THE WEDDING DAY?

We put our personalities into all of the wedding. For instance, I really wanted both of my parents to walk me down the aisle, veering from the traditional father walk down the aisle.

Another example is that we are both pretty laid-back people and wanted this to feel like a big fun family party. For our dress rehearsal the night before, we decided to have a party for every guest to join instead of just the immediate family. We had a small guest list, so the party could last two days, and this way all of the family members could meet and mingle so the wedding was more about enjoying and less about formality. Weddings go by so fast, and we wanted to make sure we spent plenty of time with everyone who came to celebrate us.

WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART FOR YOU IN PLANNING A WEDDING? WERE THERE ANY HICCUPS? IF SO, WHAT WERE THEY, AND HOW COULD THEY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?

The most difficult part in planning our wedding was planning the wedding of our dreams, but also staying within budget. We had a small, intimate wedding and wanted to make a beautiful wedding feel without all the dollar signs. Honestly, to prevent it, we would have done the courthouse, but we did our best with how we planned, and we loved it. Wouldn’t have done anything different.

Our wedding planners were amazing in helping us stay on budget and they made our dreams a reality for sure. We are very grateful for Suzie and Brian from PacWest Blooms.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR COUPLES PLANNING A WEDDING?

The advice we have for couples planning a wedding is to do what you want to do, not what everyone else is telling you. This is your day, and it only lasts a few hours – make it count and make it just the way you want. Also, during the wedding, take a moment with your partner off to the side to look around and see what you did, and see all the people who came to celebrate your love. It’s a beautiful quiet moment for just the two of you to really be present together on your day.

THE MAGIC MAKERS…

Wedding planner: PacWest Blooms

• Dessert: Renaud's Bakery

Photographer: LA Exposures (Jeremy Fraser)

• Invitations: Shutterfly

Ceremony & Reception: Rincon Beach (family home)

Caterer: Beans BBQ

Makeup: Rose Jones

• Hair: Amari Salon (Krysta Biancone)

• Dress Drop: LuLus

Flowers: PacWest Blooms

Officiant: Michelle Fulton (Aunt)

Honeymoon: Belize

• Tux: Men’s Warehouse

• Music: Gregorio Guerro

• Rentals: Amigos party rental

• Rehearsal dinner: Esau's Cafe

Wedding location: Donlon Family house