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)