From the Bride… Living in California, Itai and I always found Santa Barbara to be our getaway oasis. When we got engaged, we instantly knew Santa Barbra was the only place for our wedding. We had fallen in love with the Belmond El Encanto for its enchanting and picturesque setting that is truly out of a fairytale. We knew we wanted the celebration to be fun and festive, and it was important for us to show our guests how special each one of them is to us. I love details, and planning all the special touches that made our wedding truly “ours” excited me. From the welcome bags printed with a map of Santa Barbara and filled with our favorite snacks, to socks made especially for the groom, his dad, and my dad, to guest books commemorating our wedding locale and honeymoon, to my stunning, bright pink bouquet wrapped in my grandmother’s handkerchief, to monogrammed MWI napkins representing my Southern background, and to party favors created from Itai’s mom’s artwork, I relished in making every detail memorable – for us and our friends and family. When I first sat down with Danae Pearce, with Danae Grace Events, my wedding planner, she instantly understood my style and dream design. We really wanted to create something that complimented the El Encanto and its gorgeous ceremony site, including a wisteria-lined lily pond and brick courtyard. Our inspiration became “a timeless, elegant, romantic affair with breathtaking details” full of florals and pops of color. The color palette for the ceremony was blush with pops of pastel tones as it reminded me of spring and romance. For the ballroom reception, we transitioned to bright, vibrant colors accented by greenery and gold tones. Danae was able to capture our inspiration in every fashion. On the day of the wedding, as my dad and I approached the bridge covered with rose petals built over the pond to serve as our aisle, I looked into Itai’s eyes and my heart was full. A bridge covered with rose petals was built over the pond and served as our aisle. The sun shone; it was 75 degrees; gorgeous flowers in shades of blush and pink surrounded us in all directions; and we could feel the love and support as we said our vows in front of those who mean the most to us. After the ceremony we all moved into the ballroom for dinner and dancing. When I walked into the reception, I had never seen prettier, more vibrant florals in my life – Camellia Floral Design had created a floral extravaganza. Our loved ones feted us with memorable toasts, and then the dancing began and went late into the night. The entire evening was everything Itai and I had hoped it would be – elegant, jubilant, and great fun! It was the perfect way to start our forever after. Thank you to Michelle Beller, Artisan Productions, and Eventpaintingbyagnes for capturing the beauty, fun, and love for us to remember and cherish for many years to come!
