Tucked away in a courtyard surrounded by arbors and brick lined paths, Allison and Jamie celebrated their new beginning with a California wedding on the grounds of Belmond El Encanto. They created an evening of “understated elegance,” as the bride described their wedding style, and we love how the details came together. Sticking with a neutral color palette of white and silver with pops of pretty greenery, they added hints of a rustic style mixed with elegant touches that felt oh-so-perfect.

For their design, we absolutely love their escort cards that were shaped as little paper airplanes with instructions for guests to “find their destination” as they made their way to the tables. Such a cute idea that, as you’ll hear from Allison, has roots in their story. Then as guests entered into the reception they were greeted by a mix of farm tables from Amigo Party Rentals, and round tables with linens from La Tavola Fine Linen with a white and silver sheen reminiscent of a marble texture. This mix of styles added the perfect balance of rustic elegance and complimented the beautiful florals created by Twisted Twig Fine Florals.

Every detail came together in an exceptional way, and Colleen from CAKE Event Company helped pull together the final pieces that made their day so special. Marianne Wilson Photography caught hidden kisses and loving glances, and we love that we get to experience those moments through these images. We hope you enjoy Allison and Jamie’s day as much as we did, and don’t forget to check out the little details that Allison shared regarding their special day!

From the Allison, the bride:

“The best way to sum up our vision for our wedding day was “understated elegance”. I think our reception venue, the Belmond El Encanto, perfectly embodied that. We knew we didn’t want a venue that was either too lavish, or too rustic, and the beautiful and natural landscaping and architecture at the El Encanto provided the perfect amount of elegance that aligns so well with Santa Barbara’s own organic beauty. The hotel’s location really speaks to the uniqueness of Santa Barbara, because it’s housed high up in the hills but also provides an awe-inspiring view of the ocean. We also felt that the mix of Colonial and Spanish bungalows perfectly reflected our different East and West Coast upbringings.”

“As for the ceremony, I grew up Catholic, and so I immediately knew I wanted to marry Jamie at the Santa Barbara Mission. It felt so special to say our vows in the historic church for which the city was named and founded around! The mission itself is undeniably beautiful, but it also has an amazing view of the ocean as you walk out the front doors. Taking in the gorgeous view, hand in hand, while the mission bells rang after we were married made for the most incredible start to our life together.”

We also knew we wanted our wedding day to feel classic and timeless, but still fun! Our fabulous planning team executed our vision perfectly, and even managed to pepper in some flying-themed details for us without letting them overpower the theme of the day. Aviation has been a really important part of our relationship – we’ve moved around to several different states now due to Jamie’s Air Force position, and we’ve also shared many adventures together in Jamie’s grandfather’s Cessna, which was featured in our Save the Dates. Eventually, Jamie purchased his own little four-seat propeller plane, and our flying adventures have continued. Fun details included paper airplane escort cards, giant Kate Spade balloons inscribed with “Love is in the Air”, and signage that used lyrics from the Frank Sinatra song “Come Fly With Me”. We also wanted to ensure our guests were treated to a wonderful experience throughout the entire day. To keep things exciting, we featured three different locations during the reception, which allowed everyone to really experience the whole property. Our cocktail hour was held on the terrace with expansive ocean views, we had dinner al fresco at their arbor, with tables surrounding the lily pond, and dancing was in their lovely ballroom, which features french doors that opened up to a brick terrace with lounge seating and fire pits. I think having multiple locations really kept the energy up all day long!

We absolutely love Allison and Jamie’s style, and we love how every detail was chosen with such great intention, and it allowed them to highlight such a special part of their love story with travel/flight related details.

In what ways do you plan to incorporate your love story in your wedding day style?

VENDORS WHO MADE IT ALL HAPPEN…

Photographer: Marianne Wilson Photography // Coordinator: CAKE Event Company – Colleen Kaufman // DJ: Matt Commerce // Bridal Gown Shop: Gigi Bridal  // Gown Designer: Pronovias //Groom’s Clothing: The Black Tux // Venue and Catering: Belmond El Encanto // Calligraphy: Southern Scribe – Allie Lloyd // Signage: DeLovely Details // Floral: Twisted Twig Fine Florals // Lighting Design: Ambient Event Design //Linen Rentals: La Tavola Fine Linen // Charger Plates: MTB Event Rentals // Rentals: Amigo Party Rentals // Trolley: Santa Barbara Trolley // Busses: Jump On the School Bus // Hair/Make-Up: Bliss Bridal Beauty // Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka // Bride’s Earrings: Jeweler’s Touch (Yorba Linda, CA) // Bride’s Hair Pins: BHLDN // Engagement Ring and Wedding Bands: Tiffany and Co.