Coastal View New 2019 Wedding Guide

Coastal View News 2019

Wedding Guide

Photo by: tessa tadlock PhotograPhy (loPez Wedding)

B2  Thursday, February 14, 2019

Coastal View News • Carpinteria, California

Katie & Julian Lopez

Nov. 2, 2017

Katie’s notes on the day Is there a moment from your wedding that stands out from all the others?

Our reception! My father married us. He got ordained for our wedding and wrote the ceremony script. We wanted the ceremony to be a celebration and a unique, fun and exciting part of the day—not stiff, slow and boring, as some ceremonies can be. As Julian walked into the ceremony and towards the alter, everyone started cheering and yelli ng, and that high energy continued throughout the ceremony. It was just as I had hoped, a celebration and our favorite part of the day.

What did your guests say was their favorite facet of the event?

So many people said our ceremony was also their favorite part. But the food and signature drinks also seemed to be crowd favorites. We had tortillas being made from scratch on the spot, churros being made fresh for dessert, and spicy guava margaritas.

My family made Kalua-pig, a Hawaiian-style dish, and we offered Kalua pork tacos, as well as pollo and arrachera.

We also had one of our favorite bands play, One-Two-Tree; and that was very special.

Did your wedding include special details that reflected your individual personalities?

The decorations, food, music and style were all us. We wanted to have a combination of the two of us. It was kind of a Hawaiian/Mexican/Bohemian mix that came together so perfectly.

What was most stressful leading up to the wedding? How did you cope with that stress?

I think the most stressful thing had to be the planning and coordinating with the vendors. We didn’t have a wedding planner or coordinator, just a day-of coordinator and a team of people we hired for set up and break down. We didn’t know if it was all going to come together as we planned since we wouldn’t be there to help set up, but we just had to step back and cross our fingers.

Did you have to put out fires during the event? Looking back, could those have been prevented?

Apparently, the band was too loud, and the venue coordinator came up complaining. My dad talked to her and agreed to turn the speakers around, so they faced in the opposite direction and the day-of coordinator had to hold a sound decibel monitor to make sure it wasn’t too loud. We had no idea this even occurred until the next day.

We also had not reali zed that there were no li ghts set up by our bar and churro stand, but we managed, and it was actually nice because it deterred guests from hanging out at the bar instead of the dance floor.

Why did you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they work well with your vision?

Our number one requirement was a place where we could have both the ceremony and reception, so our guests didn’t have to travel from one to the other, but we also didn’t want to be looking at the reception area while getting married. Godric Grove at Eli ngs park was perfect. It has three separate areas within the area. There is a theatre type area where we had the ceremony, a large wooden deck area where we had the cocktail hour, and a large grass area for the reception. Plus, they have private parking, bathrooms and beautiful views. We met in Santa Barbara in 2007, and spent a lot of time on the mesa, so it was special to us as well.

What part of the meal did people enjoy most? Was there anything on the menu that you would skip if you had a redo?

We had tacos, shrimp and cheese-stuffed chilies, rice, beans and salad plus appetizers.

My only regret is not eating more. The fresh tortillas and the Kalua pig made for the tastiest tacos and that seemed to be the crowd favorite.

Plus, the hot churros.

Weddings can end up feeling like they’re for the guests instead of the bride and groom. What did you do to ensure that the day was wonderful for you?

We did our first-looks and got most of our photos out of the way before we went to the venue. We feel this was key to us enjoying every minute of the wedding and not missing the fun while off taking a milli on photos. It also gave us a private time to connect before the ceremony and took away a lot of those nerves of seeing each other for the first time.

We completely stuck to ourselves and planned everything for a party that we wanted to be at.

We used palm leaf plates and wooden utensils and cups made from recycled plastic.

We didn’t want to bother with anything we felt was unnecessary like glass wear and fancy plates.

What is your top piece of advice for couples planning a wedding?

Stay true to what makes you unique as a couple. Don’t be persuaded by others, stick to what you envisioned and don’t over think it. When you see something you like, go with it. We also highly recommend doing a first-look and pre-wedding photos.

This was something we debated, but wedding photos take a long time and you don’t want to miss your wedding or have your guests waiting for you during those lengthy wedding photoshoots. Get to celebrating!

It’s all in the details…

Ca k e m a k e r : Fernando’s Churros and Nothing Bundt Cakes

t ux: men’s wearhouse Custom suit

P h oto g ra P h y: tessa tadlock Photography

F Low e rs: sophie morales

I N v Itat I o N s: ericka Lopez (mother of the groom)

m us I C : one-two-tree (Live Band) and music by Bonnie (DJ)

C e r e m o N y & r e C e Pt I o N v e N u e : godric grove, elings Park santa Barbara

o F F I C I a N t: Bride’s Father, Paul thompson

Cat e r e r

( m ai n c o u rs e) :

Cat e r e r

(a p p et i z e rs) :

ramon Flores Los agaves

J e w e L e r : george thompson h a I r : Brianna stewart-olcese and tracy Johnson m a k e u P: Brianna stewart-olcese D r e s s s h o P: grace Loves Lace australia

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B4  Thursday, February 14, 2019

Coastal View News • Carpinteria, California

Deborah & Travis Greene

Sept. 21, 2018

Deborah’s notes on the day Is there a moment from your wedding that stands out from all the others?

When Travis and I did our first-look. It was so special and emotional, mostly joyful though. A time I’ll treasure, as it was a moment we had to ourselves before the ceremony and reception.

What did your guests say was their favorite facet of the event?

Our guests said they enjoyed all of it, but especially the dessert and the father-daughter dance.

Did your wedding include special details that reflected your individual personalities?

One of my favorite details from our wedding was the picture frame table numbers. I saved those frames for years wondering what I would do with them and it seemed fitting because I’m a photographer to include them in a creative way. It was fun and I think added a special touch. Also, Travis made programs that gave a good layout for our ceremony.

What was most stressful leading up to the wedding? How did you cope with that stress?

Pretty much all the planning! I’m a wedding photographer not a wedding planner and I reali zed that my gift is in doing my specific part. But my family and Travis’ family and friends had a huge hand in helping my vision come together. And it felt more like our vision in the end which is special to me that our big day incorporated more than just what I wanted.

Did you have to put out fires during the event? Looking back, could those have been prevented?

Nope! But from what I heard my planner and dad did. Honestly, I’d have it no other way because I trust those two a lot.

Why did you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they work well with your vision?

We chose them because they were close to family, a beautiful option, as well as the most affordable for our area. The Lions Club was where we had both the ceremony and reception and I could not have imagined a more beautiful place for our big day.

What part of the meal did people enjoy most? Was there anything on the menu that you would skip if you had a redo?

People liked the main course and our desserts. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Weddings can end up feeling like they’re for the guests instead of the bride and groom.

What did you do to ensure that the day was wonderful for you?

I wanted our guests to feel loved and thought of. They are the ones who supported our relationship, gave us gifts and cheered us on. For us, seeing the guests having a good time was really special to us. But the ceremony did seem like a good way for us to be celebrated as well and to give God the glory for bringing us together.

What is your top piece of advice for couples planning a wedding?

Don’t invest more in the wedding than your relationship! In my opinion, loans or debt aren’t necessary to have a dream wedding. My wedding was more than I could have imagined and we do not have to worry about paying anything off. Your wedding day is important but the relationship that’s being celebrated deserves way more attention and energy.

It’s all in the details…

W e D D I N G C O O r D I N ATO r : Valerie Tejada CA k e M A k e rS: Tim Goulart, Mira Goulart P H OTO G rA P H Y: Captivated Studio V I D e O G rA P H e r : rachel Artime I N V ITAT I O N S: Travis Greene C e r e M O N Y & r e C e PT I O N V e N u e : Lions Club Park, Carpinteria CAT e r e r : Stanton’s Gourmet Catering H A I r : Tabitha Doherty M A k e u P: Marina Claunch D r e S S S H O P: Grandma’s Closet T ux: Travis’ F LOW e rS: PacWest Blooms M uS I C : Nikki, Sierra, Garrett (DJ NexGen) O F F I C I A N T: Beau L I G H T I N G & D é C O r r e N TA L S: PacWest Blooms H O N e Y M O O N : Greece r e H e A rSA L D I N N e r : Matt & Marie Greene

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B6  Thursday, February 14, 2019

Coastal View News • Carpinteria, California

emily & mark rogers

apr il 21, 2018

It’s all in the details…

W e d d I n g P l a n n e r : Via louise events Ca k e m a k e r : Crushcakes P h oto g ra P h y: ryan morris Photography I n V Itat I o n s: sofia sayer of sofiainvations.com (via esty) C e r e m o n y & r e C e Pt I o n V e n u e : santa Barbara Woman’s Club rockwood Cat e r e r Cat e r e r

(a p p et i z e rs) :

( m ai n c o u rs e) :

dJs California Catering

autostrada Wood Fired Pizza (now Bettina)

J e W e l e r : 33 Jewels in santa Barbara (his and her ring) h a I r : Beauty Crew 805 (Blair) m a k e u P: melinda tully and Beauty Crew 805 d r e s s s h o P: Watters, from nordstrom Bridal t ux: men’s Warehouse, Custom suit F loW e rs: PacWest Blooms m us I C : dJ hecktik o F F I C I a n t: Bestfriend of the Bride l I g h t I n g & d ra P e ry: Bella Vista design e V e n t r e n ta l s: Ventura rentals h o n e y m o o n : greece and london r e h e a rsa l d I n n e r : Convivo h a I r C u ts Fo r g r o o m s m e n : the Barber shop sB

Emily’s notes on the day Is there a moment from your wedding that stands out from all the others?

Emily: Walking down the aisle, seeing all of my favorite people smiling. And then seeing my handsome groom at the end of the aisle waiting for me with an even bigger smile.

Mark: Catching a glimpse of my new wife during our post ceremony reception on the dance floor and just feeling truly and ridiculously happy knowing that she is MY wife and that I get to spend the rest of my life with her.

What did your guests say was their favorite facet of the event?

The food, décor, the photobooth and our wedding games (branded giant Jenga and corn hole).

Did your wedding include special details that reflected your individual personalities?

Yes, in a few different ways: The theme for our wedding was an “Ode to the Central Coast.” After such a devastating and tragic time that our community faced in early 2018 with the fires and mudslide, we wanted to do our part to honor this amazing area. We hand-selected all of our vendors and our venue to highlight our local community and also celebrate where we fell in love (in both Carpinteria and Santa Barbara) which embodies who we are as a couple.

To reflect Emily’s personality, we made sure to select an awesome food- and beverage- filled menu with little surprises around each corner. Since she is a professional in the food industry, we wanted to make sure her passion was reflected throughout our wedding and to keep everyone well-fed.

To reflect Mark’s personality, we gave out a few “surprise and deli ght” gifts to our guests, one being an antique vintage key (with a tag that said “your key to a good night”) which was a beer opener that unlocked the self-serve beer station. On each dinner table we placed flasks filled with Captain Morgan Rum and a card featuring a recipe for a “Frank” cocktail, and the story of Frank which is Mark’s silly yet-fun alter-ego.

What was most stressful leading up to the wedding? How did you cope with that stress?

Juggling wedding plans with working full time was a lot, especially when wedding planning feels like a full-time job. But wine seems to help, ha ha ha.

Did you have to put out fires during the event? Looking back, could those have been prevented?

Thank god we didn’t have to put out any fires, or deal with any more natural disasters.

We went through enough of that earlier in the year! We were lucky, the only hiccup we had during the big day was that the catering company forgot a full rack of our special hand-blown wine glasses for the dinner tables, but no one really noticed, and the catering company gave us a full refund plus a little more for the hassle.

Why did you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they work well with your vision?

We wanted a local location that had both indoor and outdoor space and that was a nice backdrop of Santa Barbara. We loved that Rockwood was centrally located and was able to accommodate up to 200 guests comfortably.

What part of the meal did people enjoy most? Was there anything on the menu that you would skip if you had a redo?

The pre-dinner Happy Hour reception was a big highli ght. We featured woodfired pizzas from Autostrada Pizza (now under new name Bettina in Montecito). The pizzas were amazing, and they put together the most adorable set-up with a portable pizza oven.

Our guests also loved our dessert bar by Crushcakes. We opted to not have a traditional wedding cake, but did a small cake surrounded by individual whimsical desserts like cupcakes, mini pies, cake pops, macarons, cookies, etc.

Weddings can end up feeling like they’re for the guests instead of the bride and groom. What did you do to ensure that the day was wonderful for you?

We decided not to have a wedding party. We have both been in several weddings and just wanted our friends to enjoy the day. Instead, we had Mark’s kids stand up during the ceremony with us to signify us becoming a family.

Additionally, we gave each other little surprises throughout the wedding day. Mark sent flowers and left a little note with wine in the bride room. Emily put a love note in his pocket and left a fun gift with socks (in case of cold feet). We also made sure to share a few quiet alone moments throughout the reception to steal a kiss or two, and just to relish in everything that was happening around us, and to see everyone who came to support us through this journey.

What is your top piece of advice for couples planning a wedding?

Keep it fun and simple. Don’t overcomplicate the details. Focus on each other through the process and don’t lose sight of why you are planning this fête!

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B8  Thursday, February 14, 2019

Ashley & Payton Smith

Coastal View News • Carpinteria, California

July 21, 2018

Ashley’s notes on the day Is there a moment from your wedding that stands out from all the others?

If we were to choose one moment from the day we both agree it would be our first- look. When we started the wedding planning process we both wanted to do a first look but we didn’t realize how important it was until the wedding day. Having a moment between the two of us before the ceremony and without the chaos of planning and everyone else around was invaluable. Our photographers were there to capture the moment and it is absolutely one of our most cherished memories from our wedding day.

Pac West Blooms WEDDING & EVENT PLANNING FLORAL & DECOR H O L I DAY & S P E C I A L O C CA S I O N

What did your guests say was their favorite facet of the event?

All of the feedback we received from our guests after the wedding was consistent on two things: everyone loved the photographers and how the wedding was a reflection of our personali ties.

Did your wedding include special details that reflected your individual personalities?

We included a number of personalized details, from the bride designing the table centerpieces, to the groom and groomsmen building an arbor for the ceremony area.

We both agreed from the onset of planning that our wedding should reflect who we are and adding personalized details and aspects of our individual personali ties was a great way to do that.

What was most stressful leading up to the wedding? How did you cope with that stress?

The most stressful thing leading up to the wedding was the wedding itself! If we were to break that down to something more specific we would say finali zing decisions and last- minute details. There are so many options in the wedding industry so deciding the right direction to go and what is most important for you is crucial.

Did you have to put out fires during the event? Looking back, could those have been prevented?

There were a few last-minute fires that popped up the morning of the wedding.

Looking back, a few of them could have been prevented but they were nothing major.

You have to realize that there are things that are not going to go as planned, and that is OK. The biggest thing we learned was to concentrate on the day, the friends and family that were around us and what we were celebrating.

Why did you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they work well with your vision?

We chose our venue because we wanted the ceremony and reception to be at the same location. We also wanted a venue that offered an outdoor rustic setting that we could transform into exactly what we wanted it to look like. Our venue gave us both of those things and more which allowed us to bring about the vision we wanted.

805.886.2798 pacwestblooms.com

pacwestbloomsevents@gmail.com

What part of the meal did people enjoy most? Was there anything on the menu that you would skip if you had a redo?

We think the aspect of the meal that our guests most enjoyed was that it was a classic representation of Santa Barbara. Hard to go wrong with tacos!

Weddings can end up feeling like they’re for the guests instead of the bride and groom. What did you do to ensure that the day was wonderful for you?

Our wedding was a representation of who we are and our friends, family and vendors helped us to plan and enjoy a day where we could all celebrate together. Yes, the day was about celebrating our wedding and our marriage but that was about celebrating with our friends and family. We made the day wonderful by prioritizing what we wanted and celebrating with those closest to us.

What is your top piece of advice for couples planning a wedding?

Make sure you plan the wedding that you want, not the wedding everyone else wants you to have. Hire a wedding coordinator to assist in planning and make sure that you can focus on yourselves the day of. Finally, prioritize your photography. This was such a crucial aspect for us as your wedding photos will last forever and having a photographer that makes you, the wedding party and your guests feel comfortable is completely invaluable.

You supply the vision.

We’ll take care of the details.

It’s all in the details…

C O O r D I n ATO r : Toby Theule, the Santa Barbara Wedding Coordinator P H OTO g rA P H e r : James & Jess Photography O F F I C I A n T: Scott DuPar CAT e r I n g : Santa Barbara Food Connection L I g H T I n g : AMS entertainment TA B L e & C H A I r r e n TA L S: Ventura Party rentals F LO rA L S: Christina Welch Floral TO L Ie T r e n TA L S: Marbog Industries CA K e : Jeannine’s H A I r & M A K e u P: Andrea Mae Beauty DJ : DJ Hecktik I n ST r u M e n TA L M uS I C : Susan gentry trio VA L e T: Blue Star D r e S S: The Dress I n V ITAT I O n S: Zazzle M e n ’ S S u ITS: Men’s Warehouse and Suit Supply

8O5-969-3221

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B10  Thursday, February 14, 2019

Myriah & John Jimenez

Coastal View News • Carpinteria, California

Sept. 28, 2018

myriah’s notes on the day

Is there a moment from your wedding that stands out from all the others? myriah’s father Joe gave a touching speech that ended with gifting a quilt to us made by myriah’s great grandmother Jessie, who was affectionately called “Sunshine.” the quilt was started many years prior in preparation for myriah’s wedding day. upon Sunshine’s passing, the quilt was completed by myriah’s cousin and aunt. the gifting of the quilt at the wedding and the thought of her grandmother making the quilt meant so much to myriah because she was so close with her great grandmother.

What did your guests say was their favorite facet of the event? everyone was complementing the wedding as a whole. they enjoyed the reception the most, dancing to great music provided by our dJ. did your wedding include special details that reflected your individual personalities? yes. We are easy-going people, so we tried to style our wedding in a manner that would be genuine to our nature, but also provide an elegant feel to the day. We didn’t have anything over-the-top but still had everything we could have ever wanted with the overall details.

What was most stressful leading up to the wedding? how did you cope with that stress? the most stressful part leading up to the wedding was making sure we had all the vendors secured and up-to-date with everything we wanted. our amazing wedding planner Suzie Schneider was beyond helpful in making sure we had everyone and everything that we wanted which we were more than grateful for. did you have to put out fires during the event? looking back, could those have been prevented? everything was going smoothly up until cocktail hour, we did open seating with a couple tables reserved for family and the wedding party. Some of our guests didn’t see the reserved signs, so our wedding planner had to rearrange the tables around to make sure our families were close to us.

Why did you choose your ceremony and reception venues? did they work well with your vision?

We chose our reception venue first because we fell in love with the idea of having a wedding weekend with our closest friends and family. We stayed in a private section of the venue with 19 cottages and spent the weekend celebrating our new chapter with our loved ones. We wanted our ceremony site to be really simple, private and intimate. our wedding planner found the perfect spot for that which was a park that was not too far from the reception venue.

What part of the meal did people enjoy most? Was there anything on the menu that you would skip if you had a redo? the shrimp cocktail was a hit and Stanley’s famous tri tip was right on point. there is not a single thing we would have skipped on our menu, everything was so delicious and just what we wanted.

Weddings can end up feeling like they’re for the guests instead of the bride and groom. What did you do to ensure that the day was wonderful for you?

When the planning started, we thought about our guests more then we should have but we kept reminding ourselves that this day was our day and we wanted it to be the way we envisioned. We knew that if we planned it the way we wanted it, our guests would enjoy it no matter what.

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CelebraTe by The beaCh…

What is your top piece of advice for couples planning a wedding? take your time when planning, pick and choose the things that are most important to you first. hiring a wedding planner like ours saved so much time and stress that we got to enjoy the process of planning. People say the day goes by fast and it really does, be in the moment and enjoy all that you can because it truly is one of the best days of your li fe.

It’s all in the details…

W e d d I n g P l a n n e r : Suzie Schneider of PacWest Blooms Ca k e m a k e r : Sweet d’s Creations P h oto g ra P h y: Jessica maher Photography V I d e o g ra P h e r : mountain View Films I n V Itat I o n S: etsy C e r e m o n y V e n u e : riverview Park, Buellton r e C e Pt I o n V e n u e : Flying Flags resort, Buellton Cat e r e r : Stanley macias Catering J e W e l e r : Zales h a I r : Bree Wilcox and Jessica Carillo m a k e u P: Shanie Crosby d r e S S S h o P: love and lace bridal and tailor t ux: men’s Warehouse F loW e rS: PacWest Blooms m uS I C : dJ hecktik o F F I C I a n t: Brandon Stokley l I g h t I n g & d é C o r r e n ta l S PacWest Blooms e V e n t r e n ta l S: Fisher Family rental and PacWest Blooms h o n e y m o o n : kona and molokai, hawaii r e h e a rSa l d I n n e r : taco man express h a I r C u tS Fo r g r o o m S m e n : devon hilderbrand Barbers

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B12  Thursday, February 14, 2019

Coastal View News • Carpinteria, California

Cristina & Zach Gazzaniga May 27, 2018

It’s all in the details…

C o o r d I n ato r : toby theule, the Santa Barbara Wedding Coordinator F loW e rS: Kaleidoscope Flowers Cat e r I n G: Via Maestra 42 ta B l e S, e tC : the tent Merchant H a r p ISt

(C e re m o ny) :

Valerie Saint Martin

l at I n Ba n d: SitaraSon p H oto G ra p H y: Juan pinnel V I d e o G ra p H e r : By design Films to I l e tS: Marborg t ra n S p o rtat I o n : rockstar limos C e r e M o n y S o u n d: Bonnie Hope H a I r & M a K e - u p: Brianna Stuart and Studio Beauty o F F I C I a n t: tim novick Ba K e ry: Jeannine’s I n V Itat I o n S: Minted C e r e M o n y /r e C e pt I o n V e n u e : Groom’s family home B r I da l G oW n : Carolina Herrera M e n ’ S S u ItS: Suit Supply r e H e a rSa l d I n n e r : Barbareno

Cristina’s notes on the day

Is there a moment from your wedding that stands out from all the others?

We loved our entire wedding. Our first dance was particularly fun because all of the guests stood around us as we salsa danced for them. We had taken lessons leading up to our wedding and were excited to show off our moves. Everyone was clapping and cheering and it kicked off a wonderful night of Latin music and dancing.

What did your guests say was their favorite facet of the event?

The fact that it was very intimate and everyone got to know each other. The band was also a hit.

Did your wedding include special details that reflected your individual personalities?

Yes. Instead of table numbers, we had a designer we found through Etsy draw illustrations of some of our favorite things and important elements of our li fe (a fork with pasta, a coffee cup with biscotti, a rowboat).

What was most stressful leading up to the wedding? How did you cope with that stress?

The weather! Memorial Day weekend in Carpinteria usually means great weather is guaranteed. Last year, the week leading up to the wedding was cold, rainy and cloudy.

We didn’t have a fantastic back up plan in case of rain, but luckily we had spectacular weather.

Did you have to put out fires during the event? Looking back, could those have been prevented?

We personally did not have to but are assured that Toby did! We had an issue with the transportation company—the van couldn’t make its way up the driveway, and the driver meant to pick up the bride got lost. In the end, the guests had to walk half way up the driveway and the bride’s father drove her (and him) to the ceremony.

Why did you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they work well with your vision?

We were married at our parents’ house—it is a very special place to us and a fantastic venue for the type of wedding we wanted.

What part of the meal did people enjoy most? Was there anything on the menu that you would skip if you had a redo?

We wouldn’t skip anything. The truffle ravioli was a hit.

Weddings can end up feeling like they’re for the guests instead of the bride and groom. What did you do to ensure that the day was wonderful for you?

We had a very small wedding—41 people. It was wonderful for us to spend so much time with our family and friends and for all of them to get to know each other.

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Linden Ave. @ 9th St. • Downtown Carpinteria

What is your top piece of advice for couples planning a wedding?

If there are multiple people involved in the planning (parents, sibli ngs, etc.), choose the two to three things that are most important to you (the food? the band?) and be open about the rest. On the actual day, the little details you were stressed about won’t even be on your mind!

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 (beer and wine acceptable). High beam ceilings, french doors, hardwood floor, and adjacent patio sets the stage for lasting memories.

B14  Thursday, February 14, 2019

Coastal View News • Carpinteria, California

Vanessa & Ryan Morice

Oct. 14, 2018

It’s all in the details…

W e d d I n g P l a n n e R : Vanessa Morice (the bride) with family and Rena Vankirk W e d d I n g day C O O R d I n atO R : Melissa norman Ca k e M a k e R : liz Calhoon P h OtO g Ra P h y: Crystal hall of Crystal June Photography I n V Itat I O n s: the bride C e R e M O n y V e n u e : Family friend’s residence R e C e Pt I O n V e n u e : Carpinteria Woman’s Club Cat e R e R Cat e R e R

(s i d e s) :

( M ai n c o u rs e) :

laura Pettit of Fosters Freeze

Fabian Rodriguez, Patty srock and tallie Morice

Cat e R e R

(a p p et i z e rs) :

spencer Makenzies

h a I R : Marisol Martinez M a k e u P: karissa torres d R e s s s h O P: schaffer’s bridal F lOW e Rs: stephanie nyman and Julia Oliver M us I C : dJ hecktik O F F I C I at e : John Palminteri d e C O Rat I O n s: sarah schagel and natasha Bueno R e h e a Rsa l d I n n e R : Borrello’s h a I R C u ts FO R g R O O M s M e n : Cheryl Morice h Ot e l aC C O M M O dat I O n s: Michael ensign of the holiday Inn W e d d I n g day t Ra n s P O Rtat I O n : Jump on the school Bus ga M e s a n d e n t e Rta I n M e n t B u I l t By: Bill srock FaVO Rs d e s I g n e d By: samantha Rodriguez and lle Phillips

Vanessa’s notes on the day Is there a moment from your wedding that stands out from all the others?

Vanessa: Walking out onto the balcony to walk down the aisle. For the first time everything was calm, and it was just me. I got to see my soon-to-be-husband along with my closest friends and family all together. At that moment, all the hard work and months of planning came together. For those few seconds, it was a moment to take in what this day was really about, sharing the moment when we start our li fe together as husband and wife with all of the people that we love.

Ryan: After the ceremony, all of our guests loaded the bus for the reception and for the first time it was just me and my new wife for our wedding photos. I picked her up and carried her onto the beach and it all became real, just the two of us starting our life together.

What did your guests say was their favorite facet of the event?

The location was a big one. The setting was perfect with our bridesmaids’ blue dresses blowing in the wind and the perfect beach weather. The bridesmaids loved spotting Mr. Kutcher and getting a special wave from him as he passed by while we were all getting ready, which was so kind of him. The wedding parties all loved the bus service.

It was such a fun part of the day and added a little extra to the drive. The vows and father-daughter dances were a favorite with the parents.

Did your wedding include special details that reflected your individual personalities?

Vanessa: It was really important to us that each piece of our special day had a personal touch to it. From those that we care deeply about, to those that are no longer with us, each section of our day was selected to symboli ze a special meaning to our family members.

Ryan: Being able to have it on the beach was the most meaningful to me; the ocean is my favorite place.

What was most stressful leading up to the wedding? How did you cope with that stress?

Being able to coordinate such a large wedding party as well as the last-minute details that couldn’t be done early was stressful but when things got hectic our family and friends jumped right in to help make sure everything was perfect.

Did you have to put out fires during the event? Looking back, could those have been prevented?

Vanessa: Nothing major, just minor things, but we had a wonderful support team of family and friends that made sure they were there to correct anything that went wrong as it happened.

Ryan: Having someone assigned to help the groomsmen coordinate the morning of would have helped.

Why did you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they work well with your vision?

A dear family friend graciously allowed our ceremony to take place at her home providing the best location we could have ever dreamed of, a secluded beach in the most beautiful part of town.

What part of the meal did people enjoy most? Was there anything on the menu that you would skip if you had a redo?

The food was all amazing. We did some catered along with some home cooked by our family. It was the perfect combination to incorporate different tastes, from oysters to tacos, it was all delicious.

ChristinaWelch Floral

Blossom with us at your wedding

Weddings can end up feeling like they’re for the guests instead of the bride and groom. What did you do to ensure that the day was wonderful for you?

Vanessa: This was the biggest piece of advice we received from our friends, that the day gets away from you and before you know it it’s over, and they were right. Luckily, we made sure we planned a set timeframe in between the ceremony and reception.

When all of the guests left for the reception, we stayed behind and had time just for us. We were able to do our wedding photos in a calm and relaxing setting with just us and our photographer. We were able to have some time to let it sink in before taking the bus to the reception.

Ryan: I made sure I didn’t get too nervous during vows and I was able to say “yes.”

What is your top piece of advice for couples planning a wedding?

Vanessa: Definitely taking time to step back and enjoy the day with your new spouse, it goes by so quickly. Don’t get caught up in what everyone else wants. Everyone will have an opinion but making it special for you and your spouse is what it’s all about.

The best part of our day was that it was special to us, with our family we did almost everything ourselves making it that much more meaningful.

Ryan: Do the rehearsal as many times as possible, at least three runs.

christinawelchfloral.com 805.451.1327

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