“We wanted to make sure that all our family felt as loved and included as we have our whole lives. We did as much as possible together all weekend so that the family felt that it was their big day just as much as we did.”
The energy is simply different at an intimate wedding. While nerves always abound at any wedding, small weddings allow for more time and less stress. From the moment I arrived at Julia’s Canary Hotel room for getting ready photos, I knew the day would be relaxed [Edit–I actually knew the day would be relaxed not only from my first conversation with Julia, but also from their engagement session]. Hair & makeup was running on time, Julia and her mom and sister were putting some last minute touches together nonchalantly, and everyone was calm (though, I will admit, Julia had a few cute bouts of jitters). The couple even snuck in some alone time before the day officially began! From Julia:
“The best and most unique part of our day was how simple and relaxed the whole day felt. Ryan and I had a big breakfast with just the two of us before the whole day began. It was a nice way to begin an amazing adventure by being able to laugh and have a few moments to ourselves before becoming husband and wife.”
Some of the wedding details, including the pink wedding dress, shoes, and ring.
Ryan+Julia were able to intertwine traditional and non-traditional aspects in their choices of attire, jewelry and florals…From Julia:
“Everything we did was not always traditional. I didn’t wear white, my husband didn’t wear a tux and it was perfect and true to our personalities. My dress looked like it came from the 1930’s and Ryan wore a three piece suit. We love the idea of honoring the past that we all come from. To do that, I wore my Great Grandma’s bracelet that she, my Grandmother and my Mom wore on their wedding days, my Grandma’s wedding ring, Morganite earrings that matched my engagement ring and my beautiful sapphire necklace that Ryan had given me just before the ceremony. I wore flowers in my hair as a nod to my inner hippie and Ryan had a boutonniere to match!”
This may be one of the best gifts I’ve seen given on a wedding day from one partner to the other…
“My wedding gift to Ryan was a journal that I had started after we had gotten engaged. I would write letters and reasons I wanted to marry Ryan in that journal up until the day before we got married. I had thankfully kept it hidden away for almost a year and he was completely surprised! I wrapped it in a wooden box with a bottle of our favorite bourbon to celebrate!”
Julia+Ryan’s First Look at the Santa Barbara Courthouse was filled with joy and tears of happiness.
Ryan’s gift to Julia–a sapphire diamond necklace.
The two fell perfectly into place in each other’s arms–no guidance necessary!
When I asked Julia why the two chose the Santa Barbara Courthouse for their wedding, she said:
“Ryan and I wanted to do a small and intimate wedding with just our immediate family and best friends. We wanted to make sure that our ceremony felt the most like us, so we decided on getting married at the beautiful courthouse in Santa Barbara. Everyone in our family calls us ‘old souls’ so we knew that having our wedding at a place that has an old fashioned feel would suit us.”
The two tied the knot at the Courthouse’s Fiesta Stage.
Officially Mr. & Mrs.!
Julia+Ryan with their guests after the wedding ceremony.Julia’s flower comb was a lovely and beautiful floral touch.
Next we took photos of the Newlyweds around the Courthouse.
The wedding rings…
We ventured into La Arcada for some night-time wedding photos.
We walked on over to Jane Restaurant for the couple’s wedding reception, and captured cool night-time shots of the two along the way. Thanks, Granada Theater for featuring their wedding date! 😉
“We are most looking forward to never ending adventures as a married couple. We will never stop exploring, dreaming and creating an adventurous life together!”
Congratulations, Julia+Ryan! While your adventure together started many years ago, I know you two have many more adventures and travels coming your way!
Wedding Professionals:
Getting Ready Location: Canary Hotel
Wedding Ceremony Venue: Santa Barbara Courthouse
Reception Venue: Jane Restaurant
Photographer: Karen D Photography
Hair & Makeup: Unveiled Makeup and Hair
Hair-piece florals & boutonnieres: Riley’s Flowers
