“I looked at her and knew that I was the luckiest guy on the planet and never wanted to be without her.”
Danelle and Steve eloped on a perfect fall day in Santa Barbara. We celebrated their union at the iconic Santa Barbara Courthouse, enjoyed some beautiful rays of sunshine in Montecito, and watched the sun set on the beach. This Santa Barbara elopement was perfectly planned for a relaxed day, and these two were just bursting with love. 
We began at the Courthouse with the ceremony for Steve and Danelle’s Santa Barbara elopement.
I asked the two why they decided on these locations for their Santa Barbara elopement…
“When Steve proposed we knew we wanted to get started on our future together. We didn’t want to skip a wedding but we also wanted to focus on house, family, and travel. There were lots of ideas of destinations around the world, as we wanted to feel like we were on an adventure that we happened to get married on. Then came the exciting news of our little family starting in the new year! We landed on a close location of California, and decided to elope just us two and enjoy a relaxing babymoon. Santa Barbara has such a magical feel to it with the charm and architecture, and the relaxing leisurely vibe was much appreciated. While we wanted to elope we still wanted the elements of joining the institution of marriage. The courthouse was the perfect venue to feel the commitment and it’s stunning architecture made for amazing photos.”From Danelle…
“In keeping with the relaxing boho feel, our wedding items were made by independent artisans. I had my dress made by a local dressmaker in Calgary. When I was a child my mom made flower girl dresses, and the pastime of shopping for beautiful lace and fabrics at her favorite fabric shop was relived once again as we sorted through bolts of lace. It added such a special sentiment to the dress to have her so involved in the process. Our wedding bands were made by a jewelry designer in Brooklyn, NY that I found on Etsy. The ring Steve proposed with is incredibly special, as it was my late grandmother’s. I love heirloom jewelry and giving special pieces like that a new chapter. My favourite Etsy find was our florist, White Lily Lane. I can’t say enough about how amazing the flowers look and the service was amazing! Plus I love that I get to keep them in our home to enjoy for years to come! The special added touch was the mini flower crown tucked in the box with a little note, as we had just found out that week we are expecting a little girl! These details just made our day so special, and sharing in the excitement of our day with these artisans felt so personal.”
So how did Danelle know Steve was The One?
“I knew Steve was my person when we first went skiing/snowboarding together, because he was up for going anywhere on that mountain with me (no matter how crazy the terrain). I found my partner that would go on any adventure with me, and that includes the one life puts in our path. His patience and sincerity constantly amaze me, and I feel like I grow as a person each day I’m with him.”How did Steve propose?
“The engagement proposal was tons of fun to plan out. Danelle had been away in California for a week, so I had a bit of time to prepare and think of how I was going to pop the question. I ended up being able to surprise her when she came home, by taking her to a condo resort on the mountain side at Panorama, for 5 days of skiing and relaxation. I wasn’t sure going up there when exactly I was going to ask; after fireworks? On the chairlift? Turned out that while we were standing on the patio of our ‘ski out’ resort, the moment seemed perfect. There was nobody around, and everything was peaceful. I looked at her and knew that I was the luckiest guy on the planet and never wanted to be without her. After the proposal, I put the ring on her finger and I immediately felt different. More mature, more confident, and proud to have her by my side!”
Other than the great temperature for the day, we got really lucky with the perfect rays of sunshine coming through the trees at this Santa Barbara elopement.“We love that the day completely fell into place with only the sunlight to chase as our timeline. The photos were so much fun, and thankfully we had excellent direction! The locations were all so different, as we wanted to capture the variety of Santa Barbara. It’s impossible to pick a favorite as the courthouse carries the sentiment of our ceremony, then there was the magical enchanted forest, and the beach was an iconic California evening. It really was so perfect.” So what’s in store for the couple next?
From Danelle…”With this kind of beginning I can’t wait to see the adventures ahead. It was so nice to come back to our new home, and prepare for our little baby girl to arrive. I can’t wait to see Steve as a dad, because he’s already such an amazing partner. I’m so glad we soaked in the moments during our day and trip, as the pictures take us back whenever we see them. “And from Steve…
“Looking ahead we have so much to be excited for! A new house, and a baby on the way is just the beginning of this amazing adventure we’re on. I look forward to the ups and the downs of life and being able to share the experiences and overcome the obstacles with an amazing partner. It will be so interesting to watch our little girl grow through the years and see what kind of a person she will become. I hope time doesn’t go by too fast, I will have to remember to always cherish the moments as they pass by, and hope that tomorrow is just as amazing as today.
I can already tell Danelle will be an amazing mom, she is so kind hearted and Is great with people and animals alike. Kids I suppose will be a combination of the two. Whether it be traveling the world together and living through one adventure after another, or becoming the dorky parents that join book clubs and fantasy football leagues, there is no other person that I would want to share these experiences with.”Congratulations, Steve and Danelle! So many exciting things to celebrate and I am so happy I was able to capture these moments for you!
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Wedding Professionals:
Ceremony Venue: Santa Barbara Courthouse
Photographer: Karen D Photography
Florals: White Lily Lane
Wedding Gown: Leah Bazian
