Alice and Alex’s Santa Barbara Elopement
Santa Barbara Intimate Wedding | Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Summit and Sur Photography | Santa Barbara Elopement Photographer
Last year, I met Alice and Alex for the first time when they reached out looking for a Santa Barbara elopement photographer. We hit it off immediately and after learning about their love story (they met in college as pre-med students and Alex just so happened to be from France and Alice was also studying French——swoon!), their vision for the day, and timeframe, I couldn’t have been more excited when they said they wanted to work together! We got to planning immediately, looking for the perfect place in Santa Barbara for them to have their ceremony and enjoy their day.
After lots of researching, planning, and scouting (and a little bit of wild California weather this winter to set us back a bit), the couple decided to do portraits and an apéritif with their guests at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden before heading out to the bluffs for their ceremony at sunset. Alice and Alex also decided to have a day-after session on the beach at sunrise with some stand up paddle boarding…but, I’ll save that for another post!
Vendors:
Alice + Alex’s Airbnb | Montecito Miramar Beach Cottage
Alice’s Dress | Jenny Yoo
Alice’s Shoes | Dolce Vita
Alex’s Suit | Father Sons Clothing
Florals | Mineral Springs Floral
Alice’s HMU | Amy H Makeup
Vow Books | SunnyHomeStudio on Etsy
Rings | Brilliant Earth
Alice’s Earrings | Untamed Petals
Charcuterie + Cheese Boards | Cheese Shop Santa Barbara
Apéritif Venue | Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
When I arrived at the couple’s Airbnb in Montecito, the late morning was giving us a mix of clouds with little bouts of sunshine mixed it but still very promising for a gorgeous day. After rounding up all their details for some photos, I gave the couple some room as they each got ready together, with Alice helping Alex with his bowtie to make sure it was picture perfect! They both looked stunning in their simple, yet classic outfits, with Alice in a gorgeous, silk, Jenny Yoo dress and Alex sporting a spiffy Father Sons suit. After taking in each other’s outfits and soaking it all in, they headed out to their first stop: the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
When we arrived at the botanic garden, we were greeted by some of Alice and Alex’s guests who were getting ready to start setting up for their apértif while we went to do some photos in the garden of just the two of them. After chatting for a few and letting them know where the apértif would be held, we headed into the garden so that Alice could put on Alex’s boutonniere, which, as usual, proved to be an interesting task (I swear, these things are tricky)! A few attempts later, they finally got it right so we went on to take some photos in the field of poppies which was a HUGE draw for the two of them to this location. Luckily for us, all of this year’s rain gave us lots of poppies to dot the field with, making for some truly gorgeous portraits. Once we had explored the garden a bit more, we headed over to the conservation center, where their guests were waiting for them.
Upon arriving for the apértif with their closest family and friends, Alice and Alex made sure to say hello to everyone before they had a group toast and then noshed on some delicious charcuterie while sipping on wine. They all took in the scenery of the garden and the beautiful day that was getting even more gorgeous by the minute. Towards the end of their time in the garden, they took a few minutes to sign their marriage certificate, along with their officiant (Alice’s best friend Kendall), and their mothers as two witnesses. Once that was taken care of, everyone packed up and drove over to the trailhead for their ceremony!
The sun was starting to get lower in the sky as we arrived at the trailhead for the bluffs where Alice and Alex planned to have their ceremony. Their guests hauled a small cooler and glasses on the trek to the spot they picked out, true dedication to champagne, if you ask me! Once we arrived and everyone was situated, the Kendall began the ceremony as Alice and Alex locked eyes and took in this huge moment. Throughout the ceremony, both Alice’s mom and Alex’s dad gave speeches which brought everyone to tears and also fits of laughter. The couple exchanged vows, with Alice saying hers in French, a very sweet tribute to Alex’s home country and a big part of their relationship. After they placed rings on each other’s fingers and said “I do”, they sealed the deal with a kiss and voila…they were officially married!
Following their gorgeous, intimate, ceremony, we made sure to take care of all the family portraits Alice and Alex requested and, of course, some super fun ones of the whole group! Once that was taken care of, everyone toasted the couple with a glass of champagne as we looked out to the ocean and watched the sun get closer and closer to the horizon. I continued to take lots of photos while everyone mingled and slowly started to make their way back to the cars, except for us.
After everyone had left, it was just the three of us and we made sure to get some amazing sunset and blue hour photos with the incredible light we still had left for the evening. Alice and Alex danced, played, and took in every last bit of that sunset before their appetites were calling for us to head back so they could meet their guests for dinner. We walked back together to the trailhead and said our good-byes for the evening and agreed on our meet up time for the sunrise beach session the next day. But again, I am getting ahead of myself!
If you enjoyed Alice and Alex’s intimate wedding day in Santa Barbara, make sure to keep an eye out for their day-after session at the beach!
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