Kelsey and Rick’s El Encanto wedding, designed and executed by Vanessa Noel Events, was simply the prettiest garden party in Santa Barbara!
The couple met in their home state of Illinois, but moved out to California together for Kelsey to study at USC. They enjoyed exploring Los Angeles together and cozied up in their tiny apartment, cooking together and traveling whenever they could.
When the time came to pop the question (eek!), Rick proposed to Kelsey back in Illinois, in his parents’ hometown, over Fourth of July weekend. He had also arranged for Kelsey’s dad to be in town to help them celebrate with Rick’s family; it was such a great surprise when the couple returned to the house after getting engaged.
A perfect El Encanto wedding celebration
When it came to planning their wedding weekend, it was important for Kelsey and Rick that their guests (almost exclusively from out of town) were able to enjoy an extended California vacation. The weekend kicked off with an intimate rehearsal dinner at Loquita, followed by a casual welcome party at Lama Dog Tap Room in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone.
For the wedding itself, Vanessa, with the help of florist Sharon of Knot Just Flowers, brought K+R’s vision for a romantic garden party to life. Natural bentwood chairs at both the ceremony and reception brought a summery lightness to the wedding design. A sweet combination of stripes and gingham in the reception linens was a playful twist. Even the cake by Lele Patisserie was covered in edible flowers!
Fashion + floral design
Kelsey turned to the fabulous bridal boutique LOHO Bride and found the perfect Galvan gown for the big day. Finished with simple but classically elegant pearl drop earrings, Kelsey also opted for another classic when it came to her shoes: Manolo Blahnik. Our beautiful bride’s look was finished with a perfectly petite lily of the valley bouquet (quite obsessed).
Rick looked so dashing in his timeless black suit; they really did make the perfect pair.
The rest of the wedding was drenched in ALL the color to match the couple’s vision for an elegant garden party. Sharon’s whimsical ceremony floral arrangements grounded the altar and back of the aisle, and were so pretty at El Encanto’s lily pond. The bowls of fruit on the ballroom reception tables were an ideal complement to the bright pops of color from the lush centerpieces.
A colorful palette can be so special, and the painterly shades chosen by the couple were a wonderful fit for both their coastal venue and the last vestiges of summer offered by a late September wedding.
It’s official: we LOVE a Santa Barbara garden party.
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If you loved the garden party vibes of this wedding, head over to Sophie and Andrew’s Simpson House Inn celebration!
Planning + design: Vanessa Noel Events
Floral design: Knot Just Flowers
Venue: El Encanto
Rentals: Theoni Collection
Cake: Lele Patisserie
DJ + MC: Party Proper Productions
Hair + makeup: TEAM Hair + Makeup
Wedding dress: Galvan Bridal from LOHO Bride
Menswear: Suit Supply + Tom Ford
Stationery: Karli Strohschein
