Santa Barbara Wedding Chic

There are SO many amazing photographers in the world – how do you find the one that’s perfect for you?  Well, not only do you need to blog-stalk them, see images from a full wedding, and find out all of the details about the specific packages that they offer, but you also want to ask these questions:

So there you have it, from start to finish… a week full of wedding recaps. My favorite thing about all these photos, three months later, is thinking that our wedding could be no one else’s. That’s my own personal measure of success. For what it’s worth, here are a few tidbits we learned along the way:

So I may have lied a tiny bit in my last post…yes I WAS rushing to book our venue…but long before that search began I had one of our vendors pretty much decided on…our photographer.

In an effort to take you through my planning process, I will attempt to narrate in the order in which things actually occurred.  After getting engaged and determining that the wedding would take place in Atlanta, we knew we had to start by choosing the ceremony and reception locations.  Neither Ryan nor I was currently a member of any church, but we knew that we wanted a Catholic ceremony.  Therefore we did what other lazy couples do on Saturday night – map out the closest Catholic church!  And the first church in our search, amazingly enough, was the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Hey everyone!  I am honored and excited to be guest blogging this week for Elizabeth Anne Designs.  After finding this website more than a year ago, EAD has been a fantastic resource and incredible inspiration to me as I moved through the engagement process.  And as I have watched it grow over the past year, I am happy to say that it continues to inspire me as I adjust to married life!

Hello, sorry about the gap in posting last week. I was away skiing in France. It was great to be on my hols and have a break but it did mean I couldn’t post as there was no internet and I ran out of time during the week before we left…

I have to admit that choosing a wedding photographer was one of the biggest decisions for us.  Photography is important to both Chris and I, and we both wanted beautiful pictures to look back on, but it was a little daunting to find that right person to capture our day.  There seems to be so many photographers out there and unless you have people who can give you recommendations, it can be hard to narrow it down.  A big point with us was price.  We wanted those beautiful pictures you see in magazines and on the blogs, but many of those photographers were just out of our budget.  Searching on the internet and following links from other sites helped me to kind of form a group that I thought were pretty good and were within our budget.  The thing is, though, many of them seemed to be kind of the same – there wasn’t one that really stood out from the group. 

Great food. A killer band. A venue with jaw-dropping scenery. Every couple has a unique set of priorities for their wedding day. But as the planning journey unfolds, it’s easy for those priorities to get lost in the mess of smaller details required to bring your big day together.

Weddings are naturally emotional events, even before factoring in complicated family dynamics. With so much on the line, an overbearing parent or feuding relatives can turn an already high-pressure day into a nightmare. 

Your wedding venue should complement you, your partner, and the big day you’ve dreamed of for so long. Selecting the right location is not an easy decision. But this list of top notch venues and entertainment companies from around the country is sure to help.

Creating your wedding guest list isn’t the most exciting task on the way to the aisle, but it’s one that will define the energy and atmosphere of your big day. After all, weddings are meant to celebrate with friends and family — a few strangers (or worse, drama-causers) can spoil the experience for you and your loved ones.

So you’re planning a wedding- how exciting! But, as the initial buzz starts to calm, you might be wondering what to do next. One of the first decisions an engaged couple must make is the length of their engagement. While short and long engagements each have their pros and cons, it’s a choice that will influence your wedding date, planning timeline, and vendor availability.

Like other couples in the midst of wedding planning right now, you’re likely running to the altar after a long year (or more!) of waiting. The downside is that many of the long-awaited trends for 2020 never quite had their time to shine, and some of the tried-and-true traditions that were in the works are now on the way out. 

The wedding industry is chockfull of trends and fads. Just take a scroll through Pinterest and you’ll see all manners of color palettes, floral arrangements, décor elements, and other design themes that are oh-so-lovely, but not quite so timeless. 

You said yes — congrats! Now that you’re rocking that sparkly stunner on your finger, you might be wondering: what next? Planning a wedding is a multifaceted process that takes time and energy to pull off. Don’t worry, though! You’ll be backed up by a team full of professionals ready to turn your dreams into a reality. 

Our hearts are aflutter for the beautiful documentary photography by Carey MacArthur. At its heart, photography is about preserving memories, and this is what Carey does so well. Her powerful images are able to transport you into the moment, capturing the story as it unfolds. Carey makes a genuine connection with her couples and brings a wedding to life by documenting the day with the same care and compassion that two people have for one another. From capturing the small, personal details to celebrating the important moments, Carey’s documentary photography style insures that each part of the day is recorded with elegance and simplicity. Carey is based in Brooklyn, NY, but travels the world making images of couples in love. Visit her EAD Vendor Guide portfolio and Instagram to view more of her gorgeous work!

If you are a bride-to-be getting married in 2016 and have been dreaming about finding a fine art film photographer to capture every single moment and detail to perfection, then you are in luck because the ever so lovely and talented Brittany Lauren Photography is giving away free wedding photography to one lucky EAD reader!

South Carolina’s River Oaks Charleston was the perfect backdrop for this gorgeous bridal story captured by Exquisitrie by Kelly Sauer. Though set in the Lowcountry, the shoot evokes the romance and history of Europe, with the Old World textures of River Oaks and magical Ivy gown from Saint Isabel Bridal. Bridal portraits always seem to tell the story of “waiting” – preparing dreams of the wedding day, holding bated breath, settling in to begin the story of married life – and this feeling is perfectly encapsulated in the stunning images directed by Kelly Sauer Ltd. Co. We are positively smitten!

It’s been a year since Christian and Susie wed, and on a rainy Utah afternoon they gathered together with Mariel Hannah for a romantic anniversary shoot, creating beautiful memories to celebrate their first year together. Flower Afternoon created perfectly styled blooms for this magical set of images—we are swooning over the lush marigold, pale coral, crimson, and green bouquet. Kali Chris styled Susie with the most lovely sideswept updo and soft makeup. We’re so in love with the love these two share as captured by Mariel Hannah!

Pardon us while we gush a bit about the exquisite talent that is Jessica of Jessica D’Onofrio Photography. Jessica’s images are full of light and love and the way she captures emotion is pure and natural. Every photographer has a specific style all their own, and we’d describe Jessica’s as feminine and timeless. There’s a sweet simplicity in her fine art photography that captures romance in an authentic way. Jessica is based in Southern California, but travels wherever your wedding takes her! Visit her website, blog, and vendor portfolio to see more of her gorgeous images!