This Santa Barbara Vineyard Wedding Featured a Mix of Earthy Textures

Ian McCormick and Bridgett Miller met in San Francisco just 10 days before Bridgett was scheduled to move to Los Angeles. But they didn't let a second go to waste: They squeezed seven dates into those 10 days. And after Bridgett departed for L.A., it only took the couple a few visits to decide they were willing to make a long-distance relationship work. "Ian moved to L.A. a year later and we've been together ever since," Bridgett explains.

The duo dated for about three years before Ian popped the question, then spent a little more than a year planning their ideal wedding day: A celebration at Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez, California, where their 215 guests could take in the views of the Santa Ynez Mountains. On that day—September 29, 2018—it was just as they had imagined: "[It was] the most magical day filled with love and gratitude," Bridgett recalls.

Using a gray and peach color palette, the couple embraced California fall hues but kept things classic. Planner Tyler Speier helped the couple hone their vision; his ties to other local vendors were a boon to Bridgett and Ian, who now recommend all couples work with a planner. "It was extremely beneficial to team up with a planner who had extensive ties to the Santa Ynez wedding community," Bridgett says, adding that "the nuances and level of detail were certainly something we hadn't anticipated."

It also doesn't hurt to have your partner's help in wedding planning, Bridgett says. "Divide and conquer" is the other piece of advice the bride offers other couples. "Do things that you both enjoy while playing to your strengths," she recommends.