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This Santa Barbara Vineyard Wedding Featured a Mix of Earthy Textures

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This Santa Barbara Vineyard Wedding Featured a Mix of Earthy Textures

By Jillian Kramer

May 02, 2019

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Natalie Bray

The stunning Santa Ynez Mountains served as the backdrop for this couple's classic nuptials in California.

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Credit: Natalie Bray

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.

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The Invitations

Credit: Natalie Bray

Classic Wedding Invitations for Traditional Brides and Grooms

The couple's invitation suite included olive branches, a nod to Sunstone Winery's on-site olive trees. (Olive leaves also made their way into the groomsmen's boutonnières.)

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Fashionable Couple

Credit: Natalie Bray

Bridgett's custom Anomalie wedding dress featured head-to-toe lace and a subtle sweetheart neckline. Ian donned a custom navy tuxedo and black bow tie.

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Matching Robes

Credit: Natalie Bray

Bridesmaids' Robes for Your Girls to Wear While Getting Ready

Bridgett and her bridesmaids wore matching robes on the morning of the wedding.

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The Bouquet

Credit: Natalie Bray

Bridgett's bouquet featured a variety of roses in peach, yellow, and cream hues—accented with olive leaves, of course.

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Bride's Accessories

Credit: Natalie Bray

Bridgett wore Aquazurra shoes with a gathered ankle strap and topaz studs—her something blue—for accessories.

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The Veil

Credit: Natalie Bray

How to Match a Vintage Veil to a New Wedding Dress

The bride completed her bridal look with her mother's veil. It's "circa 1982," she says, making it her something old and borrowed.

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Special Accessories

Credit: Natalie Bray

Ian wore a family heirloom of his own—looking dapper in his traditional tuxedo, he also wore his grandfather's cuff links.

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Wedding Party

Credit: Natalie Bray

The couple asked 15 people to join their bridal party—seven women and eight men. Bridesmaids wore slate gray chiffon dresses by Weddington Way, while groomsmen donned classic black-and-white tuxedos from The Black Tux.

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Bridesmaids' Bouquets

Credit: Natalie Bray

Bridesmaid Bouquets Your Girls Will Love

Bridesmaids carried smaller versions of the bride's bouquet—clusters of pastel colored roses with olive leaves and seeded eucalyptus.

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First Look

Credit: Natalie Bray

Bridgett and Ian opted for a first look. "Everyone said this day would go by fast," Bridgett says. "In that instant, we wanted to press pause on our life. It was surreal to share a private calm moment where we could reflect and just be together."

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Ceremony Site

Credit: Natalie Bray

The couple set up their outdoor ceremony beneath a giant oak tree; the Santa Ynez mountains served as a picture-perfect backdrop for their vows.

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Flower Girls

Credit: Natalie Bray

Flower girls wore white Janie and Jack dresses and olive-leaf crowns on their heads.

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Sweet Song

Credit: Natalie Bray

Bridgett's father walked her down the aisle to "How Will I Know" by Sam Smith.

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The Recessional

Credit: Natalie Bray

Everything You Need to Know About Picking Recessional Music

The couple asked Ian's childhood friend to serve as their officiant. After they sealed their vows with a kiss, they recessed to "Sing a Song" by Earth Wind and Fire.

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Cocktail Hour

Credit: Natalie Bray

Signature "his" and "hers" drinks were offered during cocktail hour, including a spicy margarita for him and a cucumber and gin "Roosevelt's Cup" for her. The bride's drink was named for her father, who "makes the most amazing signature cocktail," Bridgett says.

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Small Bites

Credit: Natalie Bray

The couple offered their guests a selection of small bites during the cocktail hour, including "a hand-made mozzarella station and churro bar," says Bridgett.

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Outdoor Seating

Credit: Natalie Bray

Wedding Lounge Ideas Your Guests Can Cozy Up To

Guests could enjoyed drinks and snacks at outdoor lounges, comprised of modern wooden and woven furniture set up on the winery's grounds.

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Non-Alcoholic Offerings

Credit: Natalie Bray

Lemon and cucumber water was offered alongside other non-alcoholic beverages.

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Seating Chart

Credit: Natalie Bray

Guests found their seat assignments on large scrolls of paper displayed in front of an outdoor fireplace.

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The Reception

Credit: Natalie Bray

50 Tips for Planning Your Wedding Reception

The couple held their reception outdoors; tables were placed beneath bistro lights. "The villa offered a layout that was conducive to all the aspects of our wedding day—from the ceremony, to the cocktail hour, to the reception," Bridgett says of the party's seamless organization.

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The Décor

Credit: Natalie Bray

Long wooden tables were decorated with low centerpieces comprised of roses and greenery. At each place setting, guests found a sprig of olive leaves.

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The Toasts

Credit: Natalie Bray

The Four Types of Toasts You'll Hear at Every Wedding

Both Bridgett and Ian say that the highlight of their wedding was listening to the toasts. "Hearing the wisdom offered from both sets of our parents was unforgettable," Bridgett says. "Our friends who have known us since we really began to know ourselves gave great toasts and shared solicited and unsolicited memories of us growing up. We loved every minute of it!"

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The Music

Credit: Natalie Bray

"Ian was passionate about the music, and he lined up a fantastic band, The Walk-Ons," Bridgett says. The band kept guests on the dance floor all night long.

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The Cake

Credit: Natalie Bray

Helena Wirth Cakes created a three-tiered confection made from layers of vanilla and marble cake with strawberry and vanilla mousse and buttercream icing.

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The First Dance

Credit: Natalie Bray

Unique First Dance Songs No One Will See Coming

Bridgett and Ian shared their first dance to Leon Bridge's "Homecoming."

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Sources

Credit: Natalie Bray

Photography, Natalie Bray
Location, Sunstone Winery
Event Planning, Design, and Flowers, Tyler Speier
Graphic Artist, Lotus & Ash
Catering, Omni Catering
Videography, Natalie Bray
Officiant, Jordan Schultz
Cake, Helena Wirth Cakes
Music, Music By Bonnie, Elan Artists
Rentals, The Tent Merchant, Elan Event Rentals, La Tavola Linens
Bride's gown, Anomalie
Bride's shoes, Aquazurra
Hair and makeup, Style Me Kristi
Bridesmaids' dresses, Weddington Way
Flower girl dresses, Janie and Jack
Menswear, The Black Tux
Lighting, Bella Vista Designs
Transportation, Santa Barbara Airbus, EOS
Photo Booth, Witty Booth
Restrooms, The Water Cottage
Security, D.A.D Protectio Services

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This Santa Barbara Vineyard Wedding Featured a Mix of Earthy Textures

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The Invitations

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Fashionable Couple

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Matching Robes

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The Bouquet

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Bride's Accessories

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The Veil

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Special Accessories

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Wedding Party

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Bridesmaids' Bouquets

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First Look

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Ceremony Site

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Flower Girls

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Sweet Song

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The Recessional

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Cocktail Hour

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Small Bites

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Outdoor Seating

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Non-Alcoholic Offerings

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Seating Chart

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The Reception

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The Décor

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The Toasts

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The Music

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The Cake

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The First Dance

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