A Southwestern-Inspired Wedding Weekend in Goleta, California

The Welcome Party

The weekend's festivities kicked off with an oceanfront welcome party at Dos Pueblos Ranch

beach. Wooden tables called up memories of summer picnics, while centerpieces filled with vibrant orange mokara orchids and peach anthurium from

Studio Fiore

added pops of tropical color. Beyond the picnic tables, custom wooden flooring helped create two lounge areas where guests relaxed on leather sofas by the water.

Drink Up

Plastic cups printed with the phrase "Uno mas, por favor" tied into the orange color palette; white napkins were dressed up with a cheeky print that read "Adios, beaches."

Fun in the Sun

Nadine and Michael both consider the welcome party one of their favorite parts of the weekend. "It really let our family have fun," says Michael. Nadine liked the relaxed atmosphere and smaller guest list. "Beach day was intimate and truly a fun, laid back adventure," she says.

Stage Presence

Reggae music from Wheeland Brothers gave the beach party an island-inspired vibe; Nadine and Michael even joined the band on stage for part of the festivities.

Free for All

A lineup of amenities for the guests included turquoise and orange towels, sunscreen, beach balls, mini fans, tanning lotion, lip balm, sunglasses, and magazines. Along with a full bar and buffet that included lobster tacos and a salsa station, the party offered jet skiing, kayaking, and surfing—plus cornhole and Jenga.

A Festive Rehearsal

Later, about 100 guests joined the bridal party at the rehearsal dinner. The couple chose a "rustic Southwestern" theme for the event, serving a family style dinner that included enchiladas, flats, taquitos, and jalapeño cornbread. They set up tables on a tall bluff overlooking the ocean, seating guests at farm tables dressed with turquoise linens and low floral arrangements in terra cotta pots. Matte black plates, light green napkins, leather napkin rings, and amber goblets from Cherished Rentals

created a casual but elegant al fresco place setting.

Jean Sequence

Nadine, Michael, and the bridal party wore custom Levi's jackets for the rehearsal dinner; guests were also encouraged to wear their favorite denim.

You're Invited

The paper suite, designed by Meldeen Ink, incorporated a graphic woodland design on the save-the-date and envelope liner, an embossed leather invitation for the rehearsal dinner (which reminded guests to join the couple at the welcome party), and a reply card that allowed guests to indicate which events they'd be attending. "The color palette was inspired by a local Mexican restaurant," says Nadine. "We wanted to keep the colors for the wedding more muted and Spanish-inspired."

All Dressed Up

Nadine chose her Pallas Couture

dress in nearly record time. "I am very set in my decisions," she says, "and it took me maybe half an hour to decide on my dress." But by the time the dress came in, she had another change to accommodate: A baby bump. "I purchased my dress not pregnant, and then luckily I could still fit in it!" During the reception, she traded her gown for a "stretchy"

Katie May

gown. Michael donned a blue

Ted Baker

suit for the occasion, which contrasted with the bright flowers to create a richer color scheme.

A Bursting Bouquet

For her bouquet, Nadine chose an oversized combination of pink and peach blooms, including peonies, garden roses, poppies, bougainvillea, and berries by Studio Fiore.

Outdoor Cathedral

For their ceremony spot, Nadine and Michael chose a group of trees known as the Avatar on the Dos Pueblos Ranch property. Three cathedral structures from Jake Duke Studio

created a stunning backdrop for their vows. Bright pink bougainvillea covered the structures, while pink and red flowers and greenery overflowed from an arrangement of terra cotta pots, raised gold planters, and ceramic planters.

Shake It Up

A copper wire basket filled with white maracas greeted guests at the entrance to the ceremony. Each maraca had the word "besos"—Spanish for "kiss"—printed on it; guests used them to make some noise as the couple shared their first kiss as husband and wife.

Mother and Daughter

Nadine's mother walked her down the aisle to "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias. The couple's team at Jake Duke Studios built and installed the aisle using wooden planks covered with Spanish-inspired tile, surrounding it with a mixture of wooden pews and chairs for seating. Floral arrangements lined the path that led to the custom altar.

A Family Affair

Nadine and Michael chose a non-denominational ceremony, officiated by their friend Stephen Friddle, and exchanged vows they wrote to each other and their baby. The service also included a unity ceremony centered around a gardenia, which they both watered to symbolize the joining of their lives together.

Hello, Love

While Nadine and Michael posed for portraits after the ceremony, guests went directly to the cocktail hour in the on-site barn. Violinist Josh Vietti

, who had performed during the ceremony, provided background music while guests nibbled on gazpacho shooters, almond-stuffed dates, and local rockfish ceviche from

Duo Catering and Events

.

Inside, Out

The couple and their planners designed a reception space on a hill at the ranch, building an outdoor room lined with wooden colonnades draped with white chiffon that was, at points, 25 feet off the ground. The entire space—which included a mixture of round and rectangular tables, two bars, and two seamless white dance floors—was grounded by a plush white carpet.

Stars in Their Eyes

More than a dozen copper star-shaped Mexican chandeliers hung above the head table, casting a soft glow over the couple and their bridal party throughout the night.

Copper and Crystal

Gleaming place settings from Casa de Perrin

and

Cherished Rentals

paired copper chargers, flatware, and candleholders with crisp white linen, lace coverings, and crystal stemware. Meldeen Ink designed the menus, which featured copper color printing on acrylic by

Raw Decals and Designs

.

Sweet Stuff

Guests chose from cake flavors that included vanilla bean, coconut, lemon sour cream, carrot, and chocolate almond cherry. The three cakes provided by The Butter End

were decorated with copper-colored designs, including the couple's wedding logo on the largest.

A Token of Thanks

As favors, each guest took home a white alabaster box with a detailed cut-out on the lid. Inside: Two handmade cookies from Sweet and Saucy

, who also provided treats for the reception's dessert table.

The Morning After

The next morning, guests joined the bride and groom for brunch at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

. Plenty of lounge seating provided space for tired party-goers to relax with a Bloody Mary, while a neutral color palette of peach, aqua, and pale coral tones created a soothing atmosphere.

One Last Picture

Nadine, Michael, and their friends and family stopped to pose for one last picture in front of a custom photo backdrop set up at the brunch. The cactus background was accented with a bright pink decal that read "I woke up like this." "This was just a fun photo opportunity for our guests who maybe had a little too much fun the night before," says Nadine.

Sources

Photography, Valorie Darling
Location, Dos Pueblos Ranch
Event planning, Jake Duke Studios
Catering, Duo Catering and Events
Flowers, Studio Fiore
Videography, Miguel Garcia Studios
Officiant, Stephen Friddle
Stationery, Meldeen Ink
Calligraphy, Jake Duke Studios
Cake, The Butter End
Music, Josh Vietti (ceremony and cocktail hour); Non Stop (reception)
Rentals, Jake Duke Studios; Town & Country (equipment)
Bride's gown, Pallas Couture
Bride's shoes, Gianvinto Rossi
Hair and Makeup, Dreamcatcher Artistry; Kolor by Kelly
Bridesmaids' dresses, Katie May
Flower Girl dresses, Amazon
Groom's suit and accessories, Ted Baker
Menswear, Ted Baker
Audio/Visuals and lighting, Showtec
Desserts, Sweet and Saucy
Draping, Amber Event Production
Laser Cut Sign, Established 98
Linen, La Tavola
Photo Booth, Splendid Studio
Restrooms, Luxury Flush
Tabletop Rentals, Casa de Perrin; Cherished Rentals
Vinyl Decals, Signs, and Menus, Raw Decals and Designs