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  4. This Upscale California Garden Party Is Proof That a Classic Wedding Can Feel Personal
Martha Stewart Weddings

This Upscale California Garden Party Is Proof That a Classic Wedding Can Feel Personal

By Jillian Kramer July 03, 2019
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katie mike wedding couple holding hands in field
Credit: Jen Huang Photography

The couple made sure their guests felt taken care of—right down to the very last detail.

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katie mike wedding couple holding hands in field
Credit: Jen Huang Photography

Despite their wedding date—August 18, 2018—having multiples of the lucky number eight, Katie and Mike insist they didn't pick it for good fortune. They'd already had that in meeting each other—the date was fortuitously the one that worked with their busy schedules. Luck also didn't have much to do with the wedding itself, held at Kestrel Park in Santa Ynez, California. Rather, the couple's wedding day was what Mike calls an "amazing culmination of a lot of hard work and a beautiful expression of what we hoped it would be—traditional yet deeply personalized; elegant, classic, but authentic; and an incredibly great party."

Choosing an "upscale garden party" as their theme, the couple worked with planner Davia Lee Weddings to create a relaxed, but upscale celebration that showed off the best Southern California has to offer: stunning scenery, incredible food, and, of course, perfect weather. "We wanted the day to have gravitas, but not feel stuffy or unapproachable," explains Katie.

Their color palette of ivory and green kept things classic, and allowed the scenery to shine. And their attention to detail was matched by their commitment to being good hosts to their 175 guests. "I think people really noticed that we put a lot of care and thought into our day and were truly present for our guests," says Katie. "Beyond the talk of décor, we still receive compliments from our guest on how we were 'hosts' at our wedding and that we made sure each person felt our connection to them and our connection to each other. Everyone felt so taken care of."

Watch Katie and Mike's wedding video by T & C Studios.

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Classic Green Invites

katie mike wedding invites green and white
Credit: Jen Huang Photography
The Best Ways to Customize Your Wedding Invitations

Copper Willow Paper Studio created an invitation suite using Mike's favorite color—green—for the invitations' text and envelopes, which were hand-addressed in white ink. "We really loved bringing the dark green color in where we could on the invitations," explains Katie.

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The Great Outdoors

katie mike wedding garden venue
Credit: Jen Huang Photography

Kestrel Park was the perfect venue for the couple, who were determined to help guests traveling from abroad enjoy the outdoors during their event. "I fell head-over-heels in love with the property the moment we first visited," says Katie. "It's just the dreamiest space."

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Ivory Dresses

katie mike wedding bridesmaids in white
Credit: Jen Huang Photography
21 Ways to Wear a Boat Neck Wedding Dress

Katie tried on two different gowns before she decided on her wedding dress. She went home with the second option she'd slipped into—a form-fitting Sareh Nouri number with a bateau neck and subtle trumpet flare. "When I see something I love, I'm certain and confident and ready to move forward," says the bride of her quick choice. "The salesperson was pretty adamant I try a third style, but it was a lost cause."

Katie's bridesmaids joined her in wearing ivory, donning floor-length Lela Rose gowns.

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Dramatic Details

katie mike wedding couple field and mountains
Credit: Jen Huang Photography
70 Wedding Dresses with Bows

Her dress also featured a plunging back and dramatic bow. "It was a fun surprise," Katie says of those details. "It was a little something extra without taking me out of my comfort zone. If I could wear that dress tomorrow I would—and maybe I will!"

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The Dapper Groom

katie mike wedding groom in field
Credit: Jen Huang Photography

Mike worked with Dutch retailer SuitSupply to create a custom midnight-blue tuxedo "with wool from Vitale Barberis Canonico mill, grosgrain silk lapels, and piping," he says. His silver cuff links were a gift from his groomsmen; he wore his grandfather's watch, too.

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A Loose Bouquet

katie mike bride wedding bouquet white flowers
Credit: Jen Huang Photography
A Comprehensive Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes

Camellia Floral Design created Katie's large bouquet from a mixture of gardenias and David Austin roses, two of the bride's favorite flowers. Its hand-gathered look, Katie says, "was a "fun statement against a more classic, fitted dress."

The bridesmaids also carried gardenias.

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Green Boutonnières

katie mike wedding boutonnieres
Credit: Jen Huang Photography

Velvet-tied boutonnières were made from a variety of greens, including ferns; Mike's featured two small ivory roses and sweet-smelling eucalyptus.

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A Sycamore-Lined Ceremony

katie mike wedding ceremony trees and seating
Credit: Jen Huang Photography

The couple held their ceremony in Kestrel Park's Sycamore Alley, a space that—true to its name—is lined with beautiful sycamore trees. Low-to-the-ground floral arrangements at the back and front of the space looked as though they were part the of garden.

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First Look

katie mike wedding ceremony couple
Credit: Jen Huang Photography
Is a First Look Right for You? Consider These Pros and Cons

Katie and Mike saw each other for the first time on their wedding day during the service. "I remember wiping tears out of my eyes. She had a huge smile on her face," Mike recalls.

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Cocktail Hour

katie mike wedding bar with mountain back drop
Credit: Jen Huang Photography

A string quartet played during the couple's cocktail hour, held at the park's Kitchen Garden.

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Escort Card Station

katie mike wedding escort cards in garden
Credit: Jen Huang Photography
Insanely Creative Escort Cards and Seating Displays

Katie and Mike placed two garden carts just outside of their reception space, where guests could find their framed seat assignments. The carts were decorated with potted herbs.

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Under the Tent

katie mike wedding tent with lush greenery
Credit: Jen Huang Photography

Post-cocktail hour, the reception took place under "the coolest sailcloth tent," Katie says, in a space close to the park's arena and horse stables.

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An Extra-Long Head Table

katie mike wedding head table
Credit: Jen Huang Photography
28 Ideas for Sitting Pretty at Your Head Table

The head table sat 30 people—and featured a dramatic greenery backdrop. Edison bulbs and additional greens were hung above the dance floor.

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Squares and Rectangles

katie mike wedding table in tent
Credit: Jen Huang Photography

Guests sat at a mix of square and rectangular tables topped in cream-colored velvet linens.

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Low Centerpieces

katie mike wedding lush green and floral centerpiece
Credit: Jen Huang Photography
21 Compote Centerpieces That'll Upgrade Your Reception Tables

Centerpieces were made from "super lush flowers and greenery," Katie says, and kept low so they didn't feel "overpowering or distracting." Candles also dotted the tabletops.

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On the Menu

katie mike wedding place settings with menus
Credit: Jen Huang Photography

Menu items were hand-written on handmade paper; the notes were placed on top of stone plates. "The plates were the best," says Katie, describing them as "super modern [and] in direct contrast to the ultra-classic feel of the rest of the table. It looked so cool."

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Lounging Around

katie mike wedding lounge
Credit: Jen Huang Photography

Lounge areas inside the tent gave guests a comfortable, but posh place to sit.

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A Not-So-Simple Cake

katie mike wedding cake white with flowers
Credit: Jen Huang Photography
25 New Takes on Traditional Wedding Cake Flavors

While Katie and Mike's cake looked simple on the outside, it was made from anything-but-simple flavors: lavender lemon honey and salted chocolate pudding.

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A Slice of Advice

katie mike wedding cake smash bride and groom
Credit: Jen Huang Photography
How to Cut Your Wedding Cake

Katie offers this cake-cutting tip to other couples: "Do not cut from the top. It will fall," she says. "Mike and I went rogue and cut from the top piece and sure enough—it fell. We still ate it."

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Sources

katie mike wedding car on desolate country road
Credit: Jen Huang Photography

Photography, Jen Huang Photography

Location, Kestrel Park

Event planning, Davia Lee Weddings

Catering, Field to Table; SideCar Slo

Flowers, Camellia Floral Design

Videography, T & C Studios

Stationery, Copper Willow Paper Studio

Cake, Enjoy Cupcakes

Music, DJ Tempest for DJ Hecktik; Santa Barbara Quartet

Rentals, The Tent Merchant; The Ark Rentals; Found Vintage Rentals

Bride's gown, Sareh Nouri

Bride's shoes, White by Vera Wang

Hair and makeup, Plush Aesthetics

Bridesmaids' dresses, Lela Rose

Groom's suit, SuitSupply

Lighting, SPARK Creative Events

Transportation, Go Executive Limo

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    1 of 21
    2 of 21 Classic Green Invites
    3 of 21 The Great Outdoors
    4 of 21 Ivory Dresses
    5 of 21 Dramatic Details
    6 of 21 The Dapper Groom
    7 of 21 A Loose Bouquet
    8 of 21 Green Boutonnières
    9 of 21 A Sycamore-Lined Ceremony
    10 of 21 First Look
    11 of 21 Cocktail Hour
    12 of 21 Escort Card Station
    13 of 21 Under the Tent
    14 of 21 An Extra-Long Head Table
    15 of 21 Squares and Rectangles
    16 of 21 Low Centerpieces
    17 of 21 On the Menu
    18 of 21 Lounging Around
    19 of 21 A Not-So-Simple Cake
    20 of 21 A Slice of Advice
    21 of 21 Sources

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    This Upscale California Garden Party Is Proof That a Classic Wedding Can Feel Personal
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