A Black Barn Set the Tone for This Modern Farm Wedding in Santa Ynez

In April 2010, Meghan and Michael met through a mutual friend—who would, years later, be the best man at their wedding. But we've jumped too far: Eight years into their relationship, on November 16, 2018, Michael popped the question at their annual Friendsgiving celebration at their home—and the planning process began. Meghan works in the wedding industry, so she already had a list of vendors she wanted to use, but choosing a venue that would accommodate her modern bohemian vision and lend a destination vibe proved difficult.

The couple ultimately landed on Roblar Farm in Santa Ynez, California, to host their October 5, 2019, nuptials with 120 guests (that guest count, however, doesn't include the couple's dogs, who were the stars of the party). Meghan embraced the wedding-planning process from the bride's perspective—as opposed to a planner's point of view—and appreciated the input from her sister-in-law and mother-in-law in the time leading up to the big day. The trio's biggest feat? They managed to convince their venue to paint their barn from blue to charcoal for the celebration. This choice tapped into the party's color palette, of rust, mustard, dusty rose, gold, and (of course!) black.

Ultimately, Meghan and Michael's celebration was all about their guests. "We wanted them to enjoy a whole weekend in a location they may not visit otherwise," Meghan says. "We aimed for a relaxed, but upscale vibe, so in choosing a farm, we brought the upscale [feeling] with rentals and lighting." When the main event arrived, the couple relied on their day-of-coordinator from Palm and Pine Events, who is also a close friend, to make sure the day went off without a hitch.

Watch Meghan and Michael's wedding video by The Hubs Films.

Meghan and Michael worked with Kaylyn from Pirouette Paper Company to design modern invitations that represented the vibe of the wedding. They went with a bright yellow tone for the invitations, a dusty rose RSVP card, and a black envelope. Kaylyn included a hand-drawn map of the area, highlighting the places where the activities would take place throughout the weekend—and the area's best wineries.

Meghan knew from the start that she wanted a lace wedding dress with long sleeves, but she made sure to try on at least 20 different styles to make sure that this was the right move. She ended up choosing a Grace Loves Lace ensemble with a V-neckline, low back, and a scalloped edge trim along the back, skirt, and wrists. "They use a stretchy lace with no button or zippers. It was seriously the most comfortable dress I have ever tried on!" the bride says. She paired her gown with a cathedral-length veil and a black onyx cocktail ring from her favorite designer, Marrow Fine, which was a gift from her groom.

The bride wore yellow Sam Edelman sandals with a block heel for the ceremony before changing into white Dolce Vita almond-toe mules for the reception.

Meghan held an asymmetrical winged bouquet that included fresh blooms paired with dried foliage to play on motifs of new and old and past and present. The bouquet featured anthuriums, ranunculus, toffee garden roses, bittersweet vine, dried clematis, white dried amaranth, pale rust yarrow, plumosa fern, and merletto carnations.

Michael wore a custom dark green suit from Grooms Grotto, which he accessorized with a floral tie that spoke to the party's color scheme. He also wore an heirloom watch, which was a wedding gift from his parents.

Meghan shared a color palette with her bridesmaids and asked them to select their own dresses. "I wanted to make sure there were all types of textures and patterns," she says to bring the bohemian theme to life. Each 'maid held a miniature version of her own bouquet.

The groomsmen wore chambray gray suits, also from from Groom's Grotto. "Since it was an outdoor wedding, I wanted the guys to be comfortable but tailored," the bride explains.

Meghan and Michael shared their first look at the house on the property. "I felt oddly calm," Meghan remembers. "Having done this for other couples, I knew it was important for it to be just the two of us. It felt natural and comfortable, but also super special." Meghan also shared a special first look with her dad, Richard.

The duo's ceremony took place outside the venue's barn, where blush chairs were set up on both sides of the aisle. "When we first visited the property the plan was not to use the barn, as it was a powder blue," Meghan says, "After talking with the venue, we proposed that they paint the barn black to really bring a modern feel and be a unique space in Santa Ynez Valley. The barn turned out so amazing that we had to use it as our backdrop!"

Guests were greeted with a sparkling limoncello and lychee cocktail before the ceremony.

One of Meghan's big-day highlights? Making her way down the aisle to "Sea of Love" by Cat Power with her father by her side. Michael's brother-in-law officiated the ceremony, kicking it off with a story about a road trip the pair took from Southern California to Utah in a 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. The car broke down five times, turning the nine-hour drive into a 20-hour trip. "It was a metaphor for our love and how even in the hard times we made it through," Meghan says.

Their florist, Theresa from Petals + Pop, created an asymmetrical floral installation for the ceremony backdrop. "It naturally turned into a great photo op after the ceremony leading into the reception," Meghan shares.

One of the couple's pups sat down right in front of the installation, where he remained—steadfast—for the service's entirety. "Being able to have our dogs in the ceremony was a highlight," the bride says. "We love our dogs and it wouldn't have been the same without them."

The cocktail hour took place on the farm, where guests enjoyed appetizers including grilled lamb chop lollipops, wild mushroom risotto arancini with garlic aioli, and seared filet mignon sashimi with house-made ponzu sauce. The couple also offered a full bar and specialty cocktails: "Mikey's Mojito" and "Meghan's Spicy Paloma."

Colorful lounge vignettes offered attendees a place to rest their feet—and sip their drinks—during the interlude.

During cocktail hour, guests were given bags and allowed to pick their own produce to take home from the farm. "We have a massive garden at our home so having the farm on site was an amazing touch," the bride says.

The couple left the cocktail hour a bit early to take advantage of the sunset and snap some photos on the grounds.

Escort cards from Pirouette Paper Company were attached to the favors—assorted bottles of wine that guests brought home to enjoy.

The couple's reception took place inside the barn, where they focused on lighting to create an ethereal feel. Their friend Chris hung a custom installation, complete with hanging bulbs at varying heights, overhead.

A variety of tables were arranged around the space. Long black tables with ornamental carved legs and square wooden stations with block bases were paired with the blush mid-century chairs from the ceremony.

The couple sat together at a square sweetheart table in high-back Art Deco style wicker chairs.

Place settings included translucent chargers layered with a marbled white plate and tied blush linen napkins on top. Black cutlery and gold-rimmed glassware were the finishing touches.

The couple's organic centerpieces overflowed from low blush vases with ridged edging. The arrangements were surrounded by taper candles in modern geometric holders.

The couple rented a ton of furniture from Found Rentals to create boho lounge inside the barn, in addition to the stations outside. Bold colored couches, black wicker chairs, and leather poufs chairs were placed around modern coffee tables.

The couple served a family-style dinner full of fresh ingredients from the farm—followed by cheese for dessert. Fontina, smoked gouda, parmesan, brie, and costillian blu cheeses were cleverly stacked together to mimic a tiered wedding cake. A churro cart was also stationed outside.

Meghan and Michael shared their first dance to "Hold My Hand" by Hootie and the Blowfish. At the end of their first dance, the bride surprised her groom with a confetti cannon—the ultimate addition to the celebratory moment.

This bride has some planner-approved advice for couples currently planning their weddings: "Hire a great team and trust them!" she says. "Although the pretty details are important and fun, make sure you have a vendor team that can execute them and the logistical details."

Photography, Sposto Photography 
Videography, The Hubs Films 
Venue, Roblar Farm 
Event Planning and Design, Meghan Dubitsky, Green Apple Event Co 
Day-of Coordination, Palm and Pine Events
Catering, K'Syrah Catering 
Flowers, Petals + Pop
Invitations and Paper Products, Pirouette Paper Company
Bride's Gown and Veil, Grace Loves Lace
Bride's Jewelry, Marrow Fine
Bride's Shoes, Sam Edelman; Dolce Vita
Groom's and Groomsmen's Attire, Grooms Grotto 
Music, Second Song 
Bar and Cake, The Bar Modern 
Dessert, The Churro Cart 
Rentals, Found Rentals; Borrowed Blu 
Transportation, Jump on the School Bus