Charles and Darla’s Santa Barbara Mission Wedding was breathtaking. I really enjoyed my time with them and learning about their love story. Their wedding day was a beautiful nod to their years together.
You may recognize Charles and Darla from an earlier post I did about their beautiful engagement shoot in El Canto.
The Couple met in person by chance in Seattle during the pandemic. They both said it was so easy to be together. Darla planned to visit Charles in Seattle for 2 weeks and that turned into her staying for 4 months. The rest is history!
Santa Barbara is a place they were drawn to as a couple as it holds a very special place in both Charles and Darla’s hearts. They both hope to end up living there in the future.
Darla lived in the Santa Barbara area for 3 years before she knew Charles because of her love for the quaint town.
Charles has a personal connection to the area. His great-grandparents settled in the area over 100 years ago and had the foresight to start a tire shop called Dal Pozzo’s. It’s still around today!
Their wedding day brought such excitement as they celebrated this special milestone and their future together. The morning was filled with special getting-ready moments with Charles, Darla, and their wedding party. We then coordinated the first look for the couple in the gardens with a beautiful backdrop of towering palm trees.
We also scheduled a very sentimental visit to Charles’ 95-year-old grandmother at her home on a 50-acre avocado farm just five minutes from the Rincon Beach Club to take a few photos with her. Priceless.
Before we knew it, it was time to head over to the historic Old Santa Barbara mission, but not before we got some stunning shots of Charles and Darla with their classic Rolls-Royce. Darla’s cathedral-length veil fluttered behind her and gave the perfect old Hollywood feel! Darla carried a lovely bouquet that complimented the extra romantic aesthetic, complete with draping crimson Amaranthus.
The historic Old Santa Barbara Mission provided a timeless backdrop with its Spanish colonial design, and its trademark pink pillars and architectural details which made for stunning photos. Everywhere I turned there were more incredible details to photograph.
The ceremony was truly so touching and after it concluded we decided to take some group photos on the front steps. We then made our way over to the Santa Barbara Inn for an incredible garden reception. The weather was pretty darn perfect for an al fresco celebration and it couldn’t have been more magical. Bamboo lattice pendant lights hung from the rafters and delicate smilax vine wound its way around the lighting fixtures creating a wild, organic feel. The woven material of the pendant lights cast a warm, welcoming glow as the sun sunk into the sky.
The couple chose a color palette that included a mix of natural shades of olive greens, browns, and creams, with pops of reds and hues of orange. Garlands of greenery and white pillar candles adorned the centers of the rectangular guest tables. The wooden farm tables and cross-back chairs warmed the space and helped create that rich, autumn feel that so many fall wedding couples are drawn to.
The night ended on a sweet note with a delicious wedding cake and I couldn’t get over the adorable bobblehead cake topper replica of the couple and their rescue boxer-pit bull, Beaumont!
It was the most perfect wedding and I was so honored to be a part of Charles and Darla’s big day!
CREATIVE TEAM
Ceremony: Old Mission Santa Barbara | Wedding Venue: Santa Barbara Inn | Photography: Sarah Block Photography | Wedding Planner: Kinsey Eager with Events by Rincon | Catering: Zoo Catering by Rincon | Floral Design: Grass Roots SB | Hair and Makeup: Blush & Bangs Co. | Transportation: Santa Barbara Tours A La Carte | Gown: SF Bridal Galleria | Tux: Mens Warehouse Vera Wang | Entertainment: Jay Light – Stand-up comedian
