Santa Barbara Ranch Wedding
Sydney and Isaiah had the most amazing weekend planned for their Santa Barbara ranch wedding. Friends from near and far gathered in Santa Barbara to celebrate this wonderful couple for an entire weekend on a family friend’s ranch. In the midst of the fun and celebration, everyone managed to build the wedding venue from the ground up in a beautiful field of golden grass and oak trees.
The days before the wedding:
As we all drove onto the ranch with our host of old Volskwagen Westfalias, Sprinter Campers, and School Bus conversions loaded with tools and enough lumber to build a small barn (or in our case, a dance floor and 40 benches), it started to settle in how beautiful this weekend and wedding was going to be. Once we got to the ranch, we broke out the tools. We swung the hammers, dug the holes, strung lights, built benches, and the custom dance floor came together under the setting sun of our first day. The bachelor and bachelorette parties commenced with immense joy, laughter, embarrassment, and encouragement. The following afternoon we buttoned up loose ends.
After we finished setting up, we had the rehearsal dinner. The father of the groom cooked salmon on oak-fired grills. Following a delicious meal, we all danced into the night. This Santa Barbara ranch wedding was already so good and it had only just begun.
The day of the wedding:
The bridal party got ready in the charming cabins provided by the ranch. All the bridesmaids were busy making their bouquets and touching up while the groomsmen were cracking jokes over the radios (no cell service on a 50 square mile ranch!). Joy was in the air; the wedding was here.
Isaiah and Sydney have a VW bus, which they both love. It only made sense for Isaiah to drive the class VW bus to their first look spot. Sydney soon followed to meet Isaiah underneath beautiful oak trees in the tall summer grass.
Soon we joined Sydney and Isaiah’s best friends for bridal party photos! There is never a dull moment with this crew!
The evening was absolute magic. Twinkle lights hung amongst oak trees cast light upon the tables and benches we worked so hard to make, the dance floor that lived through the night, the bar made out of hay bales, Isaiah and Sydney’s VW bus (part of the decor, of course!) and the authentic taco stand feeding the hungry bellies of 175 guests. Guests shared food and laughed in the setting sun.
Imagine everyone you love standing in a circle holding hands, golden light pouring through the trees, and voices singing the doxology in beautiful harmonies. It was magic.
After dinner, the bride and groom snuck away for a moment alone and some dreamy sunset photos.
During the speeches, many of us shed tears, and our hearts and bellies were full. Afterward, we all danced the night away.
Despite being the ultimate DIY wedding, this was one of the most beautiful and aesthetically pleasing weddings I have ever been a part of. Not only was it such a joy to watch friends get married, and to take photos on their wedding day, but it was deeply rewarding to help them construct their dream wedding from the ground up, with a ragtag crew of close friends.
Photography: Ali Beck Photography
Venue: Lazy Arrow Adventures
Dress: BHLDN
Bridesmaids Jumpsuits: Not Perfect Linen
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