Classic weddings are alive and well at The Biltmore Hotel in Santa Barbara and we live for it!
While at Bridal Musings, we are certainly lovers of everything funky, fresh and new, we always fall head over heels in love with an elegant and timeless wedding. A strapless satin dress with clean lines, combined with formal bridesmaids in black in a chic wedding venue, makes us shine a little in our wedding-loving eyes.
Especially if this wedding hall is a place as iconic and luxurious as the four seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara. In the style of the old world (wait until you see the classic bridal portraits on the tiled steps in Spanish!) and many palm trees, the Socal venue adds European elegance to this Classic wedding anniversary.
Photographed by Valorie Darling, this celebration proves that among all the free-spirited boho adventures (which we also love!) classic weddings are still thriving in southern California.
Location
About half of our friends and family were traveling from the East Coast, so we wanted to pick a place in California that would feel like a mini-destination… Santa Barbara! The Four Seasons Biltmore was a breeze. From start to finish, from planning to execution, we have enjoyed every Minute of our experience with you.
The Dress And The Clothes
We chose for our wedding party to wear black because it looks clean, elegant and classic. We also let everyone choose their own dress and Tuxedo; it was really important that everyone felt comfortable and at ease. I told my bridesmaids: “I want you to feel good, so choose the dress that your heart desires!”
Photograph
First I chose my photographer! I knew I wanted to go with Valorie Darling and her team; she was highly recommended and her work speaks for itself.
Our biggest contrition is that we didn’t hire a videographer. At the time, I was stressed and overwhelmed and felt like “one more thing” that I needed to worry about. So we decided not to do it… I’m still going to lose sleep over this decision. HIRE A VIDEOGRAPHER!
Favorite moments
Honestly, the whole day has been a big happy blur. I loved every Minute of it.
We also got married on a Friday, which meant we could keep partying until the weekend. I highly recommend this! We had a big Brunch on Saturday, and our friends organized about 50 of us for an afternoon pool party after in the day, which lasted long into the evening. And then, on Sunday, I was able to spend the morning with my immediate family before returning to SF (where we live).
It was the perfect mix of events, and I felt like we maximized the time with everyone who came to celebrate with us.
Honeymoon
We went on our honeymoon on Monday after our wedding. We chose Italy, especially the Amalfi coast and it was the sky. We spent five days in Capri, five days in Positano and three days in Rome. I am literally dreaming of this holiday and I wish I could go back and experience it again and again.
We discussed postponing the honeymoon or taking it immediately. And we are so happy that we did it right after the wedding. There’s just something about the glow after the wedding. I have never felt happier, more relaxed and more in love. It was a dream.