30 11, 2012

Montecito Country Clud Wedding Featured on Junebug Weddings!

By |2012-11-30T11:42:20-07:00November 30th, 2012|Featured|

What’s not to love about this wedding? A vibrant couple with beaming smiles, an Old Hollywood style wedding planned by Brooke Keegan Weddings and Events, and incredible images captured by the incredibly talented photographers of Callaway Gable Photography, make for magical combination. Enjoy!

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.comThe Newlyweds: Allison and Rich

The Wedding: 6.20.12 – Montecito Country Club – Santa Barbara, CA

What inspired your personal wedding style, and how did you incorporate your style and personalities into your big day? From the very start, our inspiration was the Golden Age of Hollywood – Fred and Ginger, men in black tie, and lots of champagne! We were fortunate to find the Montecito Country Club, which really reflected the glamour of that period. We wanted a traditional ceremony and a reception that felt like an elegant dinner party. This was done by making every detail count – from lush, luxurious florals, to a neutral color palette with lots of ivories, black, and gold, down to the groom’s choice of classic peak lapels and the bride’s ivory silk gown. We love good food and wine so we made careful choices for the meal, the bar, and dessert, which included a delicious wedding cake of devil’s food cake with salted caramel frosting, plus an ice cream sundae bar and cookies brought in from Los Angeles.

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.comWhat three adjectives best describe your wedding? Elegant, Traditional, Joyful

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.comLooking back, what are the moments, decisions or memories that you love the most about your wedding? One of the best decisions we made was to hold the wedding in Santa Barbara. We looked at a lot of venues in Los Angeles, but ultimately were drawn to the idea of the semi-destination wedding vibe we could get in Santa Barbara, especially in light of all the guests we had coming in from out of town. Everyone could feel like they were on vacation.

Another decision we made right at the start was that it was very important to us not to see each other before the ceremony. We wanted to save the first look for the aisle, and it was an incredibly special moment.

I let my bridesmaids choose their own gowns, giving them very loose guidelines of “long” and “black” and I was so glad I did! Not only did each girl look unique and stunning, but more practically speaking it allowed each to find something flattering and within her budget. Along these lines, we categorized the reception as “black tie invited” to encourage a certain level of formality that would indicate to our guests the tone of the evening but still give them a degree of flexibility.

Though it was a great deal of work, we did all the print pieces ourselves from the save-the-dates to the invitations to the menus and escort cards. It didn’t hurt that Rich does print graphic design. I also spent time collecting vintage stamps for the invitations, which added to the Old Hollywood feel. Doing all of this ourselves allowed us to get exactly what we wanted and to put more of our budget toward other aspects of the wedding.

The hora was a highlight for everyone, bringing all the guests out onto the dance floor and filling the reception with incredible energy that carried through the whole evening. Plus, seeing my father as he went up in the chair was priceless.

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.comMore from the bride, on the planning process: I would just like to say, because I don’t think groom’s get much credit, that Rich is really the reason our wedding came together as beautifully as it did. The majority of our relationship (and all of our engagement) was long distance, with him in Los Angeles and me in New York. I did as much as I could to help, but there wasn’t much I could do from 3,000 miles away. So, he was the one driving all over Southern California scouting venues, meeting with vendors (he met Callaway Gable first, and I didn’t meet them until our engagement session!), and buying supplies. He was not only willing, but happy to do it. Our wedding could not have happened in the same way without his hard work.

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.comWhat specifically drew you to Callaway Gable Photography and their imagery? The first thing we noticed about Callaway Gable’s photography is that everyone they photographed looked like they were having a really good time, and we knew that was how we would want to remember the day. We wanted a photographer who would capture the joy and energy of the whole celebration and who would make everyone look beautiful and feel comfortable in front of the camera. And Allie and Lauren did just that! Callaway Gable offered the best of both worlds in that they also produce stylized portraits. The combination of journalistic “in the moment” shots with composed editorial shots will make for a killer album. We could not be happier with our photos – they made everyone look their absolute best and captured every moment.

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.comThe Photographer: Allie Callaway of Callaway Gable Photography

As you went into the day, did you have a particular approach to photographing Allison and Rich’s wedding? Having not been to their wedding venues, I scouted the locations and surrounding areas beforehand. It was really important for me to find interesting backdrops and environments that aren’t the obvious choices in Santa Barbara, which is mostly known for outdoorsy weddings. My style is all about color, texture and amazing environments – this is what I found, and where I photographed their portraiture. I also planned the spots for the family photos and our signature “Vanity Fair” shot so that their day ran smoothly and seamlessly.

Before the wedding, I worked with Allison and Rich on their timeline to schedule enough time to create their portraiture, which, for me, often takes more time than what is initially planned by the coordinator.

Finally, I made sure to have my super star second shooter, and Callaway Gable associate photographer, Lauren Belknap, be a part of the team. She is so talented, and is so great at making everyone feel comfortable and relaxed. She is just so fun to be around, and it shows in their photos.

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.comLooking back, what were your favorite moments to capture? Portraiture is always a favorite for me, particularly with people like Allison and Rich who are so fun and completely trusting. They took the advice I had given them in their engagement session where they learned to be themselves and just go for it in every photo. They weren’t afraid to be romantic, sexy, fun and just downright silly. It also helps that Allison literally cannot take a bad photo and Rich is so incredibly in love with Allison that he was just beaming the entire day.

I also loved capturing the energy of the reception. Their friends and family were great dancers, best ever, and they weren’t afraid to perform for the camera. The best moment though was a dance they called the Anniversary Dance. All of the married couples started on the dance floor, and every few moments they asked people to leave the dance floor based on how many years they were married, fewest years first. The last couple standing had been married for over 44 years! They were still in love like they were as teenagers. Everyone was crying, including Lauren and myself! We were a wreck!

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.com

glamorous Montecito Country Club wedding designed by Brooke Keegan - wedding photography by LA-based Callaway Gable Photography | JunebugWeddings.comThe Wedding Team:

Photographer: Callaway Gable Photography
Event Planner: Brooke Keegan Weddings and Events
Ceremony Venue: First United Methodist Church Santa Barbara
Reception Venue: Montecito Country Club
Officiant: Reverend Judith Muller
Invitations: custom by bride and groom
Catering: Montecito Country Club
Florist: Grass Roots
Cake: Robyn Loves Cake
Wedding Dress: Augusta Jones
Bridal Accessories: shoes by Manolo Blahnik
Groom’s Apparel and Accessories: tuxedo by Ralph Lauren Black Label, custom shirt by Turnbull and Asser with vintage 1942 Omega watch
Groomsmen Apparel: Calvin Klein from Men’s Wearhouse
Hair and Make-up: TEAM Hair and Makeup
DJ: Peter Papadopoulos from Vive Entertainment, Inc.

Thank you Allison and Rich, and the whole wedding team!!

30 11, 2012

Biltmore Ballroom Wedding Featured on Borrowed & Blue

By |2012-11-30T11:09:36-07:00November 30th, 2012|Featured|

  • Santa barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • A photo of a wedding at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
  • A Santa Barbara wedding photo taken by Willa Kveta Photography
  • Santa barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • A Santa Barbara wedding photo taken by Willa Kveta Photography
  • Santa barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • A Santa Barbara wedding photo taken by Willa Kveta Photography
  • TEAM Hair & Makeup contributed to this wedding photo.
  • A photo of a wedding at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
  • Grass Roots contributed to this wedding photo.
  • A Santa Barbara wedding photo taken by Willa Kveta Photography
  • A photo of a wedding at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
  • Santa barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • TEAM Hair & Makeup contributed to this wedding photo.
  • TEAM Hair & Makeup and 1 other contributed to this wedding photo.
  • Grass Roots contributed to this wedding photo.
  • Santa Barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • A Santa Barbara wedding photo taken by Willa Kveta Photography
  • Santa barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • A photo of a wedding at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
  • Santa Barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • Santa Barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • TEAM Hair & Makeup contributed to this wedding photo.
  • Grass Roots contributed to this wedding photo.
  • Santa barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • A Santa Barbara wedding photo taken by Willa Kveta Photography
  • Grass Roots contributed to this wedding photo.
  • Grass Roots contributed to this wedding photo.
  • Santa barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • A Santa Barbara wedding photo taken by Willa Kveta Photography
  • Santa barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • A Santa Barbara wedding photo taken by Willa Kveta Photography
  • Santa barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • Santa Barbara wedding photography by Willa Kveta Photography
  • Mobile Disc Music contributed to this wedding photo.
  • Mobile Disc Music contributed to this wedding photo.
  • Mobile Disc Music contributed to this wedding photo.
  • Mobile Disc Music contributed to this wedding photo.
  • Mobile Disc Music contributed to this wedding photo.
  • Mobile Disc Music contributed to this wedding photo.
  • A Santa Barbara wedding photo taken at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara

About This Wedding

The Couple

Together

We are teachers from New Jersey with a mutual love of travel and adventure. Erica teaches elementary special education while Ray teaches video production to high school students. We both enjoy documenting our travels, Erica by blogging and Ray by filming and editing highlight videos.

Our Love Story

After reluctantly being set up by mutual friends two years ago, we quickly fell in love and realized we were a perfect match!

Inspiration

We got engaged in Santa Barbara while on our cross country trip last year and fell in love with the area. We envisioned an intimate and unforgettable experience for our wedding, which was provided by the beautiful gardens and ocean views of the Biltmore.

What’s Next

Upon returning from our honeymoon in Bora Bora we got a new addition to our family – a King Charles Spaniel puppy we named Jack Bauer! Erica hopes to train Jack to be a therapy dog and Ray is looking forward to renovating and remodeling their dream home in the next few years. We’re looking forward to visiting new and exciting places around the world.

Venue for This Wedding

Vendors for This Wedding

20 11, 2012

Rustic Fall Wedding Featured on 100 Layer Cake!

By |2012-11-20T10:59:38-07:00November 20th, 2012|Featured|

rustic fall wedding ideas

There are too many pretty things in this shoot that are competing for our love. Elan Event Rental‘s massive, reclaimed, one of a kind acacia dining table, the florals by Oak & The Owl that look like they were picked from an enchanted garden, the Lovely Bride gown, and Kurt Boomer‘s fabulous film photography. Out in the middle of a park in Montecito, they set out to make Elan’s dining pieces and equipales chairs the focus of the design, and managed to create a sweet and simple setting we would most definitely love to jump into. Take a peek!

rustic fall wedding ideas

rustic fall tablescape

Lovely Bridal wedding dress

Rustic Fall bouquet

Fall wedding stationery ideas

Rustic Fall floral centerpiece

rustic fall wedding inspiration

fern leaf place card

rustic fall wedding inspiration

fern leaf place card

Rustic Fall floral centerpiece

Fall wedding cake

Fall wedding cake

Photography: Kurt Boomer / Catering: Pure Joy Catering / Event Designer: Twine Events / Floral Designer: Oak & The Owl / Invitation Designer: Duk Design / Dress Designer: Lovely Bride LA / Equipment Rentals: Elan Event Rentals / Makeup Artist: TEAM Hair and Makeup / Location: Manning Park / Model: Gregory Shelby

14 11, 2012

Beth Helmstetter Events Bacara Resort Wedding Featured on Style Me Pretty!

By |2012-11-14T16:34:51-07:00November 14th, 2012|Featured|

Max Wanger had us the moment he said hello. And showed us how ridiculously awesome he is with the playful but so-freaking-gorgeous engagement sesh he did with Joanna Goddard from A Cup of Joe. And from that moment on, there was no turning back. Our obsession with Max went full throttle ahead, with each of his weddings being even more beautiful, even more fun than the next. Well, this wedding just might have to take the cake. It’s Max’s art inspired photos sitting pretty next to the most beautiful, classic fete a girl could ever want (courtesy of the equally fab Beth Helmstetter) and the result…magic. Oh and don’t even get me started on those baby’s breath centerpieces. Click here to make it last just a little longer.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…With Patrick and I both growing up and meeting in California, we knew that there was nowhere else we wanted to tie the knot. Deciding on the location was a no brainer…The Bacara truly embodies California culture: from the food and wine selections to the Spanish style architecture and its location on the Santa Barbara coast. It was stunning, and it was perfect! With the help of Beth Helmstetter Events, we were able to make all of our most indulgent dreams become a reality!

In terms of décor we wanted very neutral, earthy tones that would complement the colors of the Bacara. I also wanted a lot of textures in our wedding day – everything from my dress, to the linens, the flowers,  to the cake – these all had feminine textural elements in clean, neutral colors that all tied in together.

Initially, we had planned to have an outdoor ceremony, but on the morning of our wedding we woke up to heavy mist along the coast. Of course, I started to panic….but our amazing team had a backup plan that turned out even more gorgeous than what we had originally wanted. Everything turned out for the best….the photos took on an amazing, dreamy quality to them, and until today I look back and thank my lucky stars that it drizzled!

Looking back, I would not have changed a single thing. I am so grateful that we were able to have all our friends and family together from all over the world to celebrate with us! Let’s do it again!

Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bride’s Evening Gown: Rachel Gilbert / Grooms Tux + Shoes: Prada / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Groomsmen Tuxes: Elite Tuxedo / Wedding Cinematography: Aqua Vivus Productions / Wedding Photography: Max Wanger + Margaux Wanger of Max Wanger Photography / Photo Booth: Smilebooth / Event Design: Beth Helmstetter Events / Floral Design: Holly Flora / Hair + Make-up: TEAM Hair and Makeup / Bride’s Lashes: Tussanee of Integrity / Venue: The Bacara / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Calligraphy + Invitations: Laura Hooper Calligraphy / Bridesmaids Gifts: Papermade

Beth Helmstetter Events, La Tavola Fine Linen Rental, Laura Hooper Calligraphy, Smilebooth and TEAM Hair and Makeup are members of our Little Black Book. For more information on how members are chosen, click here.
Amsale is a member of our Look Book. For more information on how members are chosen, click here.
Though we legitimately love them, Laura Hooper Calligraphy is an advertiser on Style Me Pretty.
8 11, 2012

Mag Rouge Cover Shoot Featured on Style Me Pretty!

By |2012-11-08T10:55:33-07:00November 8th, 2012|Featured|

Oh Jose Villa. You make me speechless each and every time I run into your breathtaking images. It never fails. And I am pretty darn sure that the rest of you in SMP land share that sentiment. Because his images are that of photography magic. A talent I’ll never be able to put words to, but I will always jump for joy when I get to spend any amount of time gawking over the gorgeous that magic creates. This cover shoot for the newly launched Mag Rouge? It’s the perfect example of that magic unfolding on our screens, and there is so much more of that magic waiting for you in the full gallery

Are you completely, head over heels in love with those each and every image in that seriously to die for gallery? How could you not be? We might just pin every single one. Well just wait until you dive into the new edition of Mag Rouge. It’s page after page of stunning style and that is something we can get totally get behind.

Photography: Jose Villa Photography / Photo Shoot Location: El Capitan Canyon in Santa Barbara, California / Floral Design: Kate of Flowerwild / Event Design: Kate of FlowerwildJose Villa / Wedding Dress: Samuelle Couture / Hair + Makeup: Mar of TEAM Hair & Makeup

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