Timeless, Neutral Wedding with a Modern Twist in Downtown Santa Barbara

KB EventsAli BeckLight Up VideoThe Santa Barbara ClubSanta Barbara CourthouseEmily Lynn + Co.The Poppy Pod FloralsVox DJsJust 4 Fun Party RentalsSB Trolley CompanyMintedMaggie SotteroStarDust CelebrationsThe Black TuxRevelryNADRISam EdelmanEtsy

Aug 31

Written By Megan Hageman

The beautiful couple, Chelsey and Macgregor, were married in mid-May in the Sunken Gardens of the Santa Barbara Courthouse. The groom was styled for the day in a classic tux and bowtie, and waited for his bride as she walked down the aisle in a lace Maggie Sottero designed dress to the tune of “Hallelujah” by Brett Young. KB Events planned the timeless ceremony full of black, white, and champagne details and additionally pieced together a reception to die for at The Santa Barbara Club.

Santa Barbara Trolley transported the party, and black and white escort cards with photos of each individual guest, plus a thank you note from the couple, awaited as they entered the venue. White flowers from Poppy Pod Floral Design decorated the reception tables and string lights began to show off their sparkle as the sun went down. A delicious dessert bar included fresh churros and the night was filled with dancing—from the couple’s first dance to an acoustic version of “Firestone” sang by Conrad Sewell to the closing song “Beautiful Now” by Zedd and lots of lively Spanish music in between. A neon sign which read “Better Together” additionally made for a fabulous photo op during the evening and the couple shared cigars to end their night together. Santa Barbara wedding photographer Ali Beck was there to capture it all.

Q+A from the Bride and Groom:

What design elements of your wedding do you believe told the story of who you two are as a couple best?

Our color palette embodies our approach to our experiences as a couple - timeless and classy. The location and outdoor ambiance represent our love for discovering and appreciating the beautiful locations the world has to offer. We had black and white 'polaroid' photos of all our guests with a personalized note of how much they mean to us on the back. We've had an incredible journey and this element was meant to convey our gratitude to each of them.

What emotions were you feeling at the beginning of your wedding day, during, and at the end?
Beginning - We felt more than ready on the morning of the wedding. We got engaged in July of 2020 and had been waiting for this moment for almost two years!

During - Pre-ceremony we both were anxious and couldn't wait to see each other for the first time. During the reception, we were all smiles. At one point we took a deep breath, looked around at all of our guests, and said "wow, we did it!". Dancing with all of our loved ones was a highlight of the night. We had the best weather, music, food & drink, and company!

End - By the end of the night we felt pure bliss. Everything we had put into the process exceeded our expectations!

Looking back, what’s something about your wedding day that unexpectedly delighted you?

While we were sitting at our sweetheart table, we looked up and saw that there was a full moon. It was beautiful and bright during our first dance as a married couple. Also, not a single thing went 'wrong' in our eyes. The day was so smooth and perfect - shoutout KB Events for making it happen!

What drew you to Santa Barbara for your wedding celebration?

We knew we wanted to get married in California, close-ish to where Chelsey (The Bride) is from. Santa Barbara was one of our first-weekend getaways while dating. We had a blast and knew our guests would love it! It is such a surreal, relaxing, unique, and beautiful destination. With so many guests coming from out of town we wanted to showcase one of the best California has to offer.

How would you describe the overall look/design you were hoping to accomplish in your wedding?

We wanted something simple, classy, and timeless, but with some modern twists. The Spanish-style culture added a perfect aura to what we envisioned. Our colors were neutral - black, white, and champagne with white flowers and greenery. Both our ceremony and reception were outdoors with great weather and natural beauty.

Tell us your proposal story, did that moment have any impact or inspiration for your wedding planning or design?

Macgregor chartered a sailboat, which included a charcuterie board and wine at sunset. As the sun was setting he got down on one knee and asked for Chelsey's hand in marriage. There wasn't an impact or inspiration for planning or design, but the moment was perfect.