After having a blast hanging out with this couple for their engagement photos, this was one of the weddings I had been looking forward to this season. Alyssa and Alejandro are amongst the nicest people we have met and we immediately felt connected with them even after our short engagement session. Since we had already moved up to Alaska, we flew back down on a mini work vacation to shoot their wedding at the Santa Barbara Courthouse and the Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center. For this couple, it was totally worth traveling all those miles!

Alyssa and Alejandro carefully crafted a beautiful Santa Barbara wedding. Loved having the couple arrive at the reception hall via bike carriage with everyone outside with colorful streamers and a mariachi band. The mariachi band continued on through the night playing for their first dance and serenading each of the tables individually. The Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center is a great venue - it's got a high ceiling with exposed beams with plenty of windows to let in light; additionally, there's the beach right outside to run out and get really quick sunset photos on the beach.

Thank you Alyssa and Alejandro for including us on your wonderful day. Had such a hard time choosing amongst the photos for this blog. We had such a blast working with you and wish you the very best!

I totally knew I was going to love this wedding when Tara walked up the aisle to Rascal Flatt’s "Bless the Broken Road" sung by one of her close friends. I completely adore that song and love that it was used as the bridal processional. Being a wedding photographer, we get to listen to a lot of ceremonies. Joe and Tara’s was definitely unique and filled with personal touches. I particularly enjoyed the string of different movie quotes about love read back and forth by Tara and Joe’s friends. It was fun to listen in and think back on the movie scenes those quotes came from.

Tara met Joe while abroad in Ireland and they currently live there (yes … we’re a little jealous). Thus most of their wedding was coordinated by Tara’s father, John (go, Dad!). We had a blast working with John - what an incredible guy to plan a wedding! John is a local cinematographer and so of course he had a great video to show at the reception.

The little details added to the wedding were wonderful. Joe had gotten little custom made Droids for their wedding cake topper. Very techie geek-a-licious! We loved them. We were also a fan of the drink glasses etched with the Irish toast “Sláinte!” along with a blank space to write your name to keep track of your glass! John had made a little house for their card box. The seating assignments were displayed on large boards decorated with photos and their RSVP cards, which included words of wisdom from the guest to Tara and Joe. And, in a private booth, you could record your own personal greeting (on video of course!) to the newlyweds.

Sláinte Tara and Joe! Congratulations!

Ceremony : First Presbyterian Church, Santa Barbara

Reception : Cabrillo Arts Pavillion, Santa Barbara