Photos // Victoria Gold

A vintage beaded gown with custom touches, a windy day in Santa Barbara, and a wedding perfectly unique for Em and Nate's love story. And don't mind us if we opt for a paella stand at our next party... 💛

Tell us about your wedding day and surrounding events! Where did it all go down? Did you have any particular inspiration or musts when choosing the location?

We were living in LA but always loved Santa Barbara and wanted to include all of the places and things special to us. We picked places that were walkable from our guest’s hotel and that were already beautiful, so we didn’t have to decorate much.

Our welcome party was open to all at one of our frequented wine shops (Muni), with the best SB tacos (Los Agaves). We got married at our favorite coffee shop garden, and then a bagpiper walked us to a local art gallery to DANCE! 

We didn’t do a formal dinner. We had two pop-up food stations with smash burgers (my choice) and paella (my husband’s choice). Supplemented with little mouth-watering local elements like popcorn from The Lark and bread from Oat Bakery.

How did you and your partner meet? What was the proposal like?

We met through mutual friends. We started off as friends for a couple years before going on a hike to Griffith Park, and both wondered if we were on a date. It’s still a little unclear when we turned from friends to dating, it happened so naturally. Nate proposed to me on a cliff in Santa Barbara and then planned a surprise trip to Big Sur, where we had our first vacation together. The proposal was intimate and very thoughtful. He thought of everything. He was nervous the ring wouldn’t fit, so he brought Vaseline and spacers. He even practiced which knee he would drop down on for days. Hearing him tell me all the elements he’d been working on in secret for months was truly the best part. I made him tell me the story a million times. He also rehearsed a speech, and I still make him reenact it all the time. 

Describe your Happy Isles dress and/or dresses! When did you know it was the one? 

Nate got me a pair of gold Suzanne Rae heels for my birthday when we first started dating. I mentioned I liked them, and he tracked down my size. I knew I would wear them for our wedding, so the dress had to match those.

I knew I didn’t want anything traditional; I have always loved vintage and didn’t feel any emotional connection to the dresses I was trying on at new wedding dress shops. They were gorgeous but just didn’t feel right for me. I went to Happy Isles, and when I tried on my dress, it just clicked. I was with my friend and FaceTimed my mom and told her that this was the dress I was going to get married in! It was really much simpler than I had made it out to be. 

It was bride-adjacent, it had texture and personality, it was comfy (!), and it felt like it matched my ring, which was inspired by 1920s costume jewelry. 

I went to Tashina, who is a wizard when it comes to delicate vintage dresses, and we made the dress backless with a ruffly slit and matching veil. It was the perfect way to take a vintage gorgeous dress and update it to be uniquely mine. 

What did your partner wear down the aisle, and did you share outfit pics before the big day?

He wore a double-breasted white suit jacket and his own pair of fancy gold boots to match my shoes! We both had no idea what the other was wearing and yet it felt so coordinated. 

How did your guests respond to your outfit/s? Were there any standout reactions?

Yes, we got so many compliments on our outfits! No one could believe we surprised each other because they went so well together. I also kept getting the compliment (?) “It’s so you.” 

Where did you shop for accessories and how did you style your look/s?

My shoes were from Nate; my necklace was my grandma and grandpa's wedding rings on a chain from my dad. My purse was the something new and blue, a fun pop of ruffles that I use allll the time still.

I’ve never owned anything designer, and neither has my mom. She surprised me that weekend with Gucci sunglasses that I haven’t taken off since. 

The dress was the star and didn’t need too much.

What was the most memorable aspect of your dress-shopping experience? Is there anything you would like to highlight or share with other brides considering an appointment at Happy Isles?

Going with one friend who understands my style and is there to support me and not having to hear too many opinions was key to finding something that I loved. I had two lovely HI ladies helping me pick out outfits, and one of them gave me the idea of making the dress backless. I honestly didn’t think about it until she mentioned it. A really genuine and helpful atmosphere that didn’t overwhelm me. 

Okay. Your HI wedding dress is a person. What is their name, and describe their perfect date!

Her name is MINDY. She wants an extra dirty martini before going to dinner and ordering every appetizer on the menu, then a nightcap with a cheeky cig at a jazz bar. She has a lust for life. We love Mindy. 

Getting serious for a second. Did you ever feel like you were breaking the mold or challenging expectations while wedding planning? What were some ways you stayed true to yourself during what can be an emotionally complex experience?

Yes, yes, yes. I thought I didn’t want a “wedding,” but I realized that having everyone we love to celebrate this amazing milestone with us sounds FUN, so why not make sure it’s just that? 

"I also work in sustainability so low waste was a must." 

It had to be true to us and low stress. Any time the planning process felt overwhelming, we took a step back and pivoted or didn’t do that thing at all. The thought of renting tables and chairs, doing centerpieces, and organizing a seating chart was daunting, so we didn’t!! We used what the garden had for a “grazing” food setup. I also work in sustainability so low waste was a must. 

We had little elements throughout that honored both of our heritages, like a bagpiper playing Hava Nagila. Surprisingly, that wasn’t his first time playing it. 

Our community really showed up! Our dear friend took photos (luckily, she’s one of the best wedding photographers in the biz), my best friend did florals (an incredible florist), our friend officiated, another friend made the cake, my dad and I built the Chuppah, and my mom made life-size flowers for the photo booth. The guest attire assignment was to be bold, funky, and to go for it. Whatever that meant for them. 

I did my own hair and makeup, my husband and I surprised each other with our outfits, and we walked down the aisle together and did rock paper scissors to see who read vows first. 

It was us, it was stress-free, it was perfect. 

Weddings should highlight two unique people, their unique relationship, and their communities. And when you plan a wedding that way, in a sense, it’s breaking the mold because there isn’t another couple with your exact story. 

They say every wedding has a “wild card” moment. Did anything unexpected happen or surprise you during planning or the day of?

Our welcome party was outside, and it was sooo unexpectedly windy that day. We ended up moving it inside the wine shop, and I am so happy that happened because the people giving speeches stood on the stairs, and the backdrop was amazing. We just went with the flow, and the alternative option was better than our original plan. 

I actually ended up getting a tattoo of this scene on our honeymoon in Japan. So you never know what is going to happen, but wild cards can be magical, too!!

"You can also feel like a bride without wearing something overtly bridal. Choose things you LOVE."

HOT TAKES: Do you have any wedding planning or dress shopping advice? Please pay it forward to our future brides!

There is so much pressure from so many people to do certain things, but in the end (hopefully) seeing you happy is what everyone actually wants. There are ways to honor everyone involved without having to be overly stressed and doing things that don’t feel authentic to you and your partner. 

You can also feel like a bride without wearing something overtly bridal. Choose things you LOVE. 

If you had to choose your single best wedding day memory, what would it be?

A bagpiper walked all of our guests, at golden hour, from the garden ceremony to an art gallery. It was fun to separate the ceremony and dance party so that we built up some momentum and made it clear that it was time to CELEBRATE. 

Now that the wedding chapter has come to a close, what are some dreams you have for your future, both personally and as a couple?

We love to travel. Our next adventure is Patagonia. We are now building our life in Santa Barbara with our pup, Rhonda. We love to host, celebrate, and build community. 

And finally - shout out your vendors!

Photography: @victoriagoldphotography

Planning: @clusterevents

Venue: @dartcoffeegarden @muniwine

Catering: @trippburgers @arroz_805 @jessicas.bake.drop @oat_bakery

Floral: @withyou_floral

Hair & Makeup: Me!

Music: @darlabea

Alterations and veil: @misstashina