Location: Carpinteria, California, USA
Setting: Ranch
Wedding season: Summer
How long did the couple plan the event: 1 year
Number of guests: 100
Wedding theme/style: Organic, coastal.
Alaina and Garrett’s journey began with a simple conversation at a local grocery store in Michigan. Their shared love for wellness and a good cup of coffee grew into a vibrant relationship. They envisioned a coastal day for their wedding that reflected their individual style: a magical and warm celebration illuminated by their shared energy.
It is inspiring how the planner, Nicole Leza, seamlessly incorporated all details into the day to highlight the couple’s story. She fulfilled all their wishes and organized an amazingly beautiful and truly unique wedding day filled with various personal touches.
They chose a private avocado ranch in Carpinteria, California, as their venue. The summer season added to the idyllic setting, with lush greenery and the gentle, warm ocean breeze welcoming their guests. “Emphasizing the local region, we integrated coastal textures, a neutral color palette harmonizing with the venue, and exclusively sourced everything locally, from farmer’s market delicacies to regional wine and beer,” the bride said.
Following the wedding theme, Alaina opted for a natural makeup look by Samara Beauty, complemented by an up-do and a sleek white gown with a trailing veil. Garrett chose a classic black tuxedo, complete with a bow tie and a boutonnière of local daisies.
Alaina and Garrett exchanged their first look surrounded by a sea of wildflowers with the Pacific Ocean stretching out behind them. They took a serene walk along the shore, sharing laughs and tender kisses.
The ceremony was held by the coastline, with wildflowers forming an aisle. Alaina shared that their love for coffee went beyond their morning routine: “Our ritual at the ceremony was pouring coffee and cream together to illuminate our love language daily ritual. We proceeded to each take a sip of our mixed coffee-cream.” As the band’s soft music filled the air, their vows were sealed with a cinematic kiss, surrounded by the applause of their cherished ones.
After the ceremony, the couple joined their guest at the cocktail hour, infused with various personal and creative details, such as fresh-baked pizza or guacamole made with avocados from the farm.
“Garrett and I met in the Whole Foods Chip aisle in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We wanted to shine a light on our story at our wedding by having our seating chart mimic the whole foods chip aisle; our guest favors were also chip clips.“ Alaina told. “Garrett and I have always talked about coffee being our love language. To feature this part about us, we had a local coffee cart and offered our guests a full coffee bar,” she continued.
The reception brought their ‘coastal disco’ theme, creating an eclectic mix of the beach’s relaxed vibe and a dance hall’s energy. Wavy patterns on the napkins and creative place cards mirrored the ocean, and a combination of rattan lanterns and disco balls above the dance floor set a dynamic yet cozy tone for the evening.
The bride switched to a comfortable top and pants and let her hair fall in natural waves for the evening celebration. The band set the mood, and everyone hit the dance floor. A white wedding cake decorated with daisies was surrounded by mini cakes for guests to grab between dances.
“We love to have fun together and with our people, so a live band and lots of dancing were another non-negotiable for our wedding day!” concluded the bride.
Advice from the couple:
• Make your wedding day feel like the energy you bring to others as a couple! We wanted our wedding day to reflect the bright, sunshine-filled, joyous energy we try to share with all of our friends and family. We are low-key foodies and love to eat organically and naturally, so we prioritized organic cocktails, farmer’s market grazing table, as well as farm-to-table pizza for dinner.
PLANNER Nicole Leza | PHOTOGRAPHER Katie Edwards Mauro | VIDEOGRAPHER Vince Mauro | FLORAL Ojala Floral | CATERING Lucca Truck, Slate Catering Co., Roxanne Rosensteel | BAR The Petite Fleet, Welcome Coffee cart | MUAH Samara Beauty | BAND Brett & Co. | STATIONERY K Designs | RENTAL Party Pleasers Event Rental Co
