Santa Barbara Wedding at the Historical Museum | Vickie & Jeff

Vickie and Jeff's Santa Barbara wedding was full of love, happy tears and thoughtful details from start to finish. They put so much care into planning their day, and the one thing they hoped for most was a celebration that reflected who they are, their personalities and their love for each other. Looking back through their gallery, I think they did exactly that.

The day began with a first look, a calm little pocket of time before everything picked up pace. When Jeff turned around and saw Vickie for the first time, everything else seemed to fall away for a moment. There were nerves, grins and a few happy tears, and it set the tone for a day that was all about the two of them.

From there we headed to the Presidio Chapel for their Catholic ceremony. Their nieces and nephew led the way down the aisle, followed by Vickie on her dad's arm, with Jeff waiting at the front. Even after their first look, the way he watched her walk toward him said everything. Her dad placed her hand in Jeff's, and as they shared their vows, you could feel how much every word meant to them. After their first kiss, they were announced as husband and wife and walked back down the aisle together, surrounded by the people who love them most.

The celebration moved to the lower courtyard of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, and every corner of it felt like them. Organic lamps and shades hung above the head table and dance floor, with florals and signage tying the whole space together. Dart Collective set the mood from cocktail hour onward while guests sipped the couple's two signature drinks, the Hinge Hugo & El Jefe. Vickie and Jeff spent cocktail hour with their closest friends, drinks in hand, soaking up every hug and congratulations.

As golden hour rolled in, we slipped up to the private upper courtyard and over to the soft mauve walls for portraits. After a whirlwind of a day, it was a chance for them to slow down, take a breath and enjoy being newlyweds in the warm evening light, and some of my favorite frames came from them simply being close to each other.

Dinner was full of love, laughter and heartfelt speeches from the people closest to them, before Vickie and Jeff stepped onto the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife. The parent dances followed, and a live sax player joined the DJ, filling the courtyard with music well into the night.

Of course, no recap of this day would be complete without the gelato cart, serving scoops, coffee and lattes for dessert. Vickie asked for a photo of it before the wedding, so I made sure it found its way into the gallery!