When planning their coastal celebration in Santa Barbara, the couple sought a delicate balance between elevated elegance and approachable warmth, ensuring that every element of the day reflected their personal history, family bonds, and shared life together. Set against a breathtaking ocean backdrop where early cloud cover gave way to a brilliantly clear, 72-degree afternoon, the wedding unfolded as a masterclass in thoughtful design, emotional resonance, and seamless execution.
Rather than disappearing for traditional pre-ceremony photographs, the couple opted for a first look earlier in the day, allowing them to fully enjoy cocktail hour alongside their guests. The weather cooperated just in time, with the clouds parting around 3:00 p.m. to reveal a pristine coastal setting on the bluff.
The ceremony itself was deliberately restrained, designed to let the natural beauty of the ocean remain the primary focal point. Eschewing a traditional floral arch, the design featured a raised, angled stage overlooking the water, framed by soft, movement-filled pink sea grass that defined the aisle and felt as though it had always grown naturally along the coast.
Music set a resonant tone from the very beginning. As guests arrived and the processional commenced, the Santa Barbara String Quartet performed live. Kevin entered to The Beach Boys’ "God Only Knows," while the bride walked down the aisle with her stepfather to Stevie Wonder’s "Ribbon in the Sky." Following their pronunciation as husband and wife, the newlyweds recessed together to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s "You’re All I Need to Get By." The string quartet continued playing throughout the cocktail hour on the bluff, creating a continuous musical thread that bridged the ceremony and the reception.
Officiated by a close college friend of Kevin’s—who now serves as a Superior Court judge—the ceremony was kept short and deeply personal. The couple wrote their own vows, and one of the standout moments involved asking the gathered congregation to make a collective promise of their own: to support, encourage, and celebrate the newlyweds throughout their marriage.
Family history was quietly and powerfully woven into the fabric of the day. The wedding date itself held profound significance, falling on May 23, which would have been the birthday of Kevin’s father, Fred. Having passed away five years prior, Fred’s presence was honored throughout the celebration, from a heartfelt toast delivered by Kevin’s mother, Cookie, and his aunt, to a specialty mocktail named the "Freddy P" in his honor.
The bride’s grandparents were similarly celebrated through multiple cherished details. A vintage family wedding band was sewn directly into the bride’s dress by Rebecca, and the original cake topper from her grandparents’ wedding decades prior was restored and placed proudly atop the couple’s modern wedding cake. Additionally, a signature Hugo Spritz named the "Keith & Lucille Summer Spritz" paid direct homage to her grandparents. While these understated touches were not necessarily designed for immediate recognition by every guest, they served as meaningful bridges between past generations and the new family being forged.
The couple’s beloved Cavapoo, Teddy, also played a central role in the celebration. Serving as ring bearer alongside Kevin’s nephew, the dog represented the couple’s immediate family unit. Later in the evening, Teddy made a sweet, playful reappearance at a late-night cookie buffet dubbed "Teddy’s Treats," bridging the gap between an otherwise formal wedding and the couple’s everyday life.
Florals & Decor
The floral design, spearheaded by Kim Curtis of TOAST Santa Barbara, exceeded expectations by offering loose, garden-inspired arrangements that felt wonderfully unexpected. Moving organically from ivory, blush, and peach into richer tones of coral, raspberry, lavender, and purple, the arrangements featured seasonal blooms such as peonies, garden roses, lilac, and clematis. By utilizing varying heights and stages of openness, the design avoided any overly stiff or manicured aesthetic.
For her bouquet, the bride specifically requested lilac, drawing on the powerful connection between scent and memory. The fragrant touch was chosen so that, years into the future, the aroma of walking down the aisle would immediately transport her back to the moment.
As the celebration transitioned from the bluff into the reception tent, the florals became progressively more abundant. Cassandra layered the blooms with patterned blush linens, woven chargers, delicate china, ambient candlelight, and small green table lamps. These lamps provided an intimate, residential warmth that made the expansive dinner space feel remarkably cozy.
Before guests stepped inside from cocktail hour, the planner treated the couple to a private first look at the reception space. With "Hello Sunshine" playing softly in the background, the bride caught her first glimpse of the fully realized vision—the flowers, linens, lamps, and tables—and was overcome with emotion and gratitude. Kevin fondly recalls it as the first and only time he saw her cry throughout the entire wedding day.
The color palette deepened further for the dancing portion of the evening. Rich emerald velvet draping and plush lounge furniture transformed the space, creating a distinct mood that shifted seamlessly from the natural simplicity of the bluff and the colorful garden ambiance of dinner to the high-energy luxury of the late-night dance floor.
Food & Drink
The culinary program was designed to feel elevated yet approachable, ensuring a genuinely delicious experience for every attendee. The multi-course dinner offered three distinct main options: Pacific salmon served with asparagus risotto, roasted asparagus, purple cauliflower, roasted mushroom, and citrus beurre blanc; a citrus-herb-marinated chicken breast accompanied by potato mousseline, Tuscan kale, roasted baby carrots, and Chardonnay chicken jus; and a wild mushroom ravioli paired with Tuscan kale, roasted mushroom, and pine nut cream.
Cocktails served as another avenue for personal expression. Signature drinks were named after family members and close circles, including Kevin’s specialty drink, the "K-Paloma"; the bride’s choice, a gin martini dubbed the "Mon-tini"; the aforementioned "Freddy P" mocktail named for Kevin’s late father; and the "Keith & Lucille Summer Spritz" honoring the bride’s grandparents.
Late into the evening, the celebration embraced a playful touch with "Teddy’s Treats," a cookie buffet curated by Lele Patisserie in Santa Barbara. The station featured elevated interpretations of classic favorites, including salted chocolate chip, peanut butter, snickerdoodle, chocolate turtle, and sprinkle sugar cookies.
Wedding Cake
Reflecting the couple’s desire for clean elegance, Lele Patisserie crafted a simple citrus cake layered with vanilla cream cheese filling and a vibrant raspberry swirl. The confection was finished in vanilla meringue buttercream and vanilla cream cheese frosting.
Atop the dessert sat the most poignant detail of all: the restored original cake topper from the bride’s grandparents’ wedding. Seeing the small, vintage keepsake resting atop the new cake decades later provided a quiet, powerful link to family history at the literal start of a new marriage.
Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs
Following the family-focused ceremony, the reception maintained a lively, nostalgic atmosphere. Keeping with the theme of connection, the traditional father-daughter and mother-son dances were combined into a single family dance set to Frank Sinatra’s "Fly Me to the Moon," with the bride dancing with her stepfather while Kevin danced with his mother, Cookie.
For the party, the couple enlisted well-known DJs Tendaji Lathan and Michelle Pesce—both close friends—to helm the sound booth. The playlist heavily leaned into the music of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, serving as the definitive soundtrack to the high school and college years shared by the couple and many of their guests. Rather than feeling like a conventional wedding playlist, the environment mirrored a vibrant reunion among lifelong friends.
Ensuring that guests walked away with a lasting token rather than a disposable favor, the couple partnered with Andrea Orozco Del Hoyo of Andrea Del Hoyo Studio to provide live fashion illustrations. Introduced during cocktail hour on the bluff, guests had a quick reference photo taken so they could continue mingling while their custom portraits were crafted. The finished illustrations were displayed later in the evening for attendees to collect, framing a personalized, one-of-a-kind memory designed to be kept for years to come.
