Real talk: as most of our California pals know, weddings in Santa Barbara + this area in general do not come without sticker shock. They just don’t! It’s pretty unheard of for a couple to pull off an evening SoCal wedding as stunning as this with 120 guests for a budget of $35K (all the way down to the groom’s shoes), which is why we had to grill our talented bride on how they made it happen. (It’s kinda our job, you know") Peruse the images by Cara Robbins Studio throughout for deets!

Caroline enlisted Carla of Idlewild Floral on the colorful dahlia + peony-inspired bouquets. She loves arranging flowers herself, so she compromised (and saved $$) by taking on the table arrangements at the reception (below) as a DIY: The day before the wedding, I was so absorbed in floral assembly that I nearly forgot about the rehearsal! I showed up disheveled at our welcome party. I wouldn’t have traded leisure time for the experience of getting to do so much myself, but it is definitely a trade-off that you have to make.
Taking on the table arrangements as a DIY left room in the budget for these beautiful bouquets from Carla. Swoon!

Caroline’s dad passed away when she was 13, and she felt it was important to walk down the aisle on her own. To honor him during the ceremony, her dad?s sister shared a sweet memory?of Caroline learning to dance on her father?s toes?which ended up being a beautiful segue to the bride?s idea of da...