OCTOBER 16, 2021
For their October wedding, Arielle & Parker wanted a bohemian design with earthy fall colors and touches of black for a modern flair. They loved the Barn at Old Morro as their venue because of its intimate outdoor setting and the modern look of the all-white barn. A handful of DIY elements–including their dessert bar, hand-cut napkins, and personalized favors for their guests–contributed to the unique and personal atmosphere the newlyweds dreamed of for their wedding day.
Arielle & Parker met at Point Loma University through her roommate, and their fun, quirky, light-hearted friendship soon grew into a budding romance. On the day they got engaged, Arielle had driven up from San Diego to meet her brother and sister-in-law for a hike along the bluffs of Montano de Oro, so her brother could “experiment with a new camera lens.” Little did she know, Parker had secretly driven up from San Diego as well, and her family had sneaked him out to the bluffs to surprise her. Parker waited until the right moment to climb over the cliffs and surprise Arielle and get down on one knee. Her genuine surprise and tearful "Yes!" were priceless...and the rest is history!
DETAILS
GETTING READY
CEREMONY
In the afternoon shade of the oaks, Arielle & Parker exchanged their vows under a stately wooden arch decorated with white drapes and lush neutral-toned florals, with live music performed by Chris Beland and his daughter Harmony. Surrounded by their closest family and friends, the ceremony was sweet and intimate.
WEDDING PARTY
RECEPTION
The outdoor reception echoed the same warm and intimate setting as the ceremony. Wooden farm tables were arranged around the dance floor, and each table alternated between beige linens and sheer ivory table runners. The place settings were simple, but each one featured a hand-cut cinnamon napkin for a pop of color.
For favors, each guest received a bag of coffee beans from a local coffee shop, the Nautical Bean. Each bag was personalized with stickers of the couple. Guests loved this idea! Not a single bag was left.
DESSERT TABLE
Arielle comes from a big family of cooks, and all of the desserts on their bar–from the French macarons, to the chocolate-covered strawberries, to the chocolate mousse cups–were handmade by the bride’s grandmother. Combined with the cutting cake from Just Baked SLO, this dessert bar was a huge hit!
FIRST DANCE
Beneath the oaks and the sparkling bistro lights, Arielle & Parker shared their first dance as newlyweds surrounded by their closest family and friends. This moment was sweet and special, and really exemplified the personal and intimate nature of their wedding day.
LOVE LETTER FROM THE NEWLYWEDS
"Once Parker and I got engaged the first thing we did was lock down our planner! Sam was previously my employer at Zest so I knew that her attention to detail was impeccable. I wouldn’t trust any other planner for my big day. She took care of all the details and was there for emotional support! She is great with dealing with awkward family, or guest situations as well. She knows how to keep things professional. We had a huge unexpected event take place before our big day and we almost canceled the entire wedding. Sam helped us figure out a way that we could re-work things to make everyone feel comfortable and safe. Due to Covid we made sure that everyone wore masks and spaced out the tables…etc. We wouldn’t have had our fairytale turn out the way it did without Sam. We are eternally grateful. She put in so much extra behind-the-scenes work. We couldn’t be happier!" -Arielle & Parker
WATCH THEIR WEDDING VIDEO HERE
THE DREAM TEAM
I loved working alongside Arielle and Parker to make every little detail of this wedding a reflection of their beautiful love story. Here are the vendors who helped me make it happen!
VENUE: @thebarnatoldmorro
COORDINATION & DESIGN: @zestitup
PHOTO: @patmanang
VIDEO: @captivatingvideography
FLORAL: @aprilpeet
ARCH & DRAPING: @flowersbykim
MUAH: @julianasullengerbeauty
DRESS: @moondancebridal @ruedeseinebridal
SUIT: @menguintux
RENTALS: @allaboutevents @curated_sol_rentals
CATERING: @popolo_catering
CUTTING CAKE: @justbakedslo
DJ: @nickisshort
LIVE MUSIC: @chrisbelandmusic @harmonychabs_
xo,
Sam
Blog post by Olivia Cook.