Gigi and Tayler’s story began in Dallas, Texas, where they met through mutual friends. Fast forward to their wedding day, and the couple exchanged vows in a beautiful destination wedding in Montecito, California. 

When asked why they chose to have a destination wedding, Gigi explained, “My father lives in Montecito, and we love visiting Santa Barbara/Montecito. We also love the outdoors and wanted our wedding to be in a beautiful location.”

The couple’s venue was none other than the bride’s father’s home, which provided a stunning garden setting for the ceremony. “We chose to get married there because we love the garden,” added Gigi. The decor and extras were equally as breathtaking, with the rehearsal dinner décor being completely different from the wedding. Gigi and Tayler even took their close friends and family sailing the day before the wedding to let loose and catch up with people.

As for the wedding ceremony itself, the couple opted for a non-traditional religious ceremony and wrote their own vows. “We were married by a family friend who is a judge and did not have a traditional religious ceremony. We wrote our vows because that was important to us,” shared Gigi.

The wedding’s design was floral-forward, highlighting a variety of flowers such as peonies, ranunculus, roses, tulips, hydrangea, and delphinium. Cocktail hour was held in the garden under olive trees, while the reception was under a tent of twinkle lights. The orange-patterned dinner plates brought a playful element to the table setting that complemented the colorful florals.

One of the special details of the wedding was K Designs’ custom decal of watercolored palm trees for the bar at cocktail hour. She also made their bar sign with watercolors for their two dogs. K Designs also hand-painted the escort card wall in an orange and gold pattern that was inspired by the beautiful plates.

Planning a destination wedding can come with its challenges, but Gigi and Tayler had the help of wedding planner Tyler Speier to make the process smoother. “Having a wedding planner was essential,” said Gigi. “We also did pre-wedding site visits to ensure everything was in order.”

When asked about any advice they would give to future brides and grooms, Gigi and Tayler both agreed on the importance of having a wedding planner and, most importantly, having fun. “Get a wedding planner and have fun,” Gigi advised.

Overall, Gigi and Tayler’s destination wedding in Montecito was a dream come true, with the breathtaking location, beautiful decor, and personalized touches making it a day they will cherish forever.

Vendors: Photographer: James & Jess; Wedding Planner & Florist: Tyler Speier; Venue: Private Residence; Stationery: K Designs; Cake: Lele Patisserie; Hair & Makeup: Breanna Stewart; Gown Designer: Ines Di Santo; Gown Store: Stanley Korshak; Groom’s Clothing Designer: Harper and Jones