Suzy and Ray’s multi-event Santa Barbara destination wedding weekend was a vibe and a half! The couple’s exquisite fashion sense, scrumptious-looking food and beverage choices, and the joy plastered on everyone’s faces are enough to leave you saying, “I’ll have what they’re having” when it comes to your own destination wedding. Let’s start this story at the beginning, when Suzy met Ray…

“We knew each other through mutual friends for years,” the couple tells us. The earliest indicator that there was something between the two of them? In 2015, when Suzy, a woman spoken for at the time, thought Ray was such a catch, she set him up on a date with a friend! “Luckily, that date went nowhere and Hinge reconnected us in August 2020,” Suzy says. 

As serendipitously as their journey to forever started, so was the choice to wed in Santa Barbara. The couple set out to find a place far enough away from Los Angeles (where the couple lived at the time) that it felt like a getaway, but close enough that they could make site visits and planning trips on the weekends leading up to the wedding. 

“All the stars aligned at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern was the perfect venue for us,” Ray explains, “the right size with an outstanding food & wine program and beautiful design, it was the perfect choice.”

Opting for the privacy of a total property buyout, Suzy and Ray’s next point of business: hiring a planner who could make their special day truly shine. Enter: Jason Rhee! Jason, a destination wedding planner local to LA, already had experience planning a wedding at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern.

Total customizations of their Santa Barbara destination wedding began with the invitations themselves! “We had our stationery vendor create an illustration of us with our son,” the bride says, “which we utilized on various assets throughout the weekend.” This touching illustration appeared on the couple’s wedding website, the itinerary all guests received at check-in, napkins at the welcome reception, and a sign on the bar showcasing their specialty cocktail!

Tragically, in the midst of all this planning, Suzy lost her dear mother. To set up reminders that her mom was undoubtedly attending her daughter’s wedding in spirit, the couple worked with Jason to incorporate her favorite color, purple, in tasteful accents. 

As far as traditions went, Ray and Suzy felt free to let go of any obligations and celebrate in a way that felt truly authentic to them. “Even though this was our wedding weekend, we had actually been legally married for about a year and a half and had our 14-month-old son with us,” Ray explains. So, instead of exchanging rings, the couple shared a champagne toast, a nod to Ray’s deep love of champagne (right there with you, Ray!). 

“To that end,” Suzy adds, “over the years, he’s built a collection of special bottles, saved with the intention of one day sharing them with the people he loves most. What better moment than this?” The pair had a wine bar, staffed by the property’s sommelier, pouring only wines from Ray’s personal collection. Unsurprisingly, this attraction became a highlight of the wedding night!
“Our guests loved exploring the variety, learning about the bottles, and it added to the feeling that we were simply hosting the most joyful, love-filled dinner party of our lives,” the bride says.

The ceremony itself also brought a unique sense of Ray and Suzy-flare with a modern twist on the Sheva Brachot—the seven traditional Jewish blessings that honor love, joy, and the joining of two lives. Rather than the traditional Hebrew recitation by an officiant, family and friends read each blessing aloud in English interpretations. “Standing beneath our chuppah, holding each other and listening to their voices surround us with such heartfelt words, was a moment we’ll carry with us forever,” the couple tells us. 

Beyond the carefully conceptualized menu for their multi-day wedding in Santa Barbara were the chicest florals and decor. The welcome dinner featured light wooden tables set with sophisticated rattan-backed chairs and place settings contrasting white plates with soft lilac napkins and matte black flatware. A continuous runner of lush floral centerpieces bursted with vibrant, deep red blooms, pinks, and greens. The wedding day itself featured Suzy and Ray’s Chuppah covered in abundant white flowers and cascading greenery. The reception carried on the same color theme, stacked white plates with delicate scalloped edges accented by sage green napkins and an abundance of tall glass cylinders holding glowing white candles.

Thoroughly inspired for your own wedding day yet? Good, but don’t go yet. Suzy and Ray offer some invaluable advice for couples embarking on their own wedding planning journeys.

“First, cultivate a strong, trusted relationship with your wedding planner and vendors. With any wedding, especially a destination, you’ll want to have a true partnership as you may not be able to see in person/feel/taste all the elements that make up your experience. You will need to rely heavily on the advice, insights, and expertise of your team. And secondly, don’t be afraid to ask! Share your vision, dream big, and put it out there. You can always scale back, adjust, or collaborate with your vendors to find a version that gets you as close as possible to what you imagined. I (Suzy) was more hesitant to make bold requests, but Ray wasn’t shy, always asking with kindness, and (more often than not) we were pleasantly surprised by how it all came together.”

Vendors: Photography: Ali Beck; Planning, Design & Florals: Jason Rhee of Rheefined; Venue: The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern; Stationery: Velvet Fox Designs; Beauty: TEAM Hair & Makeup; Grooms’ Clothing Designer: Issey Miyake (Welcome Party) & Brunello Cucinelli (Wedding); Bride’s Attire: Pucci (Welcome Party) & Vivienne Westwood (Wedding)