Contemporary Montecito Wedding At Home

There’s something so sweet about a backyard wedding, and this one from Melissa Gidney Photo, Alexandra Kolendrianos, and Mindy Rice is quite the affair. The reception was filled to the brim with hanging lanterns, making for a truly cozy effect that’s totally irresistible. Get ready to swoon!

From the wedding planner and designer, Alexandra Kolendrianos: Josh & Michelle had their elegant wedding at the groom’s parents’ stunning estate in Montecito, CA. The ceremony took place in a semicircle on the beautiful stone drive at the front of the house with the focal being a chuppah draped with exquisite flowers. The space felt so intimate surrounded by the natural landscape of the house in addition to the elements that we were able to bring in. Texture and foliage adorned the ceremony site to give it a natural, organic feeling.

The couple wanted the wedding to feel organic, natural and contemporary with a hint of a modern edge. The entire day was warm and felt personalized with the subtle bohemian touches such as succulents, ferns, textures, pottery and a pop of color. Guests made their way to cocktail hour and enjoyed views of the ocean and Santa Barbara as they made their way through the house down a staircase to the cocktail area. A Spanish guitar played, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were flowing and guests picked up their escort cards from a beautiful custom display that matched the natural landscape of the property.

From cocktails, guests made their way into a stunning tent. The design was clean and crisp. White fabric draped from the ceiling and complimented the linens on the table top. Mid-Century Chairs, soft textiles and woven and glass lanterns hung from above. Accents of gold on the table top added to the elegance. As the band played and the sun set, the lighting was pure magic and the dancing and party continued on!