I just got married in May, and it was the most perfect day! Here are all of the vendors that helped to make my wedding day beautiful, and why I would recommend each of them:
Zippi Photography
All of the photos in this post are by Zippi Photography! Amanda was wonderful to work with from the very beginning, from our engagement photos to our wedding day and beyond. She focuses on candid photos and perfectly captured the vibe of our wedding day. Her editing style reflects how I see memories in my head, with soft edges and a warm glow. Amanda was happy to plan around all of my weird requests, including overly formal portraits (think your grandparents’ wedding photos), mirror reflections, and recreating a blooper photo from my husband’s college graduation shoot. We had so much fun exploring our venue with Amanda, you can tell she loves what she does! Choosing a photographer is one of the most important decisions in wedding planning, and we are so happy to have chosen Zippi Photography!
https://www.zippiphotography.com/
Over The Moon Events
I never imagined myself as someone who would need a wedding coordinator. I had a small wedding, so I thought I could do everything myself. But then our venue (actually, the majority of venues in the area) required us to have a coordinator, and I am so glad we did! Krysta was extremely helpful and I was really thankful to have a series of well laid out steps to follow. I had never planned a wedding before, and if you have you know that there are a million little details to consider, many of which I would have missed without Krysta. She and her assistant Sarah were there for my entire wedding day and it was so nice to not have to communicate with vendors or worry about details while I was getting ready! The whole day went smoothly–if there were any snags I certainly never heard about them–thanks to Over The Moon.
https://www.overthemooneventco.com/
1880 Union Hotel
Located in Los Alamos (just south of Santa Maria), 1880 Union Hotel is the most beautiful venue on the Central Coast. The hotel itself is a former stagecoach stop, and the setting of the “Say Say Say” music video by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. The hotel changed owners last fall, and the downstairs and a few rooms were extensively renovated this spring, making the space even more welcoming than before. We were able to stay in the hotel for two nights along with our wedding party and it was wonderful to be able to have the venue exclusively for the entirety of my wedding day. The dreaded 8 am makeup call is a little easier when you’re staying right down the hall! The bridal suite features a hidden getting ready room behind a secret door, perfect for hair and makeup the morning of while watching setup below.
The venue also handled all of the catering, which was ridiculously tasty. Chef Noban worked with us to create a custom menu, from hors d’oeuvres to dinner to dessert, plus a late night snack upstairs! Every little piece was delicious–I heard that at least one guest was eating the garlic herb compound butter with a spoon. Our desserts were served in antique teacups that we thrifted, a challenge that the chef was more than happy to take on.
Shell Beach Floral Design
I had the best time working with Shell Beach Floral! Rey is a delight to work with, and it was so fun watching him create the arch pieces on site. The only florals I had were my bouquet, bridesmaids bouquets, and pieces for the ceremony arch that were converted into sweetheart table decorations later, and it was absolutely perfect. They’ll work with you to make sure everything is exactly what you want, from flower choices to ribbons. I had silk butterflies added into my bouquet, which they happily accommodated, and it was the perfect bit of whimsy to make my fairytale wedding dreams come true.
https://www.shellbeachfloral.com/
The Pressed Petal Co
I wanted to be able to keep my flowers forever, and the Pressed Petal Co made my dreams a reality! I was so happy to find a local vendor for this, she’s based in Nipomo and I was able to drop off my bouquet at her home the morning after my wedding. No worrying about shipping delays or wilting flowers! Since my wedding was during peak season, it took about three months to get my flowers back, but it was absolutely worth it. I got the oval frame with an acrylic backing so the flowers have their space to shine. Katie’s artistic eye is unmatched, the arrangement she created is the perfect statement piece for my home that I can keep for the rest of my life.
https://www.thepressedpetalco.com/
Flora & Lane
Flora & Lane isn’t exactly local–they’re based in Chicago and have a store in San Francisco–but I would highly recommend them to any bride looking for a unique dress! I had such a wonderful experience trying on dresses, the stylist truly went above and beyond to help me find my perfect dress. I’ve been a fan of the brand for years, had actually been planning on going to Chicago to try on dresses, and was so excited when they opened a store in San Francisco literally one month before I got engaged! I went to four shops in total and ended up back at Flora & Lane buying the very first dress I tried on. Check them out for unique and colorful dresses!
Bella’s Atelier
Because I purchased my dress in San Francisco, I needed to find a local tailor for alterations. Bella’s Atelier specializes in wedding dresses and did a fantastic job. Bella is very talented and will work with you to create exactly what you want: I had detachable sleeves added and reworked the bustle, and everything was done with the highest quality while still being surprisingly affordable. I’m a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding next year and will absolutely be going back to Bella!