Amelia & Myles
How did you meet?
Neither of us can remember the exact time that we met, but we kept crossing paths back in 2009 and then reconnected a few months later at a movie with mutual friends.
When did you know they were the one?
We’ve been together 11 years and really grew up together, so there were many different moments where I knew he was the one. We were always there for each other while finding our paths in life, and along the way we knew that we saw forever.
What are your three favourite attributes of your partner?
He’s never afraid to dream big, has the best taste in music, and makes me laugh more than anyone else.
Who proposed and how?
He proposed on Christmas morning in 2018. There was a giant gift under the tree, and it ended up being multiple wrapped presents within the larger box, until I finally opened the smallest present that led to the ring. He set up my iPad camera to record the whole thing, and it was really sweet!
What was the best moment for you at the wedding?
Our wedding was cancelled a week before due to the first shutdown for COVID-19 back in March 2020. We rescheduled everything to December, but as the new date got closer we decided to postpone another year and plan a small ceremony this year instead. Despite almost getting cancelled on again due to a new stay-at-home order in California (that went into effect the day after!), everything perfectly fell into place on our wedding day. The weather was beautiful, there were dolphins jumping in the ocean behind us, and everything just felt like it was meant to be. The absolute best moment was looking into my now-husband’s eyes during our ceremony, where we were able to reflect on our relationship and know that we were finally getting married.
Where did you fall in love with your dress and why?
I think Zylah was the last dress that I tried on during my first wedding dress shopping appointment in June 2019, when the dress shop owner had just gotten it in. I absolutely loved the lace pattern, and it felt really timeless. I went to two other dress shops before coming back and deciding between Zylah and Harlie. The bright ivory and shiny details on Zylah are what stood out over other dresses for me. Also I LOVED the idea of having tulle wings. I never wanted to wear a veil, but they were the perfect addition to my dress for the ceremony.
What surprised you most at or about your wedding?
I know everyone says it goes by really fast, but it was still an understatement! So much is happening at once that it’s hard to take everything in.
What advice would you tell other brides?
If time allows it, I would recommend asking the photographer/videographer for a few minutes alone just to let everything sink in and enjoy the moment. My husband and I definitely enjoyed everything as a whole, but you can’t fully relax and reflect while you’re being directed for the camera.
What was one thing you did differently for your wedding?
This was our “minimony” (with our larger reception scheduled for next year), so it was a more informal and intimate ceremony where everyone was standing and spread out. We were always going to have a smaller wedding and aren’t huge on all the traditions, so this felt a lot more relaxed and natural for us. It was honestly probably the wedding we wanted to begin with!
MWL DESIGN:
Zylah
VENUE:
Dos Pueblos Ranch in Goleta, California. Our original venue was still closed due to COVID restrictions, so we had to scramble to find an outdoor location we could count on for our ceremony in just a couple of months. Through an amazing gesture by the owner of the ranch, we were able to have our ceremony at our dream wedding venue! The location was so special to us since we both grew up near the beach and have so many great memories along the coast.
FLORIST:
Margaret Joan Florals
MUSIC (DJ/band):
We didn’t have a DJ for this, but shoutout to my bridesmaid Veronica who was in charge of pressing play at the right moments for the ceremony playlist we had set up! We used a couple portable Sony speakers and it worked out great.
MAKEUP ARTIST:
I did my own makeup but had my hair done by Gabby Salazar.
RINGS/JEWELRY:
Rings from Blue Nile and a handmade necklace from Jessica DeCarlo (Myles bought me the necklace when we were looking at vendors in Bryant Park in New York six years ago)
SHOES:
Cole Haan (I ended up wearing booties from Target though since I knew I’d be walking on a lot of uneven ground!)
BRIDESMAIDS:
We’re saving the bridesmaid dresses for our larger wedding reception next year, but my bridesmaids still perfectly coordinated!
SUITS:
Zara
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Pinnel Photography
Your MWL stockist:
The Dress Bride in Santa Barbara, California. The owner, Jayna, is the best!
