Elegant Design, Fresh Air and Community at a Hotel Californian Wedding

Michelle and Taylor Trusty's wedding celebration served as a bridge across their continent and families. The couple met on Hinge while living in New York City and quickly bonded over their shared love for travel and adventure. Their next three years together were filled with unforgettable experiences, from road trips across the country to bike rides across Europe. Because they planned to move to California in the future, they decided to host their wedding on the stunning Pacific Coast in Santa Barbara, where the Hotel Californian made for an ideal venue. The historic venue's architecture, blending Spanish Colonial Revival design with Moroccan influences, created a picturesque and memorable place for Michelle and Taylor to tie the knot. The ceremony unfolded on a sunny outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains. Special touches included a gift station where guests could pick and choose items to fill their welcome bags upon arriving, as well as a photo wall including Michelle, Taylor and several generations of their family members. Classic white flowers mixed with verdant leaves lined the aisle and covered the chuppah under which the couple stood – one of several cultural elements of the Jewish ceremony. A cocktail hour took place on another green terrace, allowing guests to bask in the fresh air and daylight. Then, the indoor dinner featured elegant shades of ivory and soft candlelight, creating a soothing environment as joy and hope spread through the air. The celebration made for a perfect introduction to California and a new chapter of the couple's lives.