Date: October 5, 2019
Not even an unexpected move across the pond could stop Natalia Walicki and John Gilkey from throwing the wedding of their dreams at Villa & Vine in Santa Barbara. The bride and groom attended California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and the University of California–Santa Barbara, respectively, so they knew they wanted to tie the knot somewhere near their alma maters. However, a month after booking their venue, John’s work uprooted the couple and took them to London. Despite being thousands of miles away, they were still able to orchestrate their wedding into a perfect symphony with the help of their planner and florist, Burlap & Bordeaux. The rich Spanish architecture of Villa & Vine provided a stunning backdrop for the affair. The couple wanted their celebration to feel like one large dinner party with their closest friends and family—many of whom they hadn’t seen since their move to the U.K. Long tables were arranged in a square configuration in the courtyard, with arrangements of white roses and greenery resting on top of the tables. Verdant meandering vines grew along the arcade that bordered the courtyard, the deep green providing contrast against the dusty powder blue curtains framing the arches. Natalia and John hit the dance floor for their final spin, dancing to Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” recalling memories of when John proposed to Natalia under the Golden Gate Bridge.
