We love backyard weddings, we love beach weddings, and we sure love ‘em both at once. With all the fond memories Claire’s had at her grandparents’ home in Carpinteria, CA over the years, she couldn’t imagine any place better to say I Do. Now, of course, those memories spent with 110 guests + captured by Cara Robbins Studio (remember the Monterey wedding she photographed?) are even sweeter.
Aren’t these invites pretty? Here’s what Claire says:
One thing I knew I wanted to do myself was design the invitations. I had some familiarity with lettering for personal projects, but nothing so involved as a paper suite. Pinterest was my best friend and my enemy, I accumulated so much diverse inspiration that it was overwhelming to distill it down to my style. My deadlines for myself came and went, but finally I broke through the wall with a cohesive and simple design. Then I was off to the races working with a letterpress and digital printer to get the result just right. It was the biggest hurdle I overcame, but I’m glad it didn’t come easily. I ended up enjoying the process so much that I have put my work online for anyone looking for custom lettering. I highly recommend using Pinterest to gather inspiration when planning. It’s a very good tool in communicating style to vendors, whichever stage of planning you are at. But at a certain point you must draw a plan of action from it. Do not get bogged down in the possibilities.
Their wedding style? Less is more. And a color palette of grey-green and seafoam.
Fave moments: Both Wyles and I remember reading the letters we wrote to each other before the ceremony. When I read through his hand written note, I was in awe to find that we had independently expressed almost the exact same feelings to each other. It was an emotional moment that reminded me we were on the same page. On the sillier side, we had a moment before guests were seated for lunch to play around with the photo booth we set up for the appetizer hour. When the best man announced us, we were on the other side of the house taking married selfies, and had to dash back over for his second call.
Claire’s mom made the jam + syrups for drinks, and her and Claire’s sister teamed up for the favors, which were boxes filled with everything guests would need for the long drives to the venue.
Cara mentioned that they got to do some beautiful wedding portraits along the beach after that grand exit… See more in the gallery below:
Cheers to Claire + Wyles!
Photographer: Cara Robbins Studio / Venue: Private Residence, Carpinteria, CA / Coordinator: Jaime of Wild Heart Events / Florist: Coco Rose Design / Hair & Makeup: Ashley and Christin of Luna Bella / Paper Goods & Calligraphy: Letters by Claire / Letterpress: Dependable Letterpress / Digital Printer: H&H Imaging / Cake: Pie For Breakfast / Catering: Heat Culinary / Coffee: Longshot Coffee / Linens: La Tavola / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Band: The Dustbowl Revival / Jam & Syrups: Bride’s Mom / Bride’s Dress: Tara Keely from Haute Bride in Los Gatos / Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Vintage Earrings & Wedding Band: Peggy’s Used Treasures in Carpinteria / Groom & Best Man Suits: J. Crew / Shoes: Allen Edmonds / Tie & Shirt: J. Crew / Tie Clip: David Donahue / Bicycle Cufflinks: Etsy / Wedding Band: Brilliant Earth / Matron of Honor: Halston Heritage
