1. Real Weddings

A Casual Backyard Wedding in Santa Barbara, California

Louis Andrade (32 and a graphic designer) and Pamela Blood (29 and a store manager) began their relationship as friends when they worked together at t

Louis Andrade (32 and a graphic designer) and Pamela Blood (29 and a store manager) began their relationship as friends when they worked together at the same store in their hometown of Solvang, California. They spent years as friends while Louis was away at college in Los Angeles, spending time together on his breaks from school. It wasn't until after Pamela also moved to LA that the two began dating and were engaged 6 years later when Louis proposed with the assistance of their rescue pug, Opie Von Wrinkles. With the help of friends and family, the couple put together a casual outdoor wedding at the home of a family Pamela had babysat for as a teenager. The couple kept their theme laid back from the beginning, going barefoot for the ceremony and allowing the wedding party to choose their own attire. Blue, grey and pink floral arrangements put together by the grooms sister could be seen on the tables at dinner as guests drank personalized wine designed by the grooms brother. Louis was born in Mexico so the couple wanted to include his culture in parts of their reception. His parents provided a Mariachi band and homemade salsa for guests to take home as favors. The decorations and activities were a tribute to the bride and grooms fun personalities. Louis' cousin and uncle performed a dance during dinner and a photo booth built by the couple provided entertainment throughout the night. "We like to have fun and not be stuffy. We had a photo booth that we made with a fence that had fallen down and some shutters we got for free!" says Pamela.

The Homemade Wedding Invitations
The bride wanted to allow her bridesmaids to work within their own budget and style for their dresses. She provided a guideline of blush, white, and light pink with lace and let them choose what they wore.
The groom also wanted his groomsmen to be able to express their own style within their budgets. He provided a palette of blue, grey, and tan and allowed them to accessorize as they pleased.
Pamela and Louis had decided to adopt a rescue dog and the night they picked him up, Louis proposed! Opie Von Wrinkles ended up being a large part of the wedding.
The Groomsmen Wore Succulents as their Boutineers
The backyard setting was provided by a family the bride has babysat for in high school. The large acreage and close family ties allowed the couple to decorate as they pleased and save money on a venue.
The Bride and Groom Share their First Kiss as Newlyweds
The Wedding Party After the Ceremony
The Groom Sneaking a Kiss from the Bride
The Bride and Groom Served Refreshing Summer Beverages
The grooms sister, Rosa, is a landscape artist and provided the floral arrangements for the ceremony and reception. She kept to a palette of soft, light colors to match the casual theme.
Dainty Handcrafted Table Settings
The Casual Poolside Reception
Louis was born in Mexico so the couple wanted to bring his culture into the wedding. During dinner, the grooms uncle and cousin did a dance to the Mariachi band provided by his parents.
The Bride and Groom Share Their First Dance
To show off their fun personalities, the bride and groom built a photo booth for guests to enjoy during the reception. They used an old piece of fence and some shutters to keep the casual DIY feel.
The bride and groom provided the cocktail hour food themselves serving veggies, fruit and hummus. The large barbecue dinner included chicken, potato salad and garlic bread.
The bride and grooms pug, Opie Von Wrinkles, played a major role in the wedding decor. His face could be seen on the personalized bottles of wine as well as the cake topper.
The favors were another tribute to the grooms Mexican culture. The grooms mother made individual jars of her homemade salsa to send home with each guest.