1. Real Weddings

A Glamorous Garden Wedding at the Riviera Mansion in Santa Barbara, California

For their Santa Barbara, California, wedding, Andrea Ortiz (29 and a compliance associate) and Mariko Sola (33 and a senior director of global sourcin

For their Santa Barbara, California, wedding, Andrea Ortiz (29 and a compliance associate) and Mariko Sola (33 and a senior director of global sourcing) anted to celebrate their love and the lush Southern California scenery. “We knew we wanted both the ceremony and reception outside to take advantage of the sun,” Andrea says. The couple chose the Sunken Gardens at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse for their ceremony, followed by a backyard reception at the nearby Riviera Mansion for 145 guests. Plenty of lush floral arrangements and a soft palette of dove gray, blush pink and touches of warm copper made for a romantic, garden-inspired affair. The brides described the theme as “simple but chic, rustic but kind of modern, elegant but not overwhelming.” At the reception, guests sipped wine from copper cups engraved with a special logo made for the newlyweds by Stacey from Willhouse Creative, who also helped design the invitations. The cups doubled as wedding favors. Family and friends dined at tables adorned with shiny copper bowls filled with roses and peonies and leafy green smilax runners. “Don’t stress about the small stuff—no one will notice or remember if you got mashed potatoes instead of roasted,” Andrea says. “Enjoy the day, because it will go by so incredibly fast. Take mental snapshots and really try to be present.” At the end of the night, the newlyweds honored their home city, San Francisco, with a final dance to Journey’s “Lights.” —Carolyn Meers

Andrea and Mariko's wedding rings in a heart-shaped "Mrs. & Mrs." ring dish—rings were designed by Steve Padis Jewelry.
Andrea wore a couture gown with an illusion neckline and lace details by Marina Tia Leight.
Tracy from Ella and Louie Floral Design crafted soft, full bouquets with ivory peonies and roses.
Mariko wore a chic, sleeveless woman’s suit by Alumni Design in eggshell white with a plunging neckline covered with lace. She topped it off with a lace bolero to make it more formal.
“We knew we wanted both the ceremony and reception outside to take advantage of the sun,” Andrea says. The couple chose the Sunken Gardens at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse for the ceremony, followed by a backyard reception at the nearby Riviera Mansion.
Mariko and Andrea's flower girls donned leafy green flower gowns and youthful white dresses.
Andrea and Mariko exchanged vows in the Santa Barbara County Courthouse's Sunken Garden under an arch crafted by Ella and Louie Floral Design.
A calligraphed, white-framed seating chart shared guests' assigned tables.
For the reception at the Riviera Mansion in Santa Barbara, California, guests sat under string lights, which added soft light as the sun went down.
Guests dined at tables adorned with shiny copper bowls filled with roses and peonies and leafy green smilax runners. Faded blue table numbers were painted onto off-white cards.
At the reception at the Riviera Mansion in Santa Barbara, guests sipped wine from copper cups engraved with a special logo made for the newlyweds by Stacey from Willhouse Creative, who also helped design the invitations. The cups doubled as wedding favors.
For added elegance and ambiance at the backyard reception at the Riviera Mansion in Santa Barbara, California, chandeliers were hung in the trees.
"Our cake was simple—three tiers with white whipped frosting, fresh cascading roses, peonies and greenery," Andrea says. "It was chocolate with fresh whipped cream and strawberries inside—and it was consumed entirely that night."
"Our first dance was to 'Crazy for You' by Madonna," Andrea says. "It has always been a favorite song of Mariko's and it just seemed appropriate for two women born in the '80s."