1. Real Weddings

A Romantic Wedding at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, California

Brittany Rinella (27 and in sales) and Robert Papenhause (28 and in sales) wanted their coastal California wedding to be romantic—and was it ever. The

Brittany Rinella (27 and in sales) and Robert Papenhause (28 and in sales) wanted their coastal California wedding to be romantic—and was it ever. The stunning Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, California, provided a beautiful outdoor setting for the couple's ceremony and reception. Working with Hoste Events, the couple created an elegant evening that combined an intimate ceremony and a communal family-style dinner with sophisticated decor, including sheer white cabanas floating above the long head table, hanging candelabras draped with lush greenery and boho-chic handwritten wooden signs. "We tried to do just enough and never too much of anything," says Brittany, who paired her fitted mermaid-style lace gown with a delicate mantilla veil and blue satin jeweled Manolo Blahnik heels. Little details—like the basket of parasols to protect guests from the July sun and Spanish tile place cards—helped elevate the experience for Brittany and Robert's guests.  —Michelle Thomas

The bridal bouquet combined a loose, textured mix of ivory garden roses, white dahlias, ivory spray roses, white china mums, white lisianthus, Queen Anne’s lace, jasmine vines, seeded eucalyptus and olive branches.
Wooden signs with hand-painted calligraphy decorated the reception space.
Brittany and her bridesmaids wore matching blush pink robes from Pretty Plum Sugar while primping for the day.
As her "something blue," Brittany wore these satin bejeweled Manolo Blahnik pumps.
Classic tuxedos for the groom and groomsmen added formality to the outdoor garden setting.
The bridesmaids wore long blush pink Joanna August dresses in their preferred style.
The ceremony was held in the Hacienda courtyard of the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, California.
A basket of parasols sat at the entrance to the ceremony, to protect against the July sun.
Peony & Plum created the floral arrangements, including this urn filled with white hydrangeas, lisianthus, peach and ivory roses, Queen Anne’s lace, eucalyptus, jasmine vines and olive branches.
Large lanterns and a carpet of white rose petals decorated the aisle of the ceremony space.
Brittany's three nieces were the flower girls. The bride ordered their angelic dresses from Etsy.
Brittany's close cousin officiated the intimate ceremony, and then the newly married couple walked out to Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours."
In lieu of traditional paper place cards, the couple nodded to Ojai's Spanish influences with their ceramic tile place markers.
Robert proposed to Brittany in Hawaii after three years of dating.
A combination of round tables and a long head table was the setup for the family-style dinner on the Herb Garden lawn at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, California.
Draping sheer canopies and greenery-wrapped candelabras gave the long head table an air of romance.
The newlyweds chose Ray LaMontagne's "You Are the Best Thing" for their first dance. A live band kept their guests dancing until the end.
Brittany and Robert chose a "naked" unfrosted cake in red velvet, their favorite flavor.
Brittany especially loved the romantic glow of the string lights, hanging chandeliers and candelabras that decorated her outdoor reception.
The couple exited to a sparkler send-off.