1. Real Weddings

A Shabby-Chic Wedding With a Rustic Spin at Rancho Soquel in Santa Cruz, California

Rancho Soquel in Santa Cruz, California, had a landscape that provided the perfect combination between an overflowing English ga

Rancho Soquel in Santa Cruz, California, had a landscape that provided the perfect combination between an overflowing English garden and ranch-styled elements—exactly what Sophie Westbrook (31 and a marketing program manager) and Ryan Aull (37 and a product manager) wanted for their shabby-chic wedding at Rancho Soquel in Santa Cruz, California. “I knew it was the right place, with lush overgrown gardens filled with hydrangeas and succulents, oak trees and a barn,” Sophie says. “The venue was so beautiful that very little was needed in terms of decorations.” Ryan’s love for sailing combined with Sophie’s attraction to a classic look created the navy and coral color palette with hints of gold, captured on camera by Heather Scharf Photography. Sophie and Ryan had their ceremony outside on the open green lawn and were married at the archway topped with a lush garland and a hanging white chandelier, organized with the help of the Wedding Connection. At the reception, guests found their dining table assignments on the seating charts posted on a large wooden board, hanging by clothespins clipped onto wires. Lush centerpieces of dahlias, roses, alliums, chrysanthemums and a range of greenery added pops of color to the plain wooden dining tables, with paper menus and seating cards folded inside navy napkins and placed on white plates. A nice added touch were the gold pieces at each setting, depicting a carrot, sand dollar or pig, to represent the guests' meal choice. As much as we loved all the decor at this shabby-chic occasion, Sophie's V-neck ivory wedding dress entirely covered in lace is what really caught our attention, with a gorgeous keyhole-back opening and an elegant line of beading around the waistline. "I have a classic style in general when it comes to my clothes, so I wanted my dress to be equally as classic," Sophie says. 

Round-Cut Diamond and Wedding Rings
Wedding invitations were printed on burlap-patterned stationery, decorated with white and dark blue accents, to fit the shabby-chic look of the wedding at Rancho Soquel in Santa Cruz, California.
Sophie wore an ivory V-neck wedding dress accented in lace, with a beaded pattern wrapped around the waistline that added a touch of sparkle and an elegant keyhole back.
The bridesmaids wore navy blue dresses in different styles and held colorful bouquets filled with succulents, roses, chrysanthemums, Queen Anne’s lace and several other flowers. The bouquets were held together with a burlap wrap.
Detailed Metal Sailboat Cufflinks
Pink and Lace Flower-Girl Dress
Sophie and Ryan were married outside on the Rancho Soquel property, where they stood at the iron wedding arch decorated in a lush garland of greenery and flowers. A single white chandelier hung from the arch as Sophie and Ryan read their vows to one another.
Ryan wore a striped peach and navy blue bow tie with a matching pocket square; his gray suit jacket had a matching vest underneath. He had a succulent, eucalyptus and scabiosa pod boutonniere wrapped together and pinned to his lapel.
White Feather Hair Accessory
Long Wooden Dining Tables
Guests were listed in alphabetical order on square pieces of light brown paper bordered with navy blue, with table numbers next to their names. The seating assignments were attached to wire by clothespins and displayed on a wooden board, accented with colorful flowers and greenery on top.
White and blue seating cards were placed at each dinnerware set, which was paired with the menu for the evening. Both pieces of stationery were placed inside a folded navy blue napkin, with a gold carrot decoration sticking out. Sand dollars and pigs were seen at other settings, showing what each guest had ordered on the menu.
Sophie and Ryan posed in the middle of their wedding party dressed in navy blue and gray attire. The bridesmaids wore short navy dresses in their choice of style, while the groomsmen wore gray suits accented with a fun patterned bow tie.
At the reception, wood dining tables were decorated with colorful, lush centerpieces of dahlias, roses, alliums and many other flowers accented with greenery.
Wood “Mr.” and “Mrs.” Signs
Vanilla, Lemon and Raspberry Macaron Assortment
As Sophie and Ryan took their first dance, Sophie’s dangling earrings with crystal accents shimmied. The earrings added a pop of glamour to her classic wedding attire, which was an ivory V-neck wedding dress covered in lace.