A Whimsical DIY Wedding at the University of California, Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California

Zoë Sonquist (30 and the Director, Brand Partnerships, Capitol Music Group) and Bryan King (30 and an attorney) originally met at a bar when they were 22. Zoe thought Bryan was cute and had the bartender send over shots in order to get an introduction. They hung out well into the night, but the following year their connection faded. Fast forward five years, Zoë and Bryan were both visiting Chicago and Bryan sent her a Facebook message to meet up. They eventually planned a date and, after a late night at the Cheesecake Factory, realized they were pretty smitten. They were married at the University of California, Santa Barbara where Zoë is an alumni and has strong family ties. They chose a grassy area called Pearl Chase Park for the ceremony overlooking the UCSB Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean. The reception was held at the Mosher Alumni House with many rooms for drinking, food, dancing and quiet spaces. The color palette of grays, muted greens and yellows was inspired by the California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregion that is so prominent in Santa Barbara. Zoë and Bryan’s day was filled with touches from friends and wedding vendors they like to support, from UCSB to cupcakes by the Best Man’s girlfriend and day-of coordination from a past parent of the bride’s mother’s daycare. The couple had specialty cocktails designed by an expert, wine made by friends and local beer for guests to enjoy, as well as DJ Kevin O’Scanlon, the official pre-game DJ and emcee for the San Francisco 49ers throwing out 90s jams all night long. “We tried to make the event as ‘us’ as possible,” says Zoë.