A Modern Black-and-White Rooftop Wedding at Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara, California

Although Annie and Evan's rooftop wedding at Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara, California, was their 'Plan C,' they didn't let the ongoing pandemic get in the way of celebrating their marriage with a chic, modern event featuring a black-and-white color palette. "It was perfect. During a pandemic, we had lots of changes but we ended up with a wedding that we never envisioned, yet what we really wanted all along. Although we wished all of our guests could’ve been there, having just our bridal party, family, and a couple of family friends made it such an intimate and special day. I got a lot of my inspiration from Australian bridal looks, especially Made With Love who designed my dress. I love a simple and modern look, that would still be timeless. Our family friend was our officiant for our ceremony, which made it so personal and fun," says Annie. "Even if your big day gets affected by something out of your control, like a pandemic, love isn’t canceled! Whether you postpone, elope, or have a micro-wedding, the result is the same—you get to marry your partner."

As for the day's decor, the couple "ended up keeping it fairly simple because Hotel Californian is so beautiful and has such a cool vibe. Our ceremony was in a beautiful courtyard with an amazing backdrop, so the only decor we really needed was some flowers and chairs. The reception was on a rooftop overlooking Santa Barbara. The flowers were one of my favorite parts of the day. I wanted simple neutrals with a pop of color. My bouquet and the bridesmaid were just simple white long stem roses and the boys had some really cool modern boutonnieres. At our ceremony, we had two pillars on either side with some gorgeous white and rust florals. This was something I had never seen before that I completely loved. At our reception, the florals on the tables were an assortment of styles and sizes and looked so incredible," shares Annie. 

Beyond the sleek decor, a key ingredient in bringing the couple's dream aesthetic to life was fashion. "Evan always knew he wanted to wear a tux—he loves the classy sleek look. He is way more into fashion than I am, so I’m honestly surprised he didn’t end up wearing something bolder or have an outfit change, but he wanted to keep it traditional! I knew I wanted something modern and simple. If you told me I would be wearing polka dot lace on my wedding day, I wouldn’t believe you, but I totally fell in love with the dress. It was the first dress I tried on and a clear winner," says Annie of the day's formal fashion choices.