Jill and Christian’s wedding planning journey was a very 2020 experience for them despite it being pre-Covid shutdowns—but the outcome was so incredibly beautiful and we were so thankful to be a part of their planning journey with them! We helped her navigate through venue regulations, a dress mishap, and an inclement weather plan right on the cusp of the start of the pandemic—but Jill and Christian’s love was celebrated and we couldn’t be happier they were able to have their dream wedding day! 

Jill is a wedding photographer who chose a beautiful ranch in Solvang to have her intimate wedding. We were so honored when she reached out to us and had such a fun experience planning with someone who was familiar with the process and valued design as much as we did! Her vision for her day was stunning—she desired an overall warm, romantic and elegant ambiance for their wedding. In order to bring this vision to life, we made lighting a big focal point of our design. Candles and hanging bulbs displayed above dining tables created a soft and inviting feel in the reception space. Their color palette focused on subdued, warm tones like rust, mustard and muted pinks. We contrasted these understated hues with vibrant pops of color in their floral selections as well as gold accents and subtle additions of black in the dining space.

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They started their day off at the Landsby, one of our favorite hotels in Solvang and a must if you are in the area! Jill looked absolutely stunning in her wedding gown and their first look images were truly the sweetest! Dear Lovers captured their love and the raw emotion of the day so well! 

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They then made their way to Whispering Rose Ranch, which is an expansive 80 acre estate with over 100 horses. Our favorite parts of the venue are the panoramic mountain views, abundance of trees and the fact that it’s nestled into the quaint town of Solvang. We aimed to capture the effortless beauty of Whispering Rose Ranch by playing up its rustic charm, yet still keeping in mind Jill’s personal feminine and modern style.

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One of our favorite parts of the ceremony was Jill’s dad and Christian’s secret handshake they did when he gave her away—so personalized and sweet, yet also kept the guests laughing and on their toes. We also can’t write this blog post without mentioning Revvy, their beautiful German Shepard who was the sweetest guest of honor and a big hit with our dog-loving selves. Their vows were so personalized and heartfelt—their love for each other is truly radiant.

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Carla, of Idlewild Floral, created eye catching floral installations and centerpieces emulating a romantic and organic-modern style. We focused heavily on blooms highlighting her color palette, complemented by minimal additions of neutral and sage green foliage. Jill’s bouquet was a lush, full floral arrangement, tied with draping silk ribbons and we designed their circular arbor to be adorned with a growing floral installation. Wild clusters of florals in low trays marked the entrance to the aisle. In the reception space, tables were topped with long, low arrangements and burnt sienna pillar candles.

Because Jill and Chriatian’s wedding day ended up being quite cool and drizzly, we decided to install a clear tent to protect their reception space. This allowed guests to take in the gorgeous views of the surrounding landscaping while staying warm throughout the evening as they ate, danced and celebrated together. While this was originally not the best news that a tent was now needed for their day, the lighting, greenery, and overall ambiance ended up blowing Jill away. Being able to provide their guests a space protected from the elements also allowed to day to remain focused on the two of them and their love (instead of guests feeling uncomfortable or too cold—although being a California girl I think the majority of her Colorado guests would be more adaptable in inclement weather). 

For Jill and Christains’s rentals, we knew bringing in some darker elements would be important to establish a sense of groundedness as well as a bit of edge that Jill desired. We selected black bentwood chairs- sticking to a soft, femnine shape but utilizing a more masculine color to create some balance. The same chairs were paired with dark wood tables in the reception space, topped with vintage mismatched plates featuring black and gold detailing, gold dipped black flatware, an earthy rust colored linen napkin and muted purple gold rimmed glassware.

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For dessert, Jill and Christian honored their wedding date being on “pi day” with an assortment of handmade pies by Jill’s mom for guests. We loved the thoughtfulness and personalization behind this choice, and the pies themselves were of course a big hit! 

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We are so thankful that Jill and Christian chose us as their planners, they are the sweetest souls who we adored working with and bringing their incredible vision to life. 

Vendor Credits

Photography: @dearloversphoto

Planning + Design: @crowned.events

Florals: @idlewildfloral

Venue: @whisperingroseranch

Rentals + Tent: @brighteventrentals @latavolalinen @dishwishgirl

Lighting: @sparkcreativeevents ⠀

Bride: @jillhouserphotography

Hair: @hairbycorinnev

Dress: @martinalianabridal