There’s something to be said about intimate, dog-friendly elopements. Katie + Garrett’s small elopement was on one of those cold-in-the-shade, perfect-in-the-sun days in Santa Barbara with their families there to witness and celebrate the two making things official. The couple masterfully laced sentiment and personal touches in their details - matching Rolex watches passed down by family members, a blue vintage Louis Vuitton handbag given to Katie by her now husband, pins adorned with photos of late loved ones served as a reminder that they were close by, Garrett’s family crest showcased on Yeti cups and frisbees, and other details that really made their day their own.

Katie + Garretts goals were easy - get married and keep it simple. The day started on the front lawn of the Santa Barbara Courthouse - Katie, her mom and I all struggled to place her veil [this would become a theme throughout the day and the source of a lot of laughs] before the couple stepped away to exchange private vows. Few portraits and a small ceremony later, the two were officially married in front of their closest family members. Everyone celebrated by eating a slice of cake on the steps together - including Raya, the dog, who was a big fan of the vanilla + strawberry combo.

Next we headed to the beach for whiskey cokes, a game of frisbee and a few surprise gifts from the couple to their moms [and me! They gifted me my favorite sour straws as a thank you, which if you know me… priceless and so appreciated]. Their moms had a few surprises in store as well, including a flower petal tunnel and pom poms, ending the day with a mini party on the beach.

Anytime a couple tells me they want to elope to avoid the stress of planning a full on wedding, I’m all for it. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good all-out event, but if you know that’s not what you’re envisioning for your day then DON’T DO IT. Elope! It’s so fun to have a slow day dedicated to your marriage promise that facilitates a relaxing environment with plenty of room for sentiment and time spent with your nearest and dearest.

The Santa Barbara Courthouse offers a stunnnnning backdrop for elopements. I love that you can have a small ceremony on the lawn and that there are a variety of locations for portraits on the grounds. It’s also conveniently close to the beach - so if you’re wanting to snap some photos there like Katie + Garrett did, it’s a 6 minute drive away with ample parking.