A Magnolia-Strewn Courthouse + Beach Elopement

There is a tiny slice of a season each year at the Santa Barbara Courthouse where the magnolia trees simply burst into pink celebration, and it’s honestly my favorite time of year to work there! This is February to March, and you have to be willing to roll the dice a bit with the weather. But when it works, it is so worth it. This display was like a fairytale! I kept thinking that Mother Nature was the greatest floral designer around. The ground was strewn in these perfect pink and white petals as if it was just waiting for a pair of newlyweds to walk upon them.

So here we have the lovely Karen and Anthony, giving us an example of a truly intimate wedding day. I love being part of days like this where I have the honor of signing as their witness. Zero guests, just two lovebirds and me. So we began with the formalities in the clerk’s office of course, and headed outside for the simple ceremony (which happens to have a knockout view, no biggy.) Then they wanted to exchange some more elaborate, tear-jerking vows, and what better setting for this than the pink magnolia carpet! After making the very most of the lovely courthouse grounds, we met at the beach for a lil champagne pop and to splash in the sparkly ocean surf. What an amazing day for the sweetest couple, and one I’ll never forget.

Flowers by Alpha Floral @alphafloral