Santa Barbara Courthouse Elopement. Ojai, CA | Emily and Austin

In recent years it has seemed that couples are really putting their priorities into focus when it comes to their wedding day. Your wedding day should be about the two of you and all the magic that your love brings to the surface. This can sometimes get lost in all the planning and madness of a huge wedding day and it makes me so happy to see couples shape their day into something that is perfect for them. Elopements and intimate weddings are the perfect opportunity for you to really focus on each other on your big day.

When my best friend Emily told me that her and Austin were going to elope and they wanted to me come with, I totally cried. I’m definitely a crier in general, but these two are so so special to me and such a huge part of my heart. I love them like family and was honored to have their trust for this quiet, intimate day.

We met up in Santa Barbara at the cutest little airstream to get ready. While Austin decided over which bolo tie to wear, Emily kept it easy breezy in a comfy, white linen romper. With flowers by With Flourish on board, we headed over to the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Downtown Santa Barbara is stunning, and the courthouse is the most incredible Spanish-Colonial building you could ever dream of to elope in. The private ceremony was on a balcony in a quiet part of the building and after we all dried our eyes, we just spent some time wandering around the entire building. There’s a whole tower to explore and killer views of the city.

We grabbed some celebratory drinks in town, meeting some incredible locals who bought everyone champagne. After, we headed to their Air BNB, the most incredible tree house in Ojai. This private get away had windows in all the wildest places and a cozy secret garden where we played with some of the magic With Flourish had sent our way. The entire day was dreamy, easy, and honestly total magic.

Afterwards I asked Emily what made eloping the right choice for them and this is what she said:

Being alone, just the two of us and being able to focus on just each other during such a special day in our lives really helped me to slow down and appreciate everything happening and appreciate Austin. Having you there to capture all those moments, so I could actually enjoy them IN the moment and still be able to look back and remember them the way I actually experienced them is the best. You were such a big part of that day but you also just made being there so seamless as if you weren’t in a way.

Another thing that was super cool is the courthouse: how amazing it was and new to us, so were were able to do..like..an activity together. We love exploring and doing new things together, so to do that, focus on that and experience that together for the first time was awesome.

Emily and Austin, I love you both to the moon and back and can’t wait to buy a farm/treehouse to all grow old in together some day.

Stay tuned for a blog about the party these two threw for friends and fam a few months later!