Santa Barbara Mission in California featured at The Knot
Shannon Whitehair (28 and math teacher) and Stephen Whitehair (28 and a special education teacher) met while planning a mutual friend’s wedding in 2010. They hit it off immediately and began dating, despite living seven hours apart. Five months later, Steve quit his job and moved to be closer to Shannon. Steve proposed to Shannon on a bridge overlooking a botanical garden. “It was such a beautiful moment, and I didn’t have to think at all about my answer,” Shannon says. “I knew he was the one.”The couple decided to have their wedding at the historic Old Santa Barbara mission in California. They chose the old Spanish church for sentimental reasons—they used to meet in Santa Barbara for dates when they were dating long distance. Their wedding was garden themed, with a color palette of natural shades like olive greens, browns, creams and whites with some pops of yellow recommended by their florist. Shannon carried a bouquet of white roses and gardenias. “White flowers like roses and gardenias have always been my favorites for the purity they symbolize,” she says. After their ceremony at the Old Santa Barbara Mission, Shannon and Steve threw a garden reception at the Rincon Beach Club in Carpenteria, California. Their wedding cake, a three tiered white cake with an olallieberry filling, was specially delivered from Linn’s Bakery in Cambria, California (a destination that’s seven hours away!). ” This cake was special to us because we used to drive to Cambria when we were dating and fell in love with it,” Shannon says. “Linn’s was our favorite place to grab a delicious dessert.” In keeping with their down-to-earth garden theme, Shannon and Stephen gave their guests mini potted mint and thyme plants with clever sayings like “Mint to be” and “A love for all thyme.”
Thank you to all Shannon and Steve for adding this amazing group of vendors to collaborate in your very special day!
Photography: Gloria Mesa Photography
Ring: Helzberg Diamonds
Flowers: Grass Roots
Ceremony: Old Mission Santa Barbara
Venue: Rincon Beach ClubMariposa Boutique
Bride maids: Allure Bridal
Cake: Linn’s Fruit Bin
Tux: Jos A Bank
Invitations” Invitations by Dawn
