Megan and Andrew
Eclectic Vintage Santa Barbara Wedding
For Megan and Andrew Schoneberger’s September wedding at the Santa Barbara Woman’s Club (a k a Rockwood), it was all about the homespun touches. With creativity on their side (she’s a singer/songwriter; he’s a photographer) and friends and family in tow, the couple set out to create a relaxed, eclectic, vintage Santa Barbara celebration that was light on the theme-y, heavy on the fun factor.
For starters, Megan collected vintage vases from antique thrift stores and, with the help of florist Tracey Morris (from Ella & Louie) and her friends, arranged the flowers the day before the ceremony. She also scored her adorable short dress via Betsey Johnson’s sale rack — for a whopping $180! Meanwhile Andrew, an avid home brewer, brewed, bottled, and labeled beers that doubled as escort cards for their guests.
As for advice, Megan encourages brides not to get too caught up in the details. “I am on the very un-bridal end of the spectrum, and I was completely obsessed by the wedding blogs and the magazines and all the pressure that culminates around this one silly day. Then there came a point about two months before our wedding where I stopped thinking about all the DIY elements that I could do and what color nail polish I should wear. I had this moment of ‘who am I trying to impress?’ and ‘what is actually important?’ and I realized it’s not the wedding; it’s the marriage that matters. Our friends and family want to come to a great party, and I don’t need to make it look like a cooler version of Martha Stewart Weddings. No one is going to remember what color the napkins were or even the flowers that we all worked so hard on. Your friends and family are there because they love you and support your union, and they want to celebrate, eat a good dinner, drink too much, and dance. And that’s what we did!”
Photographer: Coast Photography / Reception Venue: Santa Barbara Woman’s Club, Rockwood / Band: Laura Schlieske, Austin Beede, Bear Erickson, and Mike Bucher / Flowers: DIY with help from Ella & Louie / Bride’s Dress: Betsey Johnson / Cake: Homemade desserts made by guests
