West & Andy planned an intimate San Diego micro-wedding/ elopement with their friends and family. The ceremony was set at a local mission. Followed by bridal photos at stunning Sunset Cliffs. Afterwards, the couple transformed their rental into a citrus themed, Italian villa; perfect for a sunset celebration after vows at a local mission. With personal details created by West herself, the day was perfection! Congrats you two!
Notes from bride West…
Favorite moment of the day?
Picking one moment is hard! The whole day seemed like a dream but we both loved the moment we saw each other for the first time as I was walking down the aisle. This was probably the first time all day that everything suddenly “clicked” and it really hit us both that we were about to get married. There were happy tears and all the feelings!
What was your wedding theme/style?
It’s no secret that COVID has wreaked havoc on practically every 2020 bride. After replanning our wedding several times, we ultimately opted to elope and it turned out to be better than we ever could have imagined. Through the new planning process, our mantra quickly became “Covid gave us lemons so we’re making lemonade.” We embraced all things citrus and loved integrating this theme into everything from our colors, cake, flowers, signature cocktails, place settings and so much more. We later learned that citrus also happens to be a natural bug repellant which really helped keep our guests comfortable while enjoying dinner.
Did you add any personal/ DIY touches to your wedding?
I’m a wedding artist so I’ve always planned to add personal touches! My favorite items were our hand-painted specialty cocktail signs, lemon place cards, bride & groom cards, and our wine buckets! As someone who paints his & her cocktails for other couples, it was so special to make them for our own wedding! It was also a fun way to incorporate our citrus theme. The wine buckets were a gorgeous way to elevate the table design but also practical since they were needed to keep the wine/champagne ice cold. These came out better than I could have imagined and our guests loved them. Overall, the tables turned out perfectly! My mother-in-law and I picked out the reception flowers together which was such a fun bonding experience. She is a pro when it comes to florals and really helped bring my vision to life. To make the reception feel homey, we used vases from her personal collection as well as my own and did bunches of one type of flower in each vase. This allowed us to play with height, style, and so much color without the pressure of designing bouquets. My Dad and maid-of-honor did with the chandelier eucalyptus flowers which looked gorgeous. All of flowers turned out beautiful and I’m so glad we did them together! I also designed our logo that was later used for our invitations, napkins, programs and favors. I think if you can have a logo, use it throughout your day for a cohesive design.
How did you decide to elope in San Diego?
Our original wedding plans were going to take place outside of Philadelphia. When we decided to elope, it was an easy decision to plan in Andy’s hometown, San Diego. We also quickly knew that we wanted our wedding portraits to reflect the beauty of the San Diego and incorporate the coast. We saw Martina’s previous photos on the cliffs and never looked back! Our jaws dropped when we saw the final product – so much beauty!
Any tips or advice to future brides?
As a bride who had never planned to elope, it truly turned out for the best. We felt like we were showered with love and were really able to spend time with our guests. I also love that we were able to make our reception incorporate so much of our personality that may have gotten lost in a traditional wedding venue. The whole day felt uniquely “us” which is so important for a wedding. We had so few guests but even so, my main tip is: consider hiring a day of coordinator. I didn’t think we would need one since it was so small and intimate but looking back, I wished I had a professional manage and communicate the timeline/vendors and small details.
Florist – Wildflower San Diego Cake – Sweet Cheeks
Stationary & Watercolor – Menu by West Bridal Photo Location – Sunset Cliffs, San Diego
