We can always tell when couples or wedding planners take their inspiration from the venue where the wedding will be taking place. For Claire and Kyle, that venue was in Ojai, with a perfectly executed elegant yet boho chic style. The bride is from Ojai, and the natural beauty of the area called to the couple. With guests coming in from all over the country, they were able to create a destination feel while tying in bits and pieces that felt very local, like foliages and plants, and colors that reflect the setting sun.
Read on for more from the bride:
“Kyle and I met through mutual friends and were great friends for two years before we started dating. After three years together in San Francisco and Chicago, we got engaged at White Sands National Monument in New Mexico while road tripping across the country to start new jobs in LA. The first thing we did when we got to California was to set up a call with Bash Please. Collaborating with them was one of the best decisions we made – they made the whole process easy and stress-free, and their aesthetic was spot-on with ours. Would highly recommend them to anyone and everyone!
We knew we wanted to get married in Ojai, as my family is from there and it’s a special place for both of us. We also knew we wanted our wedding to reflect the natural beauty of Ojai infused with touches of rustic elegance. All of the details and design of our wedding captured that vision beyond our wildest dreams. With 120 guests, the event felt intimate and had a strong emphasis on family. The ceremony and reception were held on my parents’ property and my aunt officiated the ceremony. My cousin’s adorable six-year-old daughter was our flower girl and all of our siblings were included in the ceremony in some way. In a special moment right after the ceremony, we slipped off with our brothers and sisters and had a celebratory champagne toast under the shade of a live oak tree.
We loved that our wedding had a destination feel. Our closest friends and family came to Ojai from all over the country and stayed the whole weekend. On Friday night we had a welcome party at Deer Lodge, our favorite biker bar, and on Sunday we had a farewell brunch at Knead Bakery. It was a full weekend of celebration.
Finally, how many good things can we say about Tec Petaja? He was such a pleasure to work with, and the quality of his photos is just incredible. We are beyond thankful to have such a beautiful record of our most amazing day.”
