You'd Never Know This Gorg Wedding Didn't Go According to Plan

When storms raged and made this couple's Big Sur wedding literally impossible, they relied on each other to persevere and plan a new wedding in just weeks. And with incredible vendors like Hive Events, The Bloemist, and Field to Table, rallying around them, they were able to pull off an intimate gathering that was still all kinds of beautiful. Just look at Maria Lamb's photographs from the day – you won't believe this wasn't the plan all along. The bride explains it best, "While it might not have been the wedding we had dreamed of for years past, it's safe to say it truly was the wedding of our dreams."

From the Bride... Kyle and I, both transplants to California, met on Match.com (before it was cool!). I so wish I had saved our first correspondence because our conversations were so unlike your typical “get to know you” questions that occur with online dating. They were funny, light-hearted, and the opposite of all the other generic messages. That actually is the main reason I agreed to go on our first date – I knew it would be an adventure. And it was. We had our first date on a Saturday afternoon hike, and we’ve been together ever since. Working in the wedding industry for the past 10 years (I’m a wedding photographer), the time had finally come for me to play the role of bride. It was so exciting to plan the wedding – and surprisingly effortless. We decided to get married 8 years (and 1 day) after the day we first met. And since I’m a part of the industry, a big party was not on the agenda. Rather, we opted for an intimate, week-long celebration with our immediate family, joined by extended family and close friends towards the end of the week. Our plan was to get married on the cliffs of Big Sur. The estate was booked, private chef hired, and all the other vendors had fallen into place nicely. Eight weeks before the big day, Mother Nature had another plan. Big Sur was struck with once in a century storms that led to landslides, road closures, and a collapsed bridge. Every hour on the hour, we were checking the Big Sur blog to see road closure updates. Six weeks out, there still was no passable road, and the wedding we had planned (for years in our dreams) was no longer an option. I went into problem solver mode. We needed a new venue, a new chef, and to further accommodate all the changes with our other vendors. This is the point of the story when I am SOOO THANKFUL to be a part of the wedding community that rallied for us and with us to create a beautiful day. To top things off, my custom dress arrived severely past its deadline date, which was just three weeks before the day only, to be four inches too short. Apparently, the gal measured me wrong! I couldn’t believe that yet another thing had gone awry. Thank goodness for BHLDN who saved the day with a gorgeous gown and overnight shipping! Kyle, who works in the movie industry, and I had been told time and time again that we were living a movie script of all things that could go wrong with a wedding. We learned to laugh through the uncertainty and harness our strengths to pull it off. This wedding was the truest reflection my and Kyle's relationship. Over many years of dating, both locally and from a distance, Kyle’s patience and my perseverance have gotten us through any challenges we might have faced. This time was no different. So as the weeks flew by, detail by detail, we were able to plan a new wedding. I was worried that come the day of, everything would have felt like a back up plan. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. Not only did the new vibe resonate with us, but it also accommodated the experience we wanted to provide to our families with ease. Our dinner was one of the best we’ve ever had, and I couldn’t have felt more happy and beautiful on that day. It was supremely special and blew away any expectations of what it would be. While it might not have been the wedding we had dreamed of for years past, it's safe to say it truly was the wedding of our dreams.

Photography: Maria Lamb | Cinematography: McDuff Productions | Coordination: Hive Events SB | Floral Design: The Bloemist | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Invitations: Moo | Bride's Shoes: Steve Madden | Jewelry: Custom from Bride's Mother, Family Heirlooms | Catering: Field To Table Events | Hair + Makeup: LunaBella Make-up and Hair | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Venue: Biddle Ranch Vineyard | Beach: Montana de Oro State Beach | Custom Napkins: BAM Draping | Rentals: Party Pleasers | Romper: Plum Pretty Sugar | Table Paper Goods: Bash Calligraphy | Table Top Decor: Concrete Geometric | Tie: OTAA