As a Santa Barbara inclusive wedding photographer, weddings are all about celebrating your most important day in your own unique way. I can say – every celebration of love is absolutely magnificent! When couples decide to tailor their nuptials in a way that would reflect their own personality and culture, that makes the celebration even more special. Such was the Filipino cultural wedding of Beatrice and JP which I had the pleasure to photograph at the beautiful Santa Barbara Woman’s Club, Rockwood.

Exterior ceremony - santa barbara womans club 2

santa barbara womans club rockwood rock 1

Getting to know their Love Story as told from their wedding photographer

I love a good love story! Beatrice and JP met each other during college. She was a senior at University of California, Santa Barbara while he was doing a post-doctorate at the same university. Because they had seen each other a lot, a friendship naturally emerged. However, after one lunch, they were drawn into having dinner. Long story short, they found another eating location which led to them chatting for 6 hours until the restaurant closed. The rest is history!

As a Santa Barbara wedding photographer, I source my main shooting inspiration from the couple’s love story. When I asked them about their story and the obvious love between them, it was evident that they have the secret to a successful relationship! As Beatrice says, she loves JP because besides his virtues like kindness, patience, and open-mindedness; he shares her core values and interests. She also fondly states that he has the power to keep her wild child spirit grounded without shutting her dreams and hopes. Being able to talk to each other, but also feeling comfortable in their silence together is something that they highly value. According to JP, they can simply talk about everything. He finds her passion for life infectious and her ability to ensure their well-being is one of the many qualities he admires.

Getting Ready photos | Palihouse in Santa Barbara

Before their big moment, they got ready at the Palihouse in Santa Barbara. They were both so relaxed and looking forward to their special day with each other.

Pali House hotel santa barbara lounge chairs

Time to begin – Buddhist Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

They had a Buddhist outdoor wedding ceremony that wonderfully entwined their loving souls. In a serene yet joyful atmosphere, Beatrice and JP exchanged their vows at the Santa Barbara Women’s Club, Rockwood. The minister/officiant came from the San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. Beatrice wore an ethereal romantic gown, and JP complimented her with his traditional Filipino shirt called the barong. Their ceremony involved chanting, pleasant burning incense, and mindfulness beads. The ceremony was modest, with only their family witnessing this sacred moment.

Ceremony exterior - santa barbara womans club 2

Exterior ceremony - santa barbara womans club 1

Filipino Cultural Wedding Reception | Santa Barbara Women’s Club

Their gorgeous wedding reception channeled minimalism with a pop of fun! Guests enjoyed the green and white color scheme which reflected a mismatched aesthetic yet modern feel. They designed different table centerpieces curated by Wild West Floral. As they both are Filipino, they paid tribute to their culture by including various tropical elements. All family and friends were happy and excited to celebrate their new chapter in life. Their parents gave the sweetest toasts to the couple, crowning their marriage with blessings.

I hope you will enjoy their special moments as much as I did as their California wedding photographer. If you like my style, visit the contact page and request a custom quote. I’d be delighted to be a part of your special day!