Cliffside Santa Barbara Wedding – Mallory + Leif

This Santa Barbara wedding was so full of love, intention, and celebration. Mallory and Leif decided to ditch their original plans of a huge wedding to have all of their closest friends and family join them in an intimate celebration on the cliffs of Santa Barbara. A big wedding didn’t feel true to how they wanted to celebrate their marriage, so they decided to do things a little differently and I am so thankful to have been a part of it. You could tell how much every single guest at this wedding meant to Mallory and Leif, and how every detail was so true to them and their love. This is a huge reason why I’m such a big believer in intimate weddings. Not because they’re trendy or the new thing to be doing, but because they make the wedding day so intentional. So while they may not be for everyone (I get it, I have a big family!), if you are feeling more drawn to an intimate celebration, listen to that instinct. Stay true to your love and your story, it is your wedding day after all!

Their day started with Leif and his groomsmen getting ready at a super cool, old school barber shop in downtown Santa Barbara. They drank beers, cracked jokes, and got all cleaned up for the day ahead. Meanwhile, Mallory and her girls spent the morning getting ready and having lunch together. They exchanged gifts, saw Mallory in her wedding dress for the first time (major tearjerker!), and helped prep for the upcoming ceremony. One of the most beautiful parts of this day was how involved everyone was in making it happen. Mallory did her little sister’s makeup, the groomsmen carried the chairs out to the ceremony spot, and the bridesmaids made sure every detail was perfect for their reception.

Their ceremony took place on a bluff overlooking the ocean and was truly so special. It was windy, bright, and a little cold, but you never would have know with how focused Mallory and Leif were on each other. They exchanged handwritten vows and were showered in lavender during their exit. It was beautiful and so perfect for them. The ceremony was followed by a family style BBQ dinner for the reception, and a drink at the bar next door afterwards. The night was laid back, insanely fun, and flowed perfectly with the rest of their day. I am so excited to have been the one to tell their story and am so excited to share a piece of it with you!

P.S.

While we had a moment to snag a few formals on the day of, Mallory and Leif opted for a bridals session the weekend before their wedding for their portraits. We ran around the Santa Monica Mountains till the sun went down and Mallory and Leif had the cutest first look. For more of those images click the link below! You won’t regret it, I promise.