California Vineyard Destination Wedding in Santa Barbara, California
David and Tim’s lush and stylish California vineyard wedding was held on May 25, 2019. The Los Angeles-based couple worked closely with their wedding planner, the incredibly talented Hovik Harutyunyan, to create a vision of pure California coastal beauty for their guests.
Celebrating their mutual love of wine, they decided to host their wedding and reception at Sogno del Fiore, a family-owned vineyard nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley, just outside Santa Barbara. Surrounded by lush and verdant fields, this idyllic location provided an inspiring backdrop for their personalized and intimate wedding ceremony and reception.
David and Tim’s wedding ceremony was both a celebration of their love for one another, as well as for their guests. Instead of a traditional wedding processional, the couple waited together at the foot of a beautiful old oak tree while guests processed towards them. "The energy of togetherness, of oneness, overwhelmed me with gratitude," says David.
Special and personal details were featured throughout. Tim's Uncle Chuck officiated the ceremony. The grooms exchanged handwritten vows over the soft notes of a guitar. The service included readings from the Supreme Court decision legalizing same sex marriage in the United States. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed handcrafted signature cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres.
The reception echoed the communal feel of the ceremony, with long rustic wooden tables arranged in a U-shaped pattern below romantic cafe lights. Tables were decorated with greenery and wildflowers, geometric accents, and a soft dusty color palette with pops of gem tones and gold calligraphy.
In one of the most special moments of the evening, David and Tim delivered a speech full of gratitude and humor, addressing each guest individually and recalling poignant and funny stories for each. Rather than a traditional wedding cake, the grooms chose instead an inviting and rustic pie bar—a favorite dessert for Tim. The perfectly appointed reception included firepits and blankets for guests to keep warm in between rounds of dancing.
Please enjoy the photos below. This wedding is one that will stay with me for a long time. And the wonderful couple, who have become good friends, are an example of genuine and open-hearted love and care—for each other and for their community. This wedding was featured in Martha Stewart Weddings.
This Santa Barbara vineyard destination wedding was photographed at the Sogno del Fiore in Santa Ynez, California. This gay destination wedding was featured in Martha Stewart Weddings.
Photography: Todd Danforth Photography | @toddthephotographer
Venue: Sogno del Fiore | @sognodelfiore
Event Planning & Design: Harutyunyan Events | @hovik
Catering: Kitchen 12000 | @kitchen12000
Florals: Forage Florals | @forageflorals
Grooms’ Suits: Bonobos | @bonobos
Grooms’ Shoes: To Boot New York | @tobootnewyork
Wedding Bands: Anna Sheffield | @annasheffield
Ceremony Music: Aaron Copenhaguen | @aaroncopenhaguen
Reception Music: JJ the DJ | @jjthedjevents
Day-of Signage: Fran Johnson House | @franjohnsonhouse
Menus: Details on Demand
Calligraphy: Peony & Plum | @peonyandplum
Pies: The Bakery Farmstand | @the_bakery_farmstand
Rentals: Ventura Rental Party & Events | @venturarental
Transportation: First Student, Inc. | @firststudentinc
Security: Triumph Protection | @triumphprotectiongroup
Palm Springs wedding photographer Todd Danforth Photography is an LGBTQ+ and POC-owned wedding photography team specializing in capturing joyful and candid moments. As storytellers and craftspeople, we believe in the power of visual narratives. Our mission is to create honest and authentic photographs you can share with your loved ones for generations to come.