Santa Barbara Wedding Tips: Budget, Coordinator & Getaway Ideas!

Newlyweds kissing in a decorated car with a Just Married sign

We love this adorable wedding getaway idea, and it saved this couple a bundle in transportation costs! Trust us, their is quite a few more tips and tricks, plus advice from the bride. Keep reading to hear all about it.
You must see more of this Santa Barbara Mission Wedding captured by Cameron Ingalls Photography, int the full gallery here.

Bridesmaids and bride with floral bouquets in a wedding party

Groomsmen in gray suits standing under an arched walkway smiling

Advice on Picking a Date

From the Bride:Don't be scared to jump in and pick a wedding date soon after you become engaged. We waited almost four years after getting engaged to start planning the wedding and the main reason was because I would start planning and get overwhelmed by it all and then stop. Once we finally picked a date everything started to come together and I wish I would have done it sooner.

Rustic wedding seating chart on chalkboard with flowers

Memorial chair with baseball cap and sign in memory of Eric

Here are a few options:

* Bride and baby girl walk down aisle with cute sign
* Wedding day girl carries sign saying Daddy here comes our girl
* Young flower girl and bride at outdoor wedding with sweet sign

Bride and groom share a kiss after getting married in a garden

A newly wedded couple smiles in front of a beautiful stone building

Pros of Having a Coordinator

Another piece of advice I would give is have a wedding coordinator. I was a DIY bride and wanted to do it all! When it came to the day of the wedding it was so nice to have Bridgette from ExQuisite Event Co. there to help! She made everything run smoothly and I really felt I was able to enjoy our special day without having to worry about a thing!

Wedding seating chart with guests names and table numbers

Wedding table centerpiece with flowers, pumpkin butter favors

Elegant wedding table decor with table number 3 and candle light

Their Budget

When it comes to budget I would recommend future brides to really think about what they feel is the most important part of the wedding and give a little extra to that part of the budget! For us capturing the day was very important so a great photographer was a big deal to me, so our biggest expense was this following the reception venue.

Places where we were able to save were the flowers. My grandma (who is my very own Martha Stewart) did all the flower arrangements for the ceremony and reception. Also we used pedicabs for transportation which was a low cost option and added something memorable for us and our guests!

Two-tiered wedding cake with Mr & Mrs bunting and flowers