Hey everyone!  It has been a little while since we've posted to the blog.  Our last post was in June, and then the 2018 wedding season hit in full force. It was an amazing season - so many beautiful weddings, incredible designs, and fun couples.  Each one was unique and an honor to be a part of.  

As our 2018 season is winding down (just two more weddings to go!), we are finding some time to reflect on this past year and get excited for next year.  Our hearts are so full of gratitude:  Gratitude for the couples who have trusted us with their weddings, gratitude for our hardworking team who are invested and excited about our work, gratitude for our family's health, gratitude for how far our business has come, and gratitude for the journey ahead.

After a very busy stretch in September and October, we decided to take a little family trip to get some time away.   We spent the last week catching up with friends in Tennessee and family in Indiana.  We flew into Nashville, ate all of the fried things, and too many biscuits to count. If you are ever in the Nashville area you have to go to Biscuit Love and The Loveless Cafe - two of our favorites!

We drove from Nashville to Bloomington, Indiana, where we took an accidental wrong turn. If you are ever going to make a wrong turn in your life, the midwest in Autumn is the time and place to do it. We took back country roads for an hour and wound through the most spectacular fall trees we had ever seen! It was like something out of a movie or a painting - totally breathtaking (and making me think of some fun autumn installations I want to try next year).

​We have a tradition each year of listing the things we are thankful for in November.  Every day, we each take a scrap of paper and write down one thing we are thankful for. It's such a simple thing to do, but it's impact is large. This year has been especially sweet for our family because Luci is old enought to write her own. 

Thank you for following along with our journey.  We are grateful for you.

Sincerely,
Tyler + Taylor Speier

I had the honor of working with Claire + Nico to design their beautiful wedding ceremony at The Santa Barbara Musuem of Natural History (under the beautiful oak trees) and then their reception at Villa and Vine in downtown Santa Barbara.  We used lots of textured greenery paired with soft, romantic blooms to create a whimsical, natural, yet timeless look for their wedding day.  I think my favorite part of the design was Claire's bouquet - it was raw, natural, and had lots of fun textures and design elements.  I especially love how the boquet paired with her beautiful lace wedding gown.  It was so much fun to work with them to make this beautiful vision come to life!  

The Team That Made This Happen:

Event Design and Florals: Tyler Speier Events
Ceremony Venue: Museum of Natural History
Reception Venue: Villa and Vine
Photography: Becky Davis Photography
Day-of Coordination: Katelin Event Productions
Rentals: The Tent Merchant
​

Gigliola + Luke were married at the beautiful Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm.  I loved how hands-on they were throughout the planning process.  They had so many fun DIY (do-it-yourself) elements that artfully came together to create a beautiful reception full of elegance, warmth, and fun.  I loved how their two (very large) families came together for such an incredible celebration.  Both Taylor and I come from large families, so it's always fun to participate in other large family celebrations and traditions.  

My favorite design element was the chiffon draping and chandeliers overhead.  The softness of the chiffon juxtaposed with the raw/natural tables and chairs (and greenhouse details) made everything come together so beautifully!

The Team That Made This Happen:

​Coordinator: Tyler Speier
Venue: Private Greenhouse on the Gaviota Coast
Photographer:  Wild Whim Design + Photography
Videographer: Steve Garrett
Catering: Omni Catering
Rentals: The Tent Merchant
Florist: Ambient Event Design*
DJ: DJ Darla Bea
Lighting: Ambient Event Design
Transportation: Jump on the Schoolbus
Hair/Makeup: Style Me Kristi
Officiant: Keith Forster
Bakery: Kirsten Soria
String Quartet:  Dr. Jordan Warmath
Bathrooms: Marborg Industries (Roberto), 805.963.1852 x2402, RMedina@marborg.com
*This was one of the few weddings this season where me and my team didn't do the flowers - while we worked with the bride and groom on the overall aesthetic and decor, the mother of the bride created all the centerpieces for this wedding (and the small vases also were favors for the guests) and friends of the bride (Amy and her team at Ambient Design) created the beautiful bouquets, ceremony florals, and the arrangement on the bar.  It was fun to collaborate with other floral artists on Gigliola and Luke's big day!

Hey everyone,

Wedding season is in full swing! We are up to our ears in flowers, emails, timelines and walkthroughs...I love my job! One of my favorite parts of my job is getting to collaborate with a bride and groom to create beauty. It is so much fun to take a space and completely transform it--to give it the "wow factor," and to create an event that the bride, groom and guests won't forget.

But I have to tell you...my love for weddings goes way beyond the creative design aspect. One of the best parts of being a wedding designer and coordinator is getting to witness some of the most raw and genuine moments between people in love.

So, while I hope you get as excited as I do over creating beautiful details on your wedding day, here are some of my favorite moments that you can consider incorporating into your wedding day. I guarantee that you will not forget these moments!

Step away from your reception for a few moments and be together as husband and wife. Take it all in -- let your photographer follow along and capture your first moments as newlyweds. 

So much of what is created on a wedding day is temporary. Set aside time before your big day to write your bride or groom a heartfelt note. This will let them know that you are thinking about them, and create a treasured keepsake.

Whether it's in your vows, your toasts, or whispered words as you have your first dance together -- be open. Allow yourself to feel the deep joy and excitement of getting married, whether that brings roars of laughter or causes you to shed a tear. 

Honor the people that have helped you get to this place in your life. Take a moment with your mom and dad, take that picture with grandma, share that dance with your sibling, honor the person that's passed away. 


While all the fun details are so fun (and contribute to the overall event experience), taking in everything as a couple, honoring the people you love, personalizing little keepsakes, and being genuine/open will make your day so much more meaningful.  It's so important to remember WHY we celebrate weddings in the first place - to celebrate love, family, a new chapter, and being together.  

Image Credits:
1. Molly Magee Photography
2 & 3. Jodee Debes Photography
4. Willa Kveta Photography

Coco and Brandon were married at the iconic San Ysidro Ranch.  As wedding season is now in full swing, so many of us in the industry are missing the incredible presence of this beautiful venue (which is still closed due to the tragic mudslides that hit our community back in January).

I loved Coco + Brandon's beautiful, intimate celebration.  Guests were greeted with beautiful welcome beverages as the harpist quietly played in the rose gardens.  Everyone was enamored by Coco and her beautiful gown as her father escorted her down the aisle.  After a beautiful ceremony (by the pastor who married Coco's parents!), guests enjoyed cocktail hour in the gardens followed by a sumptuous vegetarian dinner in the Hydrangea Cottage. Instead of traditional dancing, Coco and Brandon opted to have a less-traditional lounge setting created in the courtyard with fun desserts, an old-fashioned black-and-white film playing on a big screen, scented candles, and a Photo Booth.  I loved being a part of their beautiful day!

The Team That Made This Happen:
Coordinator + Florist: Tyler Speier + Team
Venue/Catering: San Ysidro Ranch
​Photographer: Elate Photo
Rentals: The Tent Merchant
Sound: Sound Advice Productions
Harpist: Laurie Rasmussen
Photo Booth: My Social Booth
Officiate: Dr. Brad Walker
Hair/Make-up: Melina Ruiz
Calligrapher: Calligraphy Nerd
Bridal Gown: Kenneth Winston (from Panache)
Wedding Gown: Panache - Kenneth Winston - Private Label

Chris & Danielle were married at the beautiful Gainey Vineyard in Santa Ynez, CA. Our favorite design elements from this wedding were the bright, cheerful spring florals and the beautiful mustard yellow silk ribbons on the bride's bouquet (Tono & Co).  The vows were so beautiful and full of love, Danielle's father gave such a heartfelt toast, and the guests were all so fun and kind. It was such a joy to create this beautiful wedding for Chris & Danielle! 

The Jam Event is an incredible industry showcase where vendors can be creative, network, and celebrate together.  Wild Heart Events curates and sponsors this amazing event, and Bella Vista Designs was the main sponsor this year.  Loved seeing the event featured on Green Wedding Shoes this week!  

Inspired by John Lennon’s song, “Imagine,” our team created an ethereal, monochromatic/neutral space with dried flowers and grasses, mixed natural textures (linen, velvet, fur, wood, metal), copper/rose gold accents, and iridescent glassware.  I was also inspired by the 1950s elegance of Palm Springs (think Lucille Ball and Frank Sinatra). With all of the craziness happening in the world, I wanted to create a space of tranquility and hope for a better future, celebrating the beauty of humanity and what we all have in common.

We had so much fun designing and styling Sarah + Darren's wedding last fall at this beautiful private greenhouse on the Gaviota Coast.  So honored seeing this on the front page of Style Me Pretty today!  Loved using protea, neutral blooms, bright pops of greenery, mixed metals and woods, and mismatched place settings to create a textured but cohesive, neutral, Al Fresco design.  

The Team That Made This Happen
Event Design/Floral Arrangements: Tyler Speier Events
Photography: Jodee Debes 
​Venue: Private Greenhouse on the Gaviota Coast
Rentals: The Tent Merchant
Coordinator: Brides and Bouquets
Catering: Savior Fair
Hair: Style Me Kristi
​Makeup: Lisa Bassler

Hey Guys,

[Tay Here]. A few months ago Ty and I went out for date night and ended up wandering into Hotel Californian for a nightcap. This hotel is new to downtown Santa Barbara and has the greatest vibe! We got to talking with the bartender there, and after learning that Ty's favorite drink was a negroni, she recommended that we try her personal favorite drink: The Last Word. We were immediately intrigued by the name and when we asked her what it was like, she responded with "herbaceous."
You guys, we order this drink all of the time now when we go out - it's our fav - but I now have to listen to Ty say the word "herbaceous" in public. Face. Palm. Call me weird, it just sends shivers down my spine. Shhh, husband. Enough with the word.

This drink is easy to make and so delicious. It's the perfect cocktail to serve as we welcome the spring season. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Cheers, friends!
​(Recipe Below)

[Ty here]: When we're making a cocktail, we like it to be:
1) Delicious
2) Easy-to-make
3) Delicious.

So, here's how you make a Last Word!

All you need is equal parts:
Gin (we love Hendrick's, but any Gin will do)
Lime Juice
Chartreuse
Maraschino Liqueur

Add equal parts to a cocktail shaker with some ice, shake it, and pour!  
That's it. And it's HERBACEOUS and DELICIOUS.

Cheers!
​
(Picture of what Chartreuse and Marchino Liquor look like is below...so you don't get lost in your local liquor store!)

​We are so excited to see Phuong + Kevin's beautiful wedding in Bridal Guide Magazine today! We've been holding these stunning pictures for over a year so we are ecstatic that we finally get to share them with you.
Our favorite design element of this wedding was the wisteria and pepper tree branch arrangement we created over the dance floor - the clean, minimalistic arrangement was a focal point of the entire event!

The Team That Made This Happen
Coordinator/Florals: Tyler Speier Events 
Venue: The Orchid - (Private Estate)
Prep Venue/Accommodations: Bacara Resort 
Catering: Omni Catering
Rentals: The Tent Merchant 
Lighting: Bella Vista Designs, Inc 
DJ: Kyle Dineen 
Live Music: Matt Stokke
Officiant: Pastor Kelly
Bakery: Marie Shannon Confections 
Transportation: Jump On The School Bus 
Hair/Make-up: Unveiled Makeup 
Photo Booth: Witty Booth 
Photography: Rewind Photography--Matt Roberts 
Luxury Restroom Rentals: Marborg
Late Night Dining: Woodstocks Pizza
Bridal Gown Designer: Katie May