Wedding | Tori & Drew

Tell us a little about yourselves!

Tori is originally from New Hampshire and I am from Washington D.C. We met on the first day of college in 2014 in the same freshman orientation group and I thought Tori was the coolest girl I’d ever seen. We had similar college journeys and ran in similar circles but didn’t really connect again until we had the same first job out of college in the design industry. Our desks ended up being next to each other and I immediately tried (and usually failed) to impress her. Even bought her sweet treats on a regular basis to try and bribe her. Whether it was the invisible string theory or my constant desire to win Tori’s love, after 2018 we’ve never been apart. 

In 2022, I graduated from grad school and we moved to Los Angeles. I work in film and Tori is still in the interior design industry.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

We love living in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles but have often escaped to Santa Barbara to decompress and unwind. When we started thinking about where we wanted to get married we wanted it to be a place where we could relax, breathe and focus on each other. Santa Barbara had become that place. On top of that, with most of our family being on the East Coast, Santa Barbara immediately became a smoother travel destination than trying to make folks battle LAX or the 405. We couldn’t be happier with our decision!

How many guests did you have?

We had 20 guests. We had gone back and forth on wedding size, of course wanting to see more friends and family but also wanting to not be distracted and lose sight of the reason this weekend was happening in the first place, each other! We decided to include immediate family and formative friends to create an intimate atmosphere where it didn’t feel like we were performing for a large group but rather sharing our most important day with the most important people in our lives.

What was your budget? 

Around $45,000.

Tell us about your outfits.

Tori knew from the start that a traditional bridal gown wasn’t quite her style. She was drawn to something more editorial, timeless, and elegant - with an emphasis on looking effortlessly interesting.

After visiting several bridal boutiques around Los Angeles, she found her way to LOHO Bride in West Hollywood, where the selection of dresses and designers aligned perfectly with her vision.

This Lirio Cortana dress was the very first one she tried on at LOHO Bride. After trying on a number of other gowns, she kept coming back to that one - it felt just right. The dress captured the essence of the day: casual and intimate, yet refined and stylish.

For her “something new,” Tori wore a pair of Prada slingback heels, a gift from her mother. Her “something blue” was her grandmother’s original engagement ring - worn on her right hand - featuring a delicate combination of sapphires and diamonds. She completed the look with jewelry from Starling, a Los Angeles-based jeweler known for its elegant and timeless designs.

From the moment we picked Santa Barbara as the location for our wedding, I had hoped to pick a tan suit. I was never one for cumberbunds or bow ties, so a casual linen suit felt like the perfect fit. My suit was bought from Suit Supply.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

We’re both very intentional people and wanted to be very present not only during the entire weekend but especially when saying “I do”. We regularly came back to this thought when making decisions, about whether details were necessary and going to make us more comfortable and grounded or if they felt like things that were maybe “typical” but might end up taking our focus away from each other. One such example was deciding to get married the day before our ceremony at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. This felt like the perfect way to have our cake and eat it too. We were able to share our vows privately, sign all the necessary papers, and have a moment just for us before re-joining our closest supporters to celebrate and share with them.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

Photography was one element of the wedding that became very important to both of us. When thinking about the best ways to capture and chronicle our wedding for not only ourselves but for our family to come down the road, we wanted photographs that could capture just how in love we are. We connected with Monique Bianca who had a beautiful portfolio that fit the aesthetic that Tori was looking for, while also being able to shoot on film and super 8, which was an important detail to me.

Another element that was especially important to Tori was the table scape design. While the venue offered their own options, we saw this as an opportunity to create something more personal and reflective of us. Tori had a clear vision for a coastal-modern aesthetic—something that felt natural and organic, yet elevated with contemporary touches in the florals and tableware.

We partnered with Party Pleasers and were able to do an in-person visit to hand-select every detail, from the tablecloths and plates to the glassware, cutlery, and seating. It was a hands-on process that allowed us to bring Tori’s vision to life in a way that felt thoughtful and uniquely ours.

Any tips for couples getting married?

We both found it incredibly freeing to make decisions with no one else in mind but each other. If there's one piece of advice we’d give to anyone planning a wedding - especially if you’re fortunate enough to have supportive family without expectations - it’s this: create a vision that feels true to you. That’s what will make the experience genuinely meaningful and unforgettable.

Whether it’s the outfits, the guest list, the invitations, or the venue, every choice should come from what you love and what feels right. That kind of authenticity will always lead to the best outcome. And in Tori’s words - don’t follow the trends, set them!

Photographer & Videographer: Monique Bianca @moniquebiancaphoto | Planning: Santa Barbara Elopement @santabarbaraelopement | Styling: By Tori @itstorimcinturff | Flora: Wild West Florals @wildwestflorals | Ceremony Location: Santa Barbara Courthouse | Reception Location: Hotel Californian @hotelcalifornian | Rentals: Party Pleasers | HMUA: Samara Beauty SB @samarabeautysb | Dress: Loho Bride @loho_bride | Suit: Suit Supply @suitsupply | Engagement & Wedding Rings: Starling Jewelry @starling | Shoes: Prada @prada