Chelsea and Eric had already planned a small wedding before the pandemic hit. Because they had some family members who were high risk, they decided to downsize their wedding even more to just the two of them. They moved their elopement from Asheville, NC, to Santa Barbara, CA. Their Belmond El Encanto wedding photos were extra special because their elopement landed on my birthday! It was a fun way to spend 33 years of life.
The temperatures were record-breaking this weekend in Santa Barbara, and we felt it. Thankfully, we had a nice breeze off of the ocean, but it felt more like an oven opening rather than a refreshing mist off the coast. They took it in stride and soaked up the sun’s rays and magnificent mountain views.
Before Eric saw Chelsea in her dress, she called her mom and close friends. They all shared tears and laughter, and she showed off her accessories and excitement before meeting her groom.
After they exchanged vows at the Belmond El Encanto, we explored the Los Padres National Forest for golden hour photos. The extra drive was worth it, and we had the most magical light (albeit sweating through it all).
We made it back to Butterfly Beach for sunset in Santa Barbara, and we finally received some relief from the heat as the ocean cooled off our bare feet.
