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Featured Wedding in Santa Barbara: A Chance Meeting of Old Friends

Chance meetings can change your life. It did with this couple who knew each other throughout high school, yet it wasn’t until years later that a chance meeting at a hang out in Austin, Texas, where they both attended the University of Texas, reconnected them; this time forever.

Torri and Andy’s first date, a week later, was at Cedar Street, where they listened to the Spazmatics, the same band who, four years later, would be hired to play at their wedding! The proposal came on a Memorial Day weekend at the Chateau du Sureau outside Yosemite National Park with a beautiful, bended-knee proposal amid tea lights in the forest.

Torri’s wedding dress was a Lazaro, Spanish-inspired gown, with a Monique Lhuillier veil. She found the dress in Scottsdale, Arizona where her father lives, on a special trip with her mother. Final approval came after her Dad visited many bridal boutiques with Torri and helped her make the final decision – now that’s a special dad!

Torri and Andy chose Santa Barbara as their wedding location due to Andy’s father who was in Seminary at Old Mission Santa Barbara. The full choir performed throughout the ceremony.

Montecito Confections created two beautiful cakes for the event. The bridal cake was a 4-tier cake with Tiramisu, coconut and the traditional Southern Red Velvet Cake flavors. Persimmon colored Plumerias trailed down the edge of the white fondant cake. The groom’s cake was in the shape of a panda (the bride’s nickname for the groom) and was a bittersweet chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse filling.

The reception was an alfresco, family-style celebration held in traditional Italian style to honor the bride’s family, at a private estate, Terra Bella, in Hope Ranch overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Guests dined on antipasto with bowls of risotto and penne a la puttanesca passed around family style. For the main course, guests enjoyed filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise sauce. Along with the cake, guests were treated to a gelato bar.

The reception began with Music from the local band, Luna Gitana. The reception continued well into the night with music by the Spazmatics.

Trolleys were on-hand to transport guests from the Mission to the estate and to take guests back to their respective hotels at the end of the evening with gifts of pashminas, Torrone Italian candy and jordan almonds wishing everyone, Buona Sera.

Our thanks to StrictlyWeddings.com Dallas photographer, Thisbe Grace, who as always, brought her own grace and style to these wonderful wedding photos.

Bride and Groom: Torri Hansen and Andy Ainsa
Date: September 25, 2010
Photographer: Thisbe Grace Photography
Bridal Gown: Lazaro
Cake: Montecito Confections
Wedding Ceremony: Old Mission Santa Barbara