Romantic, Intimate Wedding at Santa Ynez Estate
From Atelier de La Fleur Weddings & Events:
Jill La Fleur of La Fleur Weddings & Events has been a local wedding planner and event designer for the past 16 years and was recently named one of the top wedding planners in the world by Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. Although she has planned large and lavish weddings here in Santa Barbara and her home of Santa Ynez as well as around the world, when it came to her own wedding she preferred to keep it local and intimate.
She and her husband Gokhan, the personal trainer to the gentlemen in recovery at Recovery Ranch and the manager and trainer of Ranch Gym in Santa Ynez, met years ago and became very good friends before eventually falling madly in love, realizing they were soul mates and that they had each found the love of their life. They had originally planned to elope but their dear friends, Alain & Kathy Clenet, offered to host the wedding at their beautiful home, Long Meadow Estate in Santa Ynez, which is one of the most stunning locations in the valley, set up perfectly for weddings & events.
Jill and Gokhan could not think of a more beautiful, perfect venue where they could feel at home and have those closest to them part of their day!
Another dear friend offered her Santa Ynez vacation rental home for Jill’s family to stay all together for the weekend, so for their family rehearsal dinner the night prior, they decided to stay in and cook homemade pizzas in the beautiful outdoor pizza oven and serve them with a local cheese & charcuterie board, local and organic salad (much of which was organically grown Jill & Gokhan’s own home garden), and local Santa Ynez Valley wines.
Jill had her eye on a couple of gowns that she just fell in love with immediately and just could not decide between the two, so she wore them both! For her Bridal shoot on the wedding rehearsal day, she wore a dusty blue, romantic gown by Clair La Faye, and for her wedding day, she chose a stunning, bohemian-chic gown by Rue De Seine which she found at one of her favorite Central Coast bridal salons in San Luis Obispo, Moondance Bridal. Her hair was done in a matching style with a soft, side braid by her longtime friend and hairdresser, Kelly Trumble, of Mishay Salon, and her makeup by another longtime friend and colleague, Mar Romero, of TEAM Hair and Makeup.
The wedding was officiated by a wonderful, local officiate, Miriam Lindbeck in front of a beautiful oak tree as they stood on a custom Turkish rug (Gokhan is originally from Istanbul), which they now have prominently displayed in their home. Jill’s dad is also a Deacon and he lovingly said a special blessing over Jill & Gokhan and the custom combined Cross & Tasbih that Jill wrapped around her bouquet just before they walked down the aisle together. Jill’s son, Jake, carried the rings and a seat was saved up front for her mother, who’s ashes were placed in a beautiful bud vase with an olive branch.
Jill and her sister, Colleen La Fleur of Atelier de La Fleur have recently teamed up and joined their businesses to include both planning and floral design services locally and worldwide. Colleen is an extremely talented and renowned floral designer originally based in Tucson, AZ and now has expanded her team to also be based here in Santa Ynez, CA. Given they have a very similar style and aesthetic, Jill and Colleen were able to work together seamlessly, coming up with the design elements of this wedding day to include a romantic, organic display of locally sourced plants and floral (in fact the roses came from Recovery Ranch’s own Ranch Roses grown here in Santa Ynez in a soft, romantic palate of grey, ivory, champagne and gold mixed with touches of soft peach and greenery.
The meal was important to them as well. As Jill loves to cook and Gokhan loves to eat, they wanted to treat their friends and family with a favorite local chef’s cuisine, so brought in Luca Crestanelli, of Sky Kitchen to prepare their favorite dishes from his acclaimed Santa Ynez Valley restaurant. The wines they paired their meal with came from Sunstone Winery one of the few sustainable, grown vineyards in Santa Ynez.
The 2-tier wedding cake was created by Christine Dahl Pastries and was served with Turkish Delight & Turkish Coffee from a local Santa Barbara shop, Seven Hills Turkish Imports.
Jill and Gokhan also gifted a set of Turkish towels to each of their guests from this store.
The vintage goblets, crystal, plates, and gold flatware were all from Otis and Pearl mixed in beautifully with Atelier de La Fleur’s crystal compotes, vases, and brass candleholders and linens from La Tavola.
The custom paper goods (invitation suite, menus, thank you notes) were created by Honey Paper in Los Olivos using the design of the Turkish rug that Jill & Gokhan said their vows on during the Ceremony and the Fleur de Lis family emblem.
All of this was photographed beautifully by the talented Mike Larson, someone Jill has worked with for many years. He and his wife, Rachel, are also dear friends of Jill & Gokhan’s and were of course included as guests at their wedding as well!
Jill and Gokhan's wedding was also chosen to be featured in the Edible Santa Barbara magazine which you can read more about HERE.
Venue: Long Meadow Estate | Planner: Atelier de La Fleur Weddings & Events | Florist: Atelier de La Fleur | Photographer: Mike Larson | Rentals: Otis and Pearl | Paper Goods: Honey Paper | Linen Rentals: La Tavola | Wine: Sunstone Winery | Caterer: Sky Kitchen | Wedding Cake: Christine Dahl Pastries| Officiant: Miriam Lindbeck | Gowns: Clair La Faye, Rue De Seine, Moondance Bridal | Bridal Hair: Mishay Salon | Makeup: TEAM Hair and Makeup
