A Celestial Fall Wedding at Foxen Canyon Ranch | Brooke & Austin
Brooklynn & Austin’s love story is one that began in middle school!!!
No, I’m not kidding. Austin asked Brooke out in eighth grade and would pick her up for dates on the red bicycle he’d ride to her house. I’m sure at the time no one expected they’d one day marry each other, but, ten years that included the military, nursing school, a knee injury, and a global panorama later, Brooke & Austin stood before the very people who’d been with them through all those years and were married. And after being together for such a long and ever evolving time, an epic celebration was certainly in order. Boy, was it one incredible day at Foxen Canyon Ranch, a stunning wedding venue in the Santa Ynez Valley of California.
The day began with the guys and gals getting ready at opposite corners of the Foxen Canyon Ranch property- the guys in the carriage house and the girls in the hilltop guest house. There was so much excitement in the air as Brooke and Austin and their closest people prepared for the moment everyone had been waiting for since middle school- when Brooke would walk down the aisle and be married to Austin. There were absolutely no nerves in sight, just pure excitement.
At this point in the story, I have to take a pause and talk about the theme of the day, one which reflected who Brooke and Austin are to their core. These two, as Brooklynn would say, “weirdos who met in kindergarten,” love Star Wars, and wanted more than anything to make that a focal point of their day. But Brooke also has incredible vision for design, and what evolved was a gorgeous, celestial, elevated Star Wars theme with intentionally thought out details sprinkled throughout the day.
And so, for an elevated Star Wars wedding, Brooke and Austin dressed accordingly. Austin, his guys, and the bridesmaids rocked deep midnight blue and black, and Brooke absolutely shined in a sequin and champagne dress with accompanying sparkly boots and twinkling star hair accessories. Other decor included their Millennium Falcon guest book, sparkly champagne glasses serving up welcome drinks, a disco ball, and a marquee sign announcing the theme of the day- “Rise of the Thompsons.”
Brooke and Austin saw each other for the first time as she walked down the aisle under the sprawling oak trees on Foxen Canyon Ranch’s lawn. Golden hour settled in as stories were told about the couple’s long history together and hand written vows were exchanged. And once Brooke and Austin were * finally * declared husband and wife, the party really started. Following the ceremony, the newlyweds joined us for a ride up to what, in my opinion, sets Foxen Canyon Ranch apart from other wedding venues in Santa Barbara county— the hilltop sunset spot.
Overlooking the whole Santa Ynez Valley- rolling hills and vineyards- we got to enjoy a stunning and wildly colorful November sunset, accompanied by champagne, much like the evening we spent photographing Brooke & Austin’s engagements the fall before at Foxen Canyon Ranch. After we were thoroughly chilled to the bone (evenings in Santa Barbara county are cold at all times of the year!), we headed back down to the barn at Foxen Canyon Ranch for a magical reception.
We shared a lovely dinner with the newlyweds and their people, laughed along with everyone throughout the series of heartfelt toasts, and definitely teared up during Brooke & Austin’s first and special dances. And then, finally, it was time for the dance party to commence. Brooke & Austin cut a giant donut cake, the topper with an ode to Star Wars, of course, and danced the evening away with their friends. What an epic party to ring in a new chapter in their life as ~ The Thompsons ~
Meet the best Santa Ynez Valley Wedding Vendors!
Venue ~ Foxen Canyon Ranch / Design & Coordination ~ Wunderland Co. / Florals ~ Glenna Joy Flowers / Dessert ~ Enjoy Cupcakes & Drover’s Doughnuts / DJ ~ DeeJay Curly / Beauty ~ The Queens Bees / Photobooth ~ Bessy The Foto Bus / Rentals ~ Sweet Beginnings Specialty Co. / Transportation ~ Santa Barbara Airbus
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And now we present to you Brooke & Austin’s elevated Star Wars themed Foxen Canyon Ranch Wedding~
Howdy friends! We’re Katie & Joseph, a husband & wife team, and Phoenix wedding photography duo.
We are big fans of documenting wedding days in an unposed, raw, genuine, and honest way that allows our couples to maximize their experience on their day while also receiving a gallery full of stunning images that communicate how it felt to be there.
Though we are based in Arizona, we’ll travel anywhere for a good love story (and dance party). We invite you to follow the links below to learn more about us and our services, and to get in contact with us!
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Hannah and Tom have spent much of their relationship living in an RV and travelling the country, and so it felt almost natural to have a national park themed wedding in one of their favorite destinations, Arizona.