"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain." No couple could have embodied this sentiment more than Miles and Lauren. They took every drop in stride and part of their reward are these gorgeous, moody pictures by Sarah Kathleen. Splash Cafe {no pun intended} handled the rain with calmness and professionalism. Lori Boe's florals weathered the storm without a flaw and Paper Cake Event's desserts were kept warm and dry in the Barrel Room. All About Events provided a beautiful Sailcloth tent with peaked roofing and other gorgeous rentals and DJ Malik kept the dancing and celebrating carrying on late into the night.

Brianna and David's wedding at La Cuesta Ranch was full of beautiful floral provided by Lori Boe Floral Design and fun, rustic details. Jonathan Roberts with Blue Photo captured the day beautifully, including some amazing footage of the sweeping views atop the hilltops of this gorgeous property. Rentals were provided by All About Events and featured beautiful amethyst linens. Phil's catering provided excellent BBQ, Epic Entertainment  DJ'd and emceed the day and into the night. Paul Howel from Marriages with Meaning officiated the Ceremony. Bottles and Ice provided bartending services and Doc Bernsteins came in for a late night treat of ice cream sundaes!

Jessica and Dan were married before harvest at the stunning Villa San Juliette Vineyards where Dan works as winemaker.  Chromatic Collective was on hand to capture all of the stunning details and the beautiful backdrop this Italian style villa and winery provides. Lori Boe Floral Design enhanced the natural Tuscan beauty  of the venue. Just Baked SLO provided a simply elegant cutting cake with gold accents and Madonna Inn cake was served to all the guests. Jessica and her bridesmaids hair and makeup was done by Anna Lent. Delicious catering provided by Mistura Catering. Rentals were provided by All About Events. Videography was done by HM Imagry. DJ Tetris with VOX DJs provided the music and coordination was done by A Perfect Day.

Melissa and John embraced all the fall feels for their October wedding at the Groves on 41, a working olive oil farm. Color palate and florals popped in bright yellows, vibrant oranges and deep purples, with scarred pumpkin accents, lots of cozy red wine and a head table nestled up next to an outdoor fireplace.  Vendors rocked it - thanks to Peer Johnson Photo, Pacific Harvest Catering, The Groves on 41, Scout Rental Co., Just Baked SLO, Marshall Gardens, DJ Bob Stock and our team at A Perfect Day.

Samira and Michael were married on a bright, beautiful day in June at Higuera Ranch. There wedding was full of vivid colors, German touches and had a wild, free-spirited feel. Catering by Splash Cafe. Rentals by All About Events. Officiated by Rick Comstock. Photography by Honey an Hive. DJ Simon Bauer from Germany.  Cal Poly Symphony String Quartet. Bill Gains Audio. Hair and Make Up by The Queens Bees.

Marlo and Rehan are the type of people you can’t help but be happy for. Their joy is infectious, their taste exquisite. It was extremely rewarding to bring this  Italian Garden vision with watercolor accents to life for them. Thanks to the extraordinary team of vendors: Sarah Kathleen Photography, Thomas Hill Organics, All About Events, La Tavola Linen, Scout Rental Co., Paper Cake Events, Flowers by Kim, Aterno Estate and Vineyards, Villa de Lucca, Kramer Events, Musician Emily Smith, SLO Safe Ride, Fetch Transportation, Rhyan Townsend Hair and Make Up, Dress by Lazaro and my assistant, Emily Martzen. Congrats to this beautiful couple!

Ashley and Keith were married on a warm summer evening at Halter Ranch's beautiful Silo Barns. The Ceremony took place on vintage rugs from Scout Rental Co. and was full of laughter and a few tears of happiness. Cocktail hour took place inside the silo barn where a massive hors d'ouevre station was placed along with cute and comfortable lounges, family farmhouse tables and antique touches. The Dinner Reception was held under the stars in front of the stunning silos. Tables were adorned with silky champagne colored linen with overlays in heirloom lace collected by the Bride, her Mother and sisters. Cascading floral arrangements and antique brassy candle holders with long taper candles adorned the tables. Mixed vintage glassware finished the look of these beautiful tablescapes. Congrats to this wonderful couple and thank you to all the vendors who shared their time and talents! @makeup_by_anna_grimes Venue: Halter Ranch Floral: Brooke Edelman Floral Designs Dessert: Just Baked SLO Photography: Peer Johnson DJ: Modern Symphony Officiate: Olive Tree Officiating Catering: Delicious by Deb  Hair: Nichole Potter Hairstyling. Rentals: All About Events. Specialty Rentals: Scout Rental Co..

by Guest Blogger Laurie Larson
4 Unexpected Reasons You Need a Wedding Planner
 
If you are in the beginning stages of planning your wedding you’ve likely heard all of the horror stories from the extra venue costs to brawling bachelors and of course the seating arrangements. In fact, television has made an entirely new genre of reality TV with shows such as Bridezillas and Whose Wedding is it Anyway?
 
Your wedding will be one of the most important days of your life, so how do you avoid the unexpected crisis?
 
That’s where the wedding planner comes in. From napkins to cake and venues, the wedding planner is someone who will help you prepare for that special day while also making sure it goes off without a hitch.
 
Hiring a wedding planner isn’t just about cake and photos, though. Bringing a wedding planner into your life can make the entire experience of getting married more stress-free.
 
Not convinced you need a wedding planner? You will be after learning about these four unexpected benefits of hiring a wedding planner.
 
Wedding Planning Will Actually Be Fun
 
Your wedding should be your dream day but planning everything isn’t nearly as easy as you think. The detail matters are numerous, and sometimes it’s hard enough to just get through a normal day on your schedule.
 
So, you’ve heard it before, don’t even consider planning your wedding on your own. Not only has a wedding planner been down this road before, but they likely have enough checklists to fill your venue. They can take care of all those details and arrangements that have you feeling nervous.
 
Instead of calling four bakeries to taste-test the cake, you just show up. Instead of visiting a dozen potential venues, your planner can help you narrow it down before you go.
 
While your planner handles the details, you can just enjoy the experience.
 
You’ll Keep Your Sanity
 
Juggling your normal life to-dos with all your wedding to-dos is nearly impossible. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day, and soon you’ll find yourself staying up late nights, waking up early, and losing your mind from exhaustion.
 
Insomnia is the second leading mental health disorder and the primary reason is due to anxiety and stress. There are a ton of decisions to make when it comes to your wedding and it is natural that you will be kept awake overthinking your game plan.
 
Sleep deprivation will not only make you feel fatigued, but it will also affect your ability to focus, think clearly and make decisions. Your sleep is your body’s way of repairing damage, improving creativity, handling emotions and organizing your memories and thoughts. Without quality sleep you will find planning a wedding is much more difficult.
 
A wedding planner can help you by narrowing down your choices and handling the stressful decisions that would otherwise keep you awake at night.
 
Limit Those Not-So-Minor Unexpected Expenses
 
There are a lot of unexpected expenses that can occur with your wedding. For example, if you are planning an outdoor wedding, what is your plan B if it rains or is too windy? Can your venue handle both on short notice?
 
Your planner will know the cost of things and will probably know where your wiggle room is at as well as the likelihood of an unexpected cost. They can also guide you on how much of a buffer you should set aside for unexpected costs.
 
Receive Priceless Emotional Support
 
Wedding planners have been there before, so when you are suddenly crying because your napkins are a color-shade off, or because your cousin suddenly cancelled the RSVP, you can rest assured that your planner will not freak out. In fact, in many cases your wedding planner will be that shoulder you can cry on and the wedding therapist you need to talk to.
 
It is natural for the soon-to-be-bride (and the groom) to suddenly break out crying. Your wedding planner is the person to give you the assurance that, “yes, everything will be fine.”
 
 
All of these factors combine into the perfect package deal. Now you’re probably wondering how you would ever manage wedding planning without a planner’s help!
 
If you’re getting married soon, take the burden off yourself of doing it all alone. A wedding planner will offer all of the support you need to help you fully enjoy your season of engagement.

Laurie is a writer based on the east coast who enjoys writing on health and lifestyle topics. In her free time, she loves doing anything that gets her outdoors breathing some fresh air.