Santa Barbara Natural History Museum Wedding

Shells. Rocks. Feathers. Pine cones. D + N both have an affinity for natural history—she’s a collector, and he has always been fascinated by geology. So incorporating all of these little found objects was a must, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History clearly made a most perfect choice in venue. Not only did it fit the theme, it’s right near their house and has a wooded grove surrounded by oak trees. Michael Costa captured all the woodsy, beachy details below…

Santa Barbara Natural History Museum wedding

As soon as we got engaged, we knew we wanted to get married at the museum. It’s a five minute walk from our house and a place we visit often. The woods behind the museum are open to the public and we often take walks there in the evening, so it really feels like an extension of our backyard. It was the next best thing to getting married at our home… Santa Barbara is a big destination wedding location and everything books at least a year in advance. Luckily, the museum got a cancellation and we were able to secure a date that worked really well for us.

What a bouquet. Made up of… Amaryllis, garden roses, caramel antike, yellow campanella, voyage, spray roses, protea, pieris, clematis, lisianthus, tulips… All in peaches, yellows, and pinks.

Flowers on flowers on flowers.

Each table had feathers, geodes, shells, rocks, acorns, antlers, and blooms by Rachel of Finch & Thistle Event Design, who so happens to be the bride’s sister (such a bonus to have a talented event designer in the fam!). See what pins inspired the design here.