Elegant Picnic Elopement in Santa Barbara

Planning an outdoor dinner party or intimate reception?

This may be one of my favorite ways to spice up a table setting. A curated picnic will never go out of style in my opinion. This elegant picnic was planned for a tropical themed Elopement we photographed in Santa Barbara, California. The cozy setting for 5, the ground seating, the complimenting floral arrangements, and even the meal courses were tropical, textured, and vibrant to reflect the Maui Destination Wedding this was initially planned to be.

The Santa Barbara Cliffs made a beautiful setting for our couple’s Tropical Elopement. While the couple got ready and had their first look at an Airbnb nearby, the ceremony and intimate picnic took place at the Douglas Family Preserve, a quiet park in Santa Barbara adjacent to a cozy neighborhood nestled on the cliffs. The preserve is located on the mesa above Arroyo Burro Beach, and the backdrop of waves below completed the destination elopement feel the couple wanted.

Outdoor Dinner Party

I can’t help but think that this outdoor picnic aesthetic would be such a fun backyard dinner party idea as well. I’m envisioning this tablescape surrounded by friends and family for a weekend hosting, birthday party or even a backyard bridal shower.

Some tips on styling an outdoor picnic for your event: Our first tip is to reach out to our friends at Picnic and Posies to curate an outdoor table setting for your gathering. These ladies know how to bring life to a table and leave the stress out of it.

After you chat with your table designer, Snack On My Snacks has the table snacks to match your styled picnic. We have been known to DIY a mean charcuterie board but if you want the extra help, we love finding local geniuses to handle the foods.

Considering an elopement reception or backyard wedding? You can check out my full Tropical Hawaiian Elopement from this day here that will give you all vibes you may want to consider when eloping at this gorgeous destination.

Photos were taken in Santa Barbara California for Hillary and Kyle’s Destination Elopement Wedding.

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