The Bride Wore A Hand-Painted Dress For This Bold + Eclectic Big Sur Celebration

You know that feeling of strolling through a museum and stopping in front of a painting that takes your breath away? Or of looking out over the landscape on a hike and marveling at the view? That reverence for art – both human-made and in nature – is what Lily + Eric wanted to capture on their wedding day. 

“Our wedding at Loma Vista Gardens was an eclectic fusion of nature-inspired details, vibrant colors, and personal touches that celebrated the wild, untamed beauty of Big Sur,” says Lily. “As an interior designer, incorporating color was essential to bringing our vision to life. We aimed to create a joyful atmosphere where our personalities could shine through—every element, from the hand-painted details on my dress to the energetic dance moments during the ceremony, was a reflection of who we are.”

Together with planner Mariah Green the couple put together a celebration that prioritized color with fresh local wildflowers and a vibrant bridal party palette, leaning into shades of blue, green, orange, and yellow naturally found in the surroundings. They even gave their guests a color guide in their invites so their wedding day attire choices could keep the aesthetic alive. 

And then there’s the thrifted wedding gown that Lily had hand-painted to incorporate depictions of the Big Sur ecosystem. Which she paired with baby blue knee high boots. Brilliant.

The photos from The Delauras really capture the wonder with which Lily + Eric approached their wedding day, and we can’t wait to show you.

“We hope our celebration inspires couples to embrace their love for nature, art, and each other,” Lily + Eric say, “by incorporating details that truly reflect who they are.”

Seriously so charmed by the fact that Lily + Eric’s wedding invitations included a wedding guest attire color guide! “Our guests got into the spirit,” the couple remembers, “dressing in a color palette of oranges, greens, blues, and yellows, making the celebration feel like a living work of art.”

There they are. The knee high, square toe, baby blue, flare heel Jimmy Choo boots of our dreams 😍

“My nails were painted to resemble Van Gogh’s Water Lilies,” Lily says, “as a personal homage to a trip I took with Eric and his mother to the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris.”

Need some help dreaming up your own unforgettable wedding nails? Find every creative category you can imagine in our big collection of nail inspo guides.

Rocking colorful statement wedding boots was such a unique way to highlight that mid-thigh slit! Not to mention a great way to check “something blue” off the list.

Eric went for color + clever accessories, too, pairing his custom deep purple wedding suit from Soto & Co with a black bolo tie.

Behold: the beauty of these whimsical, deep pink florals by Mountain Pony Flowers.

So into the delicate pearl embellishments on Lily’s wedding veil.

Love that Eric laced up a pair of chic black leather groom sneaks from DUKE + DEXTER.

“Inspired by the natural beauty of our venue,” the couple says, “we used wildflowers grown in Big Sur by our florist, bringing a local and organic touch.”

“My gown featured an ombre depiction of the Big Sur coastline,” Lily says of this hand-painted masterpiece by Anna Yakubovskaya of Mermaid Silk, “highlighting local wildflowers like Silver Bush Lupine, Douglas Firs, and Coast Redwoods.”

“It was a serendipitous find during a thrift store trip with my mom,” Lily remembers of how fate led her to her wedding dress, “and, although it initially felt too plain, I transformed it by painting motifs that captured the beauty of our surroundings.”

“We embraced bold hues and unexpected elements to create a sense of wonder and vibrancy,” the couple says. “Rich colors were echoed in the bridesmaids’ dresses, the table settings, and even in the glassware, which featured an array of purples, cobalt blues, and champagne coupes.”

Look through our comprehensive lists of the best sage green bridesmaid dresses, the best terracotta bridesmaid dresses, and the best floral bridesmaid dresses to create a bridal party palette like Lily’s.

The Ceremony

Dried floral petal confetti is one of our all-time fave eco friendly wedding ideas!

Loving this tangerine tulle mother of the bride dress! (And this touching mom-daughter moment!! 🥹)

“Having my grandmother officiate our wedding was an especially meaningful moment,” Lily says. “She brought everyone to tears when she shared memories of the day I was born and how special it was for her to now marry her granddaughter.”

“Our ceremony was filled with joy and spontaneity, as our family members danced down the aisle to “Come and Get Your Love,” setting the tone for an upbeat, celebratory day. My maid of honor, who has been my best friend since the 4th grade, stood by my side, making the day even more memorable.”

Golden Hour Portraits

“I chose to wear my hair naturally, complementing the woodsy, outdoor surroundings,” says the bride of her curly down do by Katrina Michelle, who also took care of that beautiful pink-lipped bridal makeup.

“My ring, custom-designed by Eric with Marrow Fine, was another beautiful symbol of our journey together,” Lily says, “featuring a diamond from his mother, my birthstone (amethyst), tanzanite from a mountain he’d once climbed in Tanzania, and sapphires.”

The Reception

Chic Event Rentals provided the long wooden banquet tables, vibrant cobalt glassware, and periwinkle linens that gave the reception its eclectic outdoor feast feel.

“As a personal touch, Eric and I hand-wrote a letter to each of our guests on the back of a packet filled with wildflower seeds,” Lily says of their thoughtful wedding guest favors, “symbolizing our hope that they carry a piece of our day home with them.”

“At one point, gloves thrown in the air landed on the string lights above us,” the couple remembers of their celebration, “creating a magical and spontaneous moment of joy and laughter.”

Locally sourced ingredients went into this stunning spread by H Jackson Events, and Spirits & Nature kept the wedding cocktails flowing.

“Eric and I first met in New Orleans while I was finishing school and he was working,” says Lily. “Our first date was at a Rebirth Brass Band performance, and music has been a huge part of our lives ever since. We made it a priority to have an incredible DJ from DNA Entertainment and treated our guests to a unique experience with a silent disco to keep the celebration going long into the night.”

Brush strokes? Wild flowers? Shimmers of gold? This masterpiece of a two tier wedding cake by Tart + Tin sums up all the ways Lily + Eric succeeded in fusing art + nature in their day’s design.

Congratulations to you both on your beautiful Big Sur celebration! GWS wishes you nothing but the best!