Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/934107
42 R oses were in full bloom across the 500 acres of San Ysidro Ranch, with bougainvillea splashing down the hillsides and gar- dens of lavender perfuming the air. Thus the stage was set last July for the wedding of Houstonians Elizabeth Esfahani and Robert Willey III. Long known for its enchanting allure (John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline honeymooned here), the Santa Barbara destination captivated the bride on a family visit. "I just fell in love with it," she says. "The charming town, the beautiful landscape, the perfect light … It's one of the most spectacular places we've ever been." Aesthetics are important. Esfahani and Willey share a design background: She's co-creative director of her family's revered Matt Camron Rugs & Tapestries, and he's the owner of Galerie Novella, which specializes in 20th-century French, Italian, and Scandinavian furnishings. The couple decided on an intimate wedding, family only. That meant a wee celebration for 15, but with all the detail of a major event. "Just because it was small, we didn't want it any less momentous than a big wedding," Willey says. That included the outdoor ceremony, officiated by the groom's sister, Carey Willey Sims, collegiate minister at Mary Washington University, followed by an al fresco dinner. The couple's vision was "a long and beautifully set table outdoors, our families gathered around it, great food, delicious wine, lots of toasts, stories, and laughter," Esfahani says. "And that's exactly what we got." The couple was hands-on in planning the wedding dinner. Esfahani explains, "Great meals and the long conversations that can happen over them were an important part of our S H E L B Y H O D G E S M E L L S T H E R O S E S . P H O T O G R A P H Y K U R T B O O M E R . CALIFORNIA DREAMING ELIZABETH ESFAHANI + ROBERT WILLEY III JULY 8, 2017 Robert Willey III and Elizabeth Esfahani