His dark, curly hair, those deep brown eyes, the hands that would make her hands look delicate and refined if he held them. Karen spotted Mohamed from across the room and instantly knew he was different. Besides standing out from the blond hair, blue-eyed dancers in the room (he was the only Egyptian in a room brimming with Minnesotans of largely Scandinavian decent), Mohamed was also one of the best dancers. He effortlessly moved across the dance floor with confidence and grace. And Karen wanted to be the lucky girl tucked in his arms.
In a salsa club on a cool night in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Karen walked up to Mohamed and introduced herself. She spent the evening following his lead on the dance floor and they decided to meet a few days later for dinner. Little did she realize that that fated night would mark the beginning of their love story.
The couple dated a few years and when Mohamed proposed to Karen, she readily agreed and started planning a destination wedding at Villa Verano in Santa Barbara. With 25 of their closest friends and family, they married on a perfect day and celebrated the only way they knew how: with confidence and grace.
Karen and Mo, you are the BEST!! No, really, you're so incredibly amazing you make those around you walk to sidle up next to you for a warm conversation. Your kindness made my heart melt and it was a complete and total honor to document your love. Thank you for the pleasure of being your wedding photographer…I hope you spend the rest of your lives tucked in each others' arms on the dance floor. Much Love and Appreciation… j*
The wedding day started at Villa Verano and there were so many pretty nooks and corners to shoot the wedding details…my personal favorite? This pair of Prada flats. Beyond.
Karen and Mo are from Minnesota, so when they contacted me to photograph their wedding in Santa Barbara, our correspondence was limited to email and a phone call. While I knew Karen was a sweetheart, her beautiful spirit also extended to her outer appearance…this girl was stunning.
Karen prepped in the upstairs suite of Villa Verano while JD photographed Mo getting dressed downstairs…
Karen's mom and sisters helped every step of the way and it was exciting to see her wedding vision come to life…
I mean, but, really? Karen, just stop with all this pretty…
JD photographed Mo getting dressed (and later admitted he was jealous of Mo's great taste in shoes…Gucci for the win)…
Mo and Karen opted to see each other before the ceremony, so he headed to the perfect spot to see his future wife…
…seeing Karen and Mo during their first moments together melted my heart…just look at these two!
Villa Verano is downright stunning. It's a perfect venue for wedding photos and we could've spent all day roaming the property for this great light!
JD captured this moment when the flower girl and ring bearer couldn't bear watching their aunt and new uncle kiss… 😉
It was a perfect Santa Barbara day for a wedding…the ceremony was lovely and personalized perfectly for the new couple…
This? This is a look of a girl who married the man of her dreams…
Happily Ever After…
While guests enjoyed cocktail hour by the pool at Villa Verano, the upper patio was the perfect place to host their reception. The amazing team at Alegria by Design planned and designed a perfectly flawless wedding day!
Shortly after the ceremony, Mo and Karen took a moment for themselves and drove along beach in Santa Barbara in a vintage Rolls Royce…so of course we had to take a few more photos!
The wedding decor was beyond beautiful…Karen had impeccable taste and every last detail was a true reflection of her style…
The reception began with toasting…
…included a moment of thanks…
…was buttressed by great speeches…
…and topped off with a perfect First Dance under the fading Santa Barbara sky…
And, yes, in case you're wondering, they're fantastic dancers…and Mo dips perfectly! 😉
I'll end with this lovely note of pretty revelry…
To see more of their wedding photos, feel free to view their slideshow by CLICKING HERE!
Many thanks to the amazing team who made this wedding come to life…
Planner: Shauna Timmons of Alegria by Design
Design: Armando Martines of Alegria by Design
Florist: Michael Mantalos of Louloudi Designs
Makeup + Hair: TEAM Hair and MakeupCook Better Live Better
Cake: Christine Dahl Pastries
Wedding Venue: Villa Verano in Santa Barbara
Music: Marc Bosserman
Wedding Slideshow Music: The Music Bed
Photographer: Jasmine Star
