A Tuscan Inspired Wedding at Sunstone Winery

If you have been to Tuscany, you know the feeling. There’s something about the region that’s hard to put into words, and everyone should get to spend time there at least once. A Tuscan wedding would be a dream, but talking a whole group of family and friends into flying overseas is another story. So Kati and Erik did the next best thing. They brought Tuscany to Southern California and got married at Sunstone Winery in Santa Barbara, where the wedding hair and makeup and the setting both had that Italian countryside feel.

Bridal Hair and Makeup at Sunstone Winery in Santa Barbara

Kati kept her wedding hair and makeup natural and simple, true to that Italian look. The goal was to play up her features without covering them, and to match the winery and the mood of the day. What mattered most to her was quality and a stress-free morning, so I focused on artists who could nail the look she wanted and made things easy for her. She sent me inspiration photos and a description first. She landed on glowy makeup with airbrush foundation for a lighter finish, and hair worn down in soft curls.

Kati lived in Los Angeles, so I picked an artist based in LA to keep her wedding hair and makeup trial close to home, with the plan for that artist to travel up to Sunstone Winery the morning of. After the trial she made a few tweaks, including adding a blowout the morning of. It cost a little more, but it was worth it for the look she wanted and for how her hair would read in photos.

The Wedding Day Beauty Timeline

One of my main jobs as a beauty concierge is building a timeline that keeps every service on schedule with no delays. Kati had 10 ladies for hair and makeup, herself included, so I scheduled three artists to cover the bride, all the bridesmaids, and both mothers. That let everyone start at 8:00am and finish by 12:30pm. No one had to be up at the crack of dawn.

Because of the travel time and cost, Kati had thought about hiring two Santa Barbara artists for the party while the lead artist from LA did her and a few others. Depending on the location and timing, that split can work well. In her case, though, it was better to keep the lead artist and her team. You get a consistency across everyone’s looks that you just can’t guarantee when you mix in outside artists.

A Tuscan Dream at Sunstone Winery

In the end Kati had a flawless morning and everyone was finished early. Look at her photos and you would never guess she was in Southern California. You would think she and her husband Erik got married in the Tuscan countryside with all their friends and family along for the trip. It came together so well that Martha Stewart Weddings featured them.

xoxo,

Katelyn

Dream Vendor Team:

Planning: @percysalesevents

Photography: @jennyquicksall

Beauty Concierge: @elwynnandcass

Venue: @sunstonewinery

Dress: @moniquelhuillierbride

Planning your wedding at Sunstone Winery or anywhere in Santa Barbara? We’d love to handle your wedding hair and makeup. Send us a note.

Dreaming of your own day? Explore our Santa Barbara wedding hair and makeup.