Karis and Matthew Schroeder

There are few places more picturesque than Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse. Nestled in a secluded bowl of Figueroa Mountain, the space offers some the most breathtaking views of the Santa Ynez Valley, as well as hills, meadows, and ample outdoor party space. For Karis and Matthew Schroeder’s August wedding, the location created the perfect backdrop for the couple’s rustic, romantic, and simple ceremony and reception. Rather than spend a ton on decorations, the pair chose to accentuate the farmhouse’s bucolic details. With the help of their guests, they incorporated handmade signage, handpicked flowers, and homemade cakes and pies.

But the DIY efforts didn’t stop there. As the co-owner of Santa Barbara letterpress company Tabletop Made, Karis was able to design and create her invitations from start to finish. “I designed the invites after seeing an old map of Los Olivos in Mattei’s Tavern,” she said. “I had my friend Julie draw a silhouette of Figueroa Mountain, and Matt helped me letterpress-print them on our small press. He’s actually a good printer! We bought old, colorful stamps from a stamp collector in town, and my sister and I spent a night arranging and adhering them to the envelopes. It was like making a little personal collage for each invite.”

Day-of personal touches ranged from flower boxes made by Karis’s friend TJ McKillop to eucalyptus garlands gathered by one of the bridesmaids. Friend, caterer, and on-site coordinator Lori Stern lent her pastry skills to the day, too. “She made a three-tiered vanilla bean cake with strawberries and cream, decorated with fresh raspberries, blackberries, and flowers. She also baked us an almond peach pie, an apple pie, and a rhubarb pie ​— ​Matt’s favorite.”

From start to finish, the couple agrees it was the community effort that helped make their wedding day extra special. “I was nervous to do everything ourselves, but I realized that I loved relying on our friends and family for help,” said Karis. “They were so willing, and it made the day feel like everyone had a part in it, from Matt’s mom putting together our programs and my dad hand-making serving bowls for the caterers to my sister-in-law handing out cascarones for guests to shower on us as we left.”

Photographer: Cara Robbins / Venue: Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse / Invitations: Tabletop Made / Deejay: Elite Disc Jockeys / Caterer: Jolly Brothers Catering / Desserts: Lori Stern / Flowers: Padaro Floral, Santa Ynez Valley Florist / Rings: Patco / Guitarist: Peter Boles / Hair: Kristy Oglesby