Sometimes more is too much, sometimes more is perfect and sometimes, well sometimes less is more. One of the things that I like best about Katy and Jarrod’s Big Sur wedding is its simple elegance. I love all of the shimmer paired with the casual feel of the outdoor setting. I love her Monique Lhuillier gown with its sexy back, and all of the little things like their dog being part of the ceremony, Katy’s mom helping collect pieces for their wedding and the bench picture (be sure to read their story to find out why this is so much better than it sounds).

Perhaps some of the best romances do start out of friendships. What do you think? Either way, I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Katy Kunkel and Jarrod Muenter
Married in Big Sur, California on May 30

Katy Kunkel and Jarrod Muenter met while they were living in the same dorm and playing water polo together at UC Santa Barbara. “I was unaware of Jarrod’s interest in me for about the first year of hanging out,” says Katy admitting that she naively considered them to just be “really good friends.” A short time later, while the duo was on a failed SCUBA diving trip, Katy realized that Jarrod had feelings for her when she “had to cut him out of kelp.”

They always had so much fun together and “once I realized what a great guy I had on my hands, there was no way I was letting him go,” divulges Katy. “We’ve been inseparable ever since.” After graduating they traveled for the next nine months and “figured if we can handle each other 24 hours a day, seven days a week for that long of a time period,” say Katy, then “we have a pretty good chance of making it work.”

The proposal came the day after Christmas when Jarrod gave Katy her present first, but made her wait to open the card. “After a long and thoughtful note, at the bottom of the card was the sentence: ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to ask you to marry me right now.’” Jarrod then awkwardly stumbled over packages under the tree and get down on one knee. “It was very endearing and very Jarrod,” shares Katy.

“We chose Big Sur for our wedding because of our love of the area and the time we spend hiking and camping there. It’s such a unique and beautiful place and we wanted to share our love of it with our family and friends on our wedding day,” says Katy. But, six months into the planning, they were informed that their favorite venue was closing due to a fire and they were faced with having to find a new location. Fortunately, fate led them to the perfect spot: a secluded, private property nestled into the rugged Big Sur cliffs, “literally just feet above the water,” says Katy.

Katy’s eye for art and innate sense of style proved to perfectly compliment the naturally beautiful setting. With a color palette of magenta, pewter and nude the stage was set for an incredible evening. “Mercury glass vases, crystal chandeliers and numerous varieties of local succulents all helped to achieve the perfect eclectic blend of elegance and nature,” notes Katy, whose mother had collected decorative pieces from all over in the time leading up to the wedding, adding to the artistic flare.

After a beach photo shoot, the couple arrived to their wedding in style via Katy’s step-father’s fully-restored Woody. Another personal touch was when Jarrod was escorted down the aisle by the couple’s dog, Sam, who was the acting ring bearer. Harp music played the couple’s favorite Ben Harper song as Katy strolled down the aisle in her Monique Lhuillier gown and Rene Caovilla shoes. The non-denomenational ceremony was presided over by Reverend Brian Lyke.

Afterwards, Katy and Jarrod stole a private moment away from their guests: seated alone and overlooking the ocean, they shared a toast on a bench that Jarrod spent months hand carving as a surprise wedding gift for Katy. A family-style meal ensued, which incorporated the couple’s “favorite tastes” of the California coast. Following dinner, the Money Band performed old school rock tunes and everyone danced under the stars. Then, as the evening quieted down, they all gathered to enjoy cordials and S’mores by the fire.

Katy and Jarrod honeymooned for three weeks along the coast of Croatia. After celebrating the start of their news lives together, they are also happy to remember how it all began. “We’re lucky to have built our relationship on a strong foundation of friendship, honesty and trust in one another. I don’t know if there really could be a better match for me out there; it just feels right when we’re together,” smiles Katy.

Location: Paion, Big Sur, CA; Cake: Cakework, San Francisco, CA; Caterer: Feel Good Foods, Santa Cruz, CA; Event Planner: Allison Weddings, Capitola, CA; Floral Design: Fleurs Du Soleil, Monterey, CA; Stationery: Heart Paper Soul, Santa Cruz, CA; Harpist: Juli Alexander, Kelly Productions, Monterey, CA; Band: The Money Band, Kelly Productions, Monterey, CA; Rentals: Classic Party Rentals, San Francisco, CA; Shoes: Rene Caovilla; Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier; Photography: Scott Campbell Photography, Monterey, CA

We wish you countless years of happiness Katy and Jarrod and a big thank you to Scott Campbell of Scott Campbell Photography for letting us share this with our viewers!