Wedding Day

ceremony & reception

Kimpton Canary Hotel31 W Carrillo Street, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Our Wedding

BRIDE & GROOM PRE-CEREMONY

THE FIRST LOOK

CEREMONY

COCKTAIL HOUR & RECEPTION

WEDDING PHOTOS

The moment we met from Gino’s eyes: They say you meet the one when you least expect it, and that's exactly how I found Lauren. At Coachella 2017, we were introduced through mutual friends. I thought she was really cute. But I convinced myself someone like her wouldn't be interested in me. Turned out that fate had other plans... The moment we met from Lauren’s eyes: It was eight years ago–April 2017, weekend 2 of the Coachella Music Festival; It was a last-minute decision for me to tag along with Stacey’s group of friends to the festival. I was really excited because I had no idea what to expect as a first-timer to Coachella, and I was going with an experienced group of Coachella-goers. It was a warm day in Indio and we decided to beat the heat and grab drinks and tacos. As we were waiting in the parking lot for others to join us, a brand new, shiny Audi pulled up into the parking spot right next to where we were posted up.&nbsp; My first thought was “Ooo okay! Nice car…”My second thought was “Wait, I know the people in the car–they’re with us!?”&nbsp;The third thought was “Wait wait, who’s the driver??”&nbsp; It was Gino. We’d never met before.&nbsp; I probably looked like a fool, because I felt as if I had crazy, heart-eyes as plain as day for the world to see. Maybe it was a buzz or maybe it was butterflies, but the world slowed down in a balmy haze as he greeted me with a big smile and introduced himself. I was absolutely and completely drawn to him from that point forward. And the rest they say, is history… It would be weeks later that they would reconnect at a mutual friend’s birthday party, and from there, their relationship slowly started to blossom.&nbsp; Gino had made the move from Bakersfield to Los Angeles years prior to continue his work with AT&amp;T, and Lauren had been studying to obtain a paralegal certification at UCI while working full-time as a legal assistant and floor manager at a restaurant in Orange County. They made every effort to connect on the weekends in Los Angeles—catching movie premieres at dine-in theatres, concerts at the Staples Center, sunbathing on the soft sands of Hermosa Beach, hiking at Griffith Park, and catching Dodgers, Lakers, and Rams games were just some of the things they loved to do together. Then as luck and fate would have it, Lauren landed a job as a litigation paralegal at a law firm in Los Angeles—bringing her closer to Gino. Over the years, they grew ever closer—bonding over delicious meals and foodie adventures that took them all over the world. They traveled to the islands of Greece, Hawaii, and Mexico just to name a few. As they travelled farther from home, it brought them closer together. Fast forward through grinding in Los Angeles and living through the beginning of a pandemic—in 2021, they decided to take a leap of faith and finally move in together. They settled in Irvine, California and began building their lives together. Then on Lauren’s birthday in 2022, they received the most devastating news that no thirty-something year old ever expects to get: She was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. The following year would test their relationship to its absolute limits. Even so, their love for each other not just persisted, but reached a depth neither one of them even knew was possible. Small daily wins turned into life-changing milestones when treatment finally concluded in April 2023, and she was deemed cancer-free. Empowered to get back to the regularly-scheduled program and reinvigorate their souls, Gino and Lauren would take every opportunity to jetset to wherever their hearts desired: New York, Miami, the Philippines, Japan, Spain, France, and the Netherlands. In November 2024, during a quiet morning stroll through the picturesque streets of Amsterdam, Gino got down to one knee and asked Lauren to be his wife!

And, amidst the enthusiasm and buzz from a long-anticipated engagement, they also received yet another blessing from above: they weren’t just bride-and-groom-to-be, but now mommy-and-daddy-to-be as well!

We can't wait to celebrate our special day with the people that have supported us all along our journey. From that first Coachella meeting to standing together at the altar, your love has strengthened ours, and we're eternally grateful to have you by our side as we begin this beautiful new chapter together. - Love, the future Mr. &amp; Mrs. Maramo (+ baby)

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

Santa Barbara is a city on the central California coast, with the Santa Ynez Mountains as dramatic backdrop. Downtown, Mediterranean-style white stucco buildings with red-tile roofs reflect the city’s Spanish colonial heritage. Upscale boutiques and restaurants offering local wines and seasonal fare line State Street. On a nearby hill, Mission Santa Barbara, founded in 1786, houses Franciscan friars and a museum.

Accomodations

Since we are having an intimate wedding, we do not have hotel room blocks. We've done a little research for hotel options near our wedding venue:

A historic hotel in the heart of Santa Barbara, steps from the beach, Stearns Wharf, shopping, restaurants, and nightlife.

Hotel Santa Barbara

Discover the ultimate playground at Moxy Santa Barbara! Enjoy&nbsp;31 funky rooms, cozy lounges, Bar Moxy, and the eclectic Funk Zone.

Moxy Santa Barbara

Hotel Californian&nbsp;resides on State Street, Santa Barbara's main shopping and dining thoroughfare, which means you can walk most anywhere in town. The luxury property is just one block away from the beach and Stearns Wharf, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Santa Barbara.

Hotel Californian

Travel

The heart of Downtown Santa Barbara’s entertainment and retail district has transformed into an expansive 10-block pedestrian walkway between Sola and Gutierrez Streets. You can now explore, browse, shop, sip, and dine while enjoying the architectural beauty, sights and sounds of State Street—without car traffic. The conditions couldn’t be more ideal for taking a stroll!

State Street Promenade

Visit Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, complete with boutique tasting rooms, cafes, galleries, and shops that cater to Santa Barbara’s contemporary side.

The Funk Zone

The Santa Barbara Zoo is located on 30 acres near the ocean in Santa Barbara, California. It was built on the site of what was known as the Child Estate. It has more than 500 animals in numerous exhibits, including capybara and California condors, and was known for having had a giraffe with a crooked neck.

Santa Barbara Zoo

The championship golf course at Sandpiper has been rated by Golf Digest in the top twenty five public golf courses in the nation. It was designed by William F. Bell and opened in 1972 featuring beautiful rolling fairways and challenging greens in a seaside links style layout.

Sandpiper Golf Club

Chefs Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee present an exclusive omakase experience, including sake pairings.

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito

The Santa Barbara Trolley&nbsp;offers 90-minute, fully narrated tours of the "American Riviera," highlighting local attractions like the Santa Barbara Courthouse, Zoo, Museum of Natural History, and the historic Old Mission.

Santa Barbara Trolley

Built in 1872, Stearns Wharf is the oldest working pier on the West Coast. Steadfast wooden timbers support the wharf above the Pacific Ocean. Originally a transportation hub, it's now a commonly visited attraction with restaurants, shops, and fishing spots. The historic landmark offers scenic views of the coastline, mountains, and Channel Islands.

Stearns Wharf