After six years together, paramedic firefighter Mitchell Haag proposed to Array Creative Design Founder Erika Bellitt at a lookout point at the Douglas Family Reserve in Santa Barbara. They were celebrating the launch of Array with a sunset picnic and picked up dinner from their favorite restaurant, The Lark. As the sun moved beneath the mountains, Mitchell dropped to one knee—“It was pure perfection!” Erika remembers. 

“As an event designer, I wanted to make sure I was creating something intentional for the both of us as well highlighting the experiences and feelings we wanted our guests to feel throughout the weekend,” the bride-to-be says of ideating her wedding in Santa Barbara. “It wasn’t about creating something beautiful but creating a feeling and highlighting the natural beauty of the areas of our town.” 

The idyllic surroundings of the Santa Barbara Court House provided an inviting backdrop for their spring nuptials. Erika took to all the planning herself, alongside her team at Array. Emily Loeppke, who also captured the couple’s engagement, photographed the weekend’s events while I Heart Creative shot video. 

“I have always loved working with Britt from Swell Press for my clients, so I was beyond excited to be creative with her for my own wedding stationery,” Eriks says. “We had a good concept for the wedding day design, but incorporating all the elements for the weekend was the most fun.”

“Picking a dress was a fun expression of my own style. After trying on a few beautiful gowns, I decided to go the custom route,” Erika notes. “Ou from OUMA Bridal made the experience so enjoyable and created the dress of my dreams. . .This dress embodied everything I ever wanted.” She pulled inspiration from Bettina Looney’s wedding look. “I wanted a moment of drama, which was showcased with the most magical sleeves, and elegance that was encompassed by the fabric and natural movement of the dress,” Erika explains. 

The weekend began with a “modern restoration” rehearsal dinner in downtown Santa Barbara. Guests sat surrounded by bright Breanna Jane Botanicals and bold accents while dining on coastal fare. “With the goal of allowing our family and friends to connect for the first time, we knew creating an intimate experience with good food and beautiful details was a top priority to kick-start the wedding festivities.” she shares. 

On Friday, the celebrations continued the next day on the water. Erika and Mitchell arrived at the marina in a Mercedes Benz convertible—a gift from her to him for the weekend. “A big reason we love Santa Barbara is the ocean, and what better way to allow our guests to enjoy all of Santa Barbara than inviting them onto the Channel Cat?” she asks.

On April 1, 2023, the bride and her wedding party got ready at the Santa Barbara House, while Mitch and his groomsmen spent the morning at Palihouse. Danielle Bellitt, the bride’s sister and hairstylist extraordinaire, created Erika’s relaxed updo. 

When the time came, Erika walked down an aisle covered in lilac Siren Floral arrangements and met Mitch before loved ones. The mountains accented the scene, as the couple exchanged vows. “We wanted that moment to be a true reflection of our love,” Erika reflects. “The ceremony was not just about us showcasing our love and commitment to each other, but it was about celebrating the friends and family that supported us through our relationship and individual lives and asking for that continued support through our marriage.” 

Once officially wed, everyone headed to a reception space featuring a custom Adore Folklore bar, Bella Vista wooden chandeliers, and Field To Table entrees. “Earthy tones and lots of different textiles were what made this design so fun for me,” Erika shares. “I wanted the reception to feel like Mitch and I were opening our home to all our loved ones.”

The newlyweds danced to Father John Misty’s “Real Love Baby,” before guests joined them on the dance floor and Dent of Dart Collective played all of their favorite songs. Saxophonists brought the celebrations to life, Erika featured a second look, and everyone spent the evening reveling.

Instead of calling it a night, the party carried on at Pearl Social. Bella Vista installed more than 40 disco balls, creating an electric rave-like scene. It was a night to remember and the newlyweds spent every second in pure delight. The bride happily concludes, “Mitch and I couldn’t stop looking at each other and just saying, ‘Babe, this is our wedding,’ and I loved every moment of it.”