Vintage Estate in Yountville was absolutely beautiful in April for Tiffany and Nick’s wedding. Both the bride and groom looked like they had stepped off the front page of a bridal magazine. Thanks to Richard Wood photography for the stunning pictures. Tori Patocchi of Rivertown Florals for the amazing flowers, and ATL events for the dramatic lighting in the barrel room. Musical Heart Strings, as always, played fabulous strings!

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Reception Site

Table Centerpiece

Rose Garden Ceremony

Alyce and Tim had one of the most whimsical weddings I’ve ever had the privilege of planning. Alyce definitely has her own sense of style, as can be seen from her fabulous tea-length wedding dress and her bridesmaids’ navy blue dresses, complimented by slate blue maribou feather details. Every detail, from the guest seating cards to the sweet heart sign-in shadowbox to the farmhouse tables centerpieces set with hand-painted woodland creatures and vintage teacups, was splendidly executed.  The sweet sounds of a live band provided music for the dinner reception which was held on a beautifully manicured lawn with hundred year old oak trees, a vineyard backdrop, and open-bulb Italian lighting. The evening simply couldn’t have been more magical!

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Tea Cup Florals

Bridesmaids' Dresses

Tori Patocchi Florals

Michele’s Corner Cakes

Carolyn and Dave are one smart couple! First of all, they chose an absolutely gorgeous site, and then one of the most beautiful times of the year. When the lavender blooms at St. Francis, the gardens are absolutely stunning. Subtle touches of lavender and delicate peony carried the theme through from the bouquets to the place settings.

Elle Jae Photography

Meredith Law Florals

Park Avenue Catering

Andrea and Ben’s wedding was a composition of platinum and yellow, and was absolutely stunning, from the bride’s elegantly simple dress to the fabulous florals.

As far as I know, this is the only wedding that has been held down by the LOVE sign.  For Paradise Ridge enthusiasts, you know that the sculptures at the estate change out on a regular basis. But the LOVE remains the same!

So, for a bride who really wants to make a statement, choose your colours and carry them through with simple things, like placecards, place settings, chair details, florals, or even guest gifts!

Milou and Oulin photography

Anita Isaza Wine Country Flowers

Patisserie Angelica Croquembouche

Lucy Gustafson Recherche du Plaisir – Sweets

I met Lauren and Henry nearly a year before their wedding. After viewing several sites, they chose Trentadue because of the wonderful views of the mountains and vineyards from the spacious North Lawn.

Lauren’s vintage-inspired all over lace dress featured cap sleeves, a modest v-back and front and a chapel-length train. Her stunning full-length veil was edged with matching lace.  She carried an ivory and lavender bouquet with touches of deep purple calla lilies and chartreuse and burgundy cymbidium orchids. The bouquet was hand-tied with ivory ribbon and held a tiny portrait of her late father in an oval frame. Lauren’s mother walked her down the aisle to Laura Simpson’s lovely harp music. The Reverend Blane Ellsworth performed the ceremony.

Following an amazing cocktail hour, featuring hand-carved prosciutto and crostinis as well as passed hors d’oeuvres, the guests were invited to a scrumptious dinner on a grand 50’ long king’s table underneath a beautiful grape arbour. Josette from Lavender Floral created the perfect ambience with her designs for the arbour, with tiny hanging crystal lights and amazingly artistic bouquets suspended among the leaves and grape clusters. The table featured heirloom lace runners and elegantly simple floral arrangements of ivory and blush heirloom roses, dusty miller and hydrangea. Each guest was gifted with balsamic vinegar and olive oil cruets.

After a wonderful dinner, the guests were invited into the spacious Sala del Leone for dance music provided by AMS entertainment.  Then, after cutting their absolutely perfect personal-sized cake, the guests were further treated to decadent petit fours from Patisserie Angelica and hand-made fruit sorbets. Outside the guests could relax by a copper fire-pit, smoke cigars and drink Trentadue’s excellent port.

After the celebration at Trentadue, the guests were invited to an after party at a private vineyard estate.

I adored both this couple and their families. Absolutely the most loving, supportive, positive people around! Lauren and I exchanged nearly one hundred emails during the course of the year I worked with them and every detail was meticulously planned. It definitely showed in the absolutely flawless wedding day!

The details that went into this wedding were just amazing. What’s more, they were an outpouring of family love. Jon’s mother hand-embellished every save-the-date card, invitation and announcement. Jon’s grandfather hand-made tiny little chairs from champagne cages to serve as escort card holders. And the family brought so many special items on the plane to make this wedding day perfectly personal, from a vintage suitcase to hold gift cards to a map of Sonoma County for guests to sign in on.

Against a backdrop of vineyards and mountains, Lauren and Jon were married by their friend, Sean Seymour. Lauren’s dress was a stunning, form-fitting matte satin richly embroidered in ivory and silver thread with tiny rhinestones.  Two dozen fabric-covered buttons added lovely detail to the back of the dress. The dress had a chapel-length train, and she wore a fingertip-length veil. Lauren carried a summery bouquet of white mums and roses with accents of yellow and lavender by Dragonfly Farms Floral.

After a wonderful hors d’oeuvre hour when Lauren and John were whisked away for pictures by Deb Laver of Laver Photography, guests were invited into Trentadue’s gorgeous Salon. Lauren’s father, Ken Morrow, gave the welcome toast and blessed the meal. The couple toasted with the same open-bowl champagne glasses that had been used by Jon’s parents on their wedding day. Then guests enjoyed a scrumptuous family-style dinner featuring mahi mahi and marinated skirt steak prepared by Park Avenue Catering.

After dinner and a some dancing, Lauren and Jon cut their wedding cake. Now, there is a real story about this cake. Jon has life-threatening allergies to nuts. Since nearly all commercial bakers use nuts to make their flourless cakes for their gluten-free clients, none were able to promise a cake that had absolutely no possibility of nut contamination. That’s when Michele Stagi of Michele’s Corner Cakes offered to meticulously clean every inch of her kitchen and make their cake so that Jon could actually have wedding cake on their day. What’s more, she didn’t charge any extra to do it. What a special lady. The cake topper was a darling, hand-made “We Do!” from Etsy.

There aren’t many wineries that look just as pretty when the sun goes down as they do when it is shining. Trentadue  is one of those few. Hundreds of tiny white lights festoon the trees and arbour, making it look like a fairyland. Lauren and Jon enjoyed a few quiet moments away during dance time to take advantage of the lovely ambience.

Lauren, Jon, their family and friends had a great time dancing to AMS’s fantastic sounds for the rest of the evening before saying goodbye to Trentadue Winery and a perfect day.

www.trentadue.com

www.parkavecater.com

www.amswinecountry.com

www.laverphoto.com

www.michelescornercakes.com

www.itsadate.biz