Backyard Healdsburg Wedding by John+Louise Weddings + Bustle Events

Before those of you in the States run off to your Thanksgiving Eve festivities, I highly recommend getting a bit inspired by this backyard wine country wedding by Bustle Events. Because around each and every corner of this pretty party there is something that will make you eyes light right up! John+Louise Weddings was there to capture it all, and they were even nice enough to fill the full gallery with even more pretty inspiration!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We wanted our wedding to be relaxed and fun like a family reunion, but still be elegant and special enough for the guests we had flying in from all over the world. We chose to get married on the property of very close family friends, a place I had spent countless hours growing up. The deck we danced our first dance on was the same deck where my sister and I and all the kids in the family performed the musical Les Miserables and it’s where we hunted for eggs every year.

For the ceremony we asked my uncle to take a short course at the county offices so he could marry us. We processed and recessed to instrumental versions of some our favorite songs played by the children of the property owners, guys I grew up with and fondly call my “brothers of the heart.” The setting was very simple. Just oak trees and our nearest and dearest.

The fact that we live in Germany and we were planning this all by email and Skype made it even more important to have the comforts of home at our wedding. Early on we knew we had to have Mexican food, because ironically it’s one of the things we miss most about America. One of our favorite local restaurants, Zin, made the best carnitas we’ve ever had. We had cozy blankets and pillows along the edge of the dance floor and served chocolate chip cookies, lemon bars, Mexican wedding cakes and cupcakes made by another family friend for dessert.

As a little shout-out to Germany, we set each place with a gingerbread cookie decorated like they have at fairs and festivals, with German sweet nothings like “sweetie” and “treasure” written in frosting. We also had simple signature cocktails that seemed to get the party started. Stuart’s was a gin and tonic made with Hendrick’s gin and a cucumber instead of a lime. Mine was a shot of gold tequila with an orange slice dusted with cinnamon instead of a lime. It’s something I first saw in Germany.

Wedding Photography: John+Louise Weddings / Floral Design: Floral Theory / Event Design + Event Planning: Bustle Events / Vintage Rentals: Heritage & Craft / Rentals: Hartmann Studios / Ceremony + Reception Location: Private Estate

15 Comments about “Backyard Healdsburg Wedding by John+Louise Weddings + Bustle Events”

1. Erin @ Bustle says:

   November 23, 2011 at 6:22 pm

   Thanks for posting this wedding. What an amazing couple, we loved working with them and such a great team of vendors!
2. Anna says:

   November 23, 2011 at 9:14 pm

   This turned out to be such a fabulous event! All the details were beautiful, but the greatest detail of all was getting to spend such an exciting beautiful day with my best friends!
3. Dylan says:

   November 23, 2011 at 9:19 pm

   I'm so excited about that shot of Stuart and his boys on the couch. What?! The often ignored Groom's portrait. Holly and Stuart was our favorite wedding this year. I wish they could all be like this one.
4. Judy says:

   November 24, 2011 at 2:05 am

   Wowooo~Stunning location!!!!!Like a family party,so warm~
5. Holly says:

   November 24, 2011 at 5:03 am

   Dylan, that photo of Stuart and his boys is one of my absolute favorites. Makes me smile every time I see it. We had such a fun day and it felt so "us." Thanks to Erin, Yasmin and our friends and family for all their hard work. And we were so lucky to have Anna and Dylan there to capture all the special moments.
6. irene says:

   November 24, 2011 at 5:22 am

   I looooove the braidsmaids' dresses, where did you buy them? Thanks for sharing your beautiful wedding, I hardly believe that you organised all this only by emails and Skype!
7. Brancoprata says:

   November 24, 2011 at 7:32 am

   LOVE the bridesmaids dresses!!!!
8. Holly says:

   November 24, 2011 at 11:41 am

   The bridesmaid dresses were just regular dresses from Banana Republic. Right now it looks like the Carly is only available in black: http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=69885&vid=1&pid=341680
9. Anna says:

   November 24, 2011 at 11:42 am

   I'm pretty sure the the bridesmaids dresses and bride's gown were J. Crew. The bridesmaids really rocked those dresses!
10. Holly says:

    November 24, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    Yep, bridesmaids were Banana Republic and my dress was J.Crew's Cecelia. It was such an easy dress to wear!
11. CN says:

    November 25, 2011 at 6:59 am

    Aw - this wedding is so sweet & pretty. Love it.
12. Diego Molina Wedding Photography says:

    November 26, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    Simple, fun and elegant... Stunning wedding love all the details.
13. Florida on site hair and makeup artist says:

    November 26, 2011 at 7:41 pm

    Beautifully simple! I loved the ribbon "curtain"!
14. yena says:

    November 28, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    wow! simple and beautiful! love it
15. eventlookforless says:

    December 10, 2011 at 6:59 pm

    Love how affordable that backdrop for the sweets table can be yet adds so much drama.

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