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From the bride… Sonoma has such a “farm country charm” to it, and that is one of the reasons we love it so much. We love the wine country and the laid back atmosphere of Sonoma. It suits us perfectly as a couple. We wanted our wedding to be easygoing, fun and enjoyable for all of our guests. We had about 72 guests travel from different parts of the country to celebrate with us, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The view from the tent was breathtaking and exactly what I had envisioned.

I can’t get enough of black and white stripes, so we used an outdoor fabric to make some table toppers. I love the way it looked with the pumpkins. I love October and I love pumpkins, so we used mini pumpkins on each place setting, as well as some of the centerpieces. We used really heavy rustic-looking candlesticks to do some larger flower arrangements and had mismatched mercury glass votives everywhere! I purchased the votives in warm colors like browns and oranges so when they were lit, they gave a warm glow to the centerpieces. The chandeliers in the tent MADE the room! I loved the way they added a little elegance to the tent — having the sides rolled up inside the tent so you could see out over the vineyard was amazing! Everything really turned out perfectly, and to hear guests say that it was hands-down the most beautiful wedding they have ever been to, well, it made me so happy. But not as happy as becoming Ty’s wife made me — I’ve never felt more loved.

Wedding Photography: Ryan Ray / Flowers: Vanda Floral Design / Venue: Viansa Winery / Wedding Invitations + Menu Cards: Three Quill Pen / Dress: Maggie Sottero / Shoes: Gianni Bini / Dessert: Fleur de Lisa Cakes

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 28 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Black, California, Fleur De Lisa Cakes, Gianni Bini, Maggie Sottero, Orange, Sonoma, Three Quill Pen, Vanda Floral Design, Viansa Winery, White, Wine Country Ryan Ray Photography
Post categories: The Blog, Traditional Elegance

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From the Bride…When Peter and I decided to start planning our wedding, our main priorities were to have an event that would be relaxing and enjoyable for family and friends, and to have great food and wine. Chateau St. Jean was perfect for our summer outdoor wedding. The winery is located in an area called “Valley of the Moon” in Sonoma, California.  Having lived in San Francisco for many years, I had the opportunity to visit many Napa and Sonoma wineries, and Valley of the Moon became one of my favorite areas. I loved its natural beauty – it had such a relaxing atmosphere, with a Southern European feel.

Sonoma in July can be very warm. To diffuse the heat, we greeted our guests with chilled pomegranate lemonade and Asian paper parasols.  As they were seated, they enjoyed a Spanish guitarist, who also played during the ceremony and cocktail hour.  Our ceremony took place in the shade of the trees, and Chateau St. Jean’s vineyards were the beautiful vistas for the reception dinner. Chateau St. Jean provides Japanese lanterns that are hung between trees over the reception area. We loved those lanterns – they created a magical, fairytale setting.  With good food, music, wine, and desserts: this was the best way to enjoy our special day with friends and family.

Planner: Kiyoe Logan of Celebrations by Kiyoe / Catering: Elaine Bell / DJ: Perfect Day Events / Floral Design: Fleurs de France / Guitarist: Wine Country Music / Hair + Make-up: Mimi + Taylor Salon / Officiant: Dave Weidlich / Wedding Photography: Lisa Lefkowitz Photography / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals + Wildflower Linen / Wedding Cake: Fleur de Lisa / Wedding Dress #1 (getting ready + ceremony): Alfredo Angelo / Wedding Dress #2 (family pictures, cocktail + dinner): Mori Lee / Bride’s Shoes: Grazia / Groom’s Tuxedo: Calvin Klein / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfredo Angelo / Venue: Chateau St. Jean

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Alfredo Angelo, California Weddings, Calvin Klein, Celebrations by Kiyoe, Chateau St. Jean, Classic Party Rentals, Dave Weidlich, Elaine Bell Catering, Fleur de France, Fleur De Lisa Cakes, Grazia, Lisa Lefkowitz, Mimi & Taylor Salon, Mori Lee, Perfect Day Events, Sonoma, Wildflower Linens, Wine Country Music
Post categories: California Weddings, Casual Elegance, Napa Valley Weddings

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From Punam Bean Photography…Emotions were brimming, just beneath the surface. Friends and family traveled from all over the world to be here, in this beautiful place, with these two beautiful people. Every detail, every word spoken, every catch of eyes across rooms unfolded with the utmost sincerity and love. It was two families, proud of and loving of their children who found each other. Coming together. Mick is impossibly charming, and Icy is disarmingly heartfelt. They truly put together a dream team of people who made this amazing day a resounding success, and an unforgettable night.

Wedding Photography: Punam Bean Photography / Wedding Planning: Napa Valley Celebrations, Traci Steuteville / Location: Private Estate / Wedding Cake: Fleur de Lisa Cakes / Wedding Videography: Bliss Video Productions / Flowers: Kathy Hoffman / Hair + Make-up: Sherrie Long

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 24 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bliss Video Production, California Weddings, Fleur De Lisa Cakes, Kathy Hoffman, Napa Valley Celebrations, Napa Valley Weddings, Punam Bean Photography, Rustic Chic, Sherrie Long
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

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Five years after being diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, I received the thrilling news I was officially in remission. Immediately I called my husband and asked if he would marry me again on our 2nd wedding anniversary.  I felt like it would be the perfect way for us to celebrate the abundance of life and more specifically, our undying love for one another. Of course he said, “YES!” so we quickly set out to coordinate a vow renewal in three weeks!

Lance and I met and married in San Francisco, but currently reside in Minneapolis where I have established PAPERISTA, a luxury stationery boutique and design company.  We knew we had to go back to the Bay Area for this momentous occasion and so for our venue, we chose the oldest winery in California, Buena Vista Winery, located in Sonoma.  We often frequented Buena Vista during date trips to wine country and knew how lovely the outdoor ambience would be.  The setting was so lush and green, a perfect fit for a stately English garden feel that I wanted to create with decor and paper designs.  The affair was set with lunch and a private wine tasting in their terraced garden area.  Wine Country Party & Events provided all the elegant furniture and decor pieces.  My bouquet, boutonnieres and the arrangement in the wine tasting lounge area were created by the lovely Nancy Liu Chin and accented the bright pinks and orange flowers on the table with hues of blue, white, and purple.  I designed all the paper pieces and through my company, PAPERISTA, had everything Letterpress printed in blue with the faintest pink details.  Minneapolis-based calligrapher, Rosann Konieczny, did the place cards and our marriage confirmation contract in her wonderfully written style.  The styling and remaining floral we did with the help of our Minneapolis-based photographer and close friend, Erica Loeks (Erica Loeks Photography).  The absolutely gorgeous white tiered cake was provided by Fleur de Lisa Cakes and was the most sumptuous carrot cake any of us had ever tasted.

I kept my look simple, wearing a Jean Paul Gaultier sun dress and my wedding shoes from Nina Ricci. My pink Mui Mui ballet flats were a must in the heat of the afternoon.  Also in attendance were our moms and two of our closest friends who were also our best man and a bridesmaid from our wedding. The vow ceremony was beautifully said and heartfelt from my mother who held our original wedding program and an engagement photo in hand. Personal touches were immenient and created a simple event to celebrate our love and commitment for years to come.

The following is the last bit of text from our marriage confirmation contract which we signed and now have framed in our home:

On our wedding day we pledged love and commitment. since that day we have created a home and a life together with promise for the future. Today we joyfully reaffirm our vows and once again promise to love, honor and respect one another through good times and in bad as long as we both shall live.

Wedding Photography: Erica Loeks Photography / Wedding Invitations: PAPERISTA / Floral Design: Nancy Liu Chin / Wedding Cake: Fleur de Lisa Wedding Cakes / Event Rentals: Wine Country Party & Events / Event Design: PAPERISTA / Wedding Location & Catering: Buena Vista Winery / Calligraphy: Rosann Konieczny / Bride’s Shoes: Nina Ricci + Miu Miu / Wedding Dress: Jean Paul Gaultier (Originally Worn During Couple’s Honeymoon) / Limo Service: Prestige Limo / Additional Florals: Spruce

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 28 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bay Area, Buena Vista Winery, CA, Erica Loeks Photography, Fleur De Lisa Cakes, John Paul Gaultier, Miu Miu, Nancy Liu Chin, Navy Blue, Nina Ricci, Paperista, Pink, Prestige Limo, Purple, Rosann Konieczny, Sonoma, Vow Renewal, White, Wine Country Party & Events, Wine Country Weddings
Post categories: California Weddings, Casual Elegance

They met in college and were BFF’s from the start.  After they graduated, that’s when things heated up and … voilá!

Here’s a bit of their story, straight from Amy, the beautiful bride …

Adam and I met on the first day of college at the University of Kansas. We lived on the same dorm floor and quickly became close friends. Throughout the years at college, I set Adam up on dates with my sorority sisters and even auctioned him off at a sorority auction! After college, I moved to Chicago, while Adam moved to San Francisco. Both single, Adam and I planned for me to visit him in San Francisco in early 2007. The rest is history. We dated long distance for a year and then I moved to San Francisco in 2008, where I happily accepted a position with Paula LeDuc Fine Catering.

Adam proposed to me the day after Thanksgiving 2008 at the Campanile bell tower in the heart of the University of Kansas’ campus. This is the exact same location his father proposed to his mother 36 years prior to our engagement!

BR Cohn Winery was the perfect location for our ceremony (at Fox Hill), as we wanted to get married under an old tree ~ a beautiful wine country setting.

As soon as we were engaged, Adam and I had no problem selecting colors or finding inspiration. I love all things nautical, so I went with navy, soft (dandelion) yellow, and papaya/coral. Our wedding colors complemented the gorgeous colors of the fall season. We incorporated stripes into our save the date, invitation, program, escort cards (Hello Lucky), centerpieces, groomsmen’s ties, and cake (Fleur de Lisa). The look was fairly preppy. We also used a lot of white to keep the look simple and allow for the colors to pop (floral/event design by Kathleen Deery Design).

Cake by Little Black Book member, Fleur de Lisa.

Floral Design~Kathleen Deery Design, Catering~Paula LeDuc Fine Catering.

Wedding invitations and other paper finery from LBB member, Hello Lucky.

It is obvious that the celebration was about Adam and me coming together. But even more than it being about us, it was about our family and friends. We wanted to show our Midwestern family and friends how wonderful Sonoma at harvest can be. We incorporated lovely Californian cuisine into the hors d‘oeuvres and certainly into our family style dinner.

As the evening grew colder, I put on a yellow cardigan embroidered with my new initials while the bridesmaid put on J-Crew navy cardigans. The guests were encouraged to choose a navy, yellow or papaya wrap (which I picked up in China Town for $6.50 a piece!). As the evening grew darker, the stunning lighting became more apparent to guests. Beautiful white linen lampshades were scattered throughout the Olive Grove. Got Light? lighting specialists also incorporated lots of yellow/orange/amber in the tree and architecture washes. The lighting made ALL of the difference. We capped the night off with warmed cider and petit candied apples!

Our wedding wouldn’t have come together without Jenna Ball, Event Manager, from Paula LeDuc Fine Catering. She was on site all morning getting us set up to perfection (not to mention the hours she spent with me before the celebration). All of our vendors were absolutely outstanding.

Credits: Photography-Elle Jae; Cake-Fleur de Lisa; Paper Design/Invitations-Hello Lucky; Venues-BR Cohn Winery; Rentals-Classic Party Rental; Catering-Paula LeDuc Fine Catering; Hair & MakeUp-It’s A Date; Dress-Priscilla of Boston; Floral/Design-Kathleen Deery Design; Band-All Star Jukebox; Lighting/Audio-Got Light?; Transportation-Pure Luxury; Ceremony Musicians-Bella Rosa String Quartet

* * *

Our thanks to Lisa & James for sharing their beautiful images of the day!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 30 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bari Jay, BR Cohn Winery, Elle Jae Photography, Fleur De Lisa Cakes, Got Light, Hello! Lucky, Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, Priscilla of Boston, Wedding Logo, Winery
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Cakes, Wedding Invitations & Stationery, Wedding Photography

The reason I mention this is because I got the sweetest note from another fellow Mother of the Bride.

Jen’s mom thanked SMP for being such an invaluable resource of ideas and inspiration while she and Jen went about planning this day. Her heartfelt thanks brought back sooooooo many memories for me of helping Abby realize her wedding dreams. Were their things we would have done differently? Of course. But, were there so many moments we will cherish forever (that only she and I share)? Absolutely.

And so for those mothers who are fortunate enough to be helping their darlings bring their dreams to fruition … today’s feature is for you! Savor this time with your lady/child. Let her lean on you, bounce ideas off of you … even rant a little bit when the planning details get a bit too much for her!  It’s an incredibly awesome time … for both of you!!

all images courtesy of Luke Snyder Studio

The reason that I’m fortunate enough to get to show off Jen & Josh’s wedding on The Little Black Book Blog is because their incredible cake and florals were designed by LBB members!

I’m not really sure if I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful!!

This intricately designed cake was created by Fleur de Lisa Wedding Cakes … {Fleur de Lisa wedding cake gallery}

And the flowers from Fleurs de France … Are they not seriously incredible? {featured wedding on Fleurs de France}

Jennifer and Josh were married on October 3, 2009 at the V Sattui Winery in St. Helena California. Here’s what Jen had to say about her wedding …

As true travel buffs, Josh and I wanted to infuse our wedding with a travel theme. We couldn’t afford to fly all our family and friends to Tuscany or Provence, so we chose Napa Valley as our destination. V Sattui Winery offered an unbelievably beautiful and cost-efficient location– giving us the glam, Old Country look that we desired, without breaking our bank. To the location, we added little “travel” touches– photos of us highlighting some of our numerous international, backpacker-style trips, Moroccan lanterns (hand-painted by my mother), a photo booth with the words “Passport Photos” emblazoned on the side, “Air Mail” envelopes for guests to ferry off their “passport” photos, a henna-inspired copper-colored cake… etc. Overall, the theme was warm, golden Europe. Twinkle lights and innumerable votive candles glittered– just check out the barrel room for the reception! It was a truly romantic wedding.

Jen sent us soooooooo many gorgeous images (courtesy of Luke Snyder Studio) from their wedding, I’m not really sure how to stop!

And from Joan Elizabeth (Jen’s mother) …

I wanted to let Abby and everyone at Style Me Pretty know how important they were to the planning of Jen and Josh’s Napa wedding. I was privileged and blessed to have been able to play a major part in helping her plan her beautiful wedding and without Style Me Pretty, it surely would not have been as gorgeous as it was. Style Me Pretty was my daily inspiration and so many ideas from the blog were put into effect. Gorgeous lanterns, pashminas, menus, programs, floral ideas, gift bags, etc.  many inspirations from featured weddings and Little Black Book vendors! I read the blog every day, 3 or 4 times a day, amazed by all the beautiful weddings and hoping that maybe someday, Jen’s wedding would be featured.

I dreamed of her wedding day from the time she was 2 seconds old. In the delivery room, they told me I had a girl, and my immediate words were, “I am going to be a Mother of the Bride”. Her wedding was a dream 29 years in the making!   It was 14 months in planning every little detail, down to monogrammed towels in the bathrooms, and soap and lotion dispensers that I took the labels off of and put on the monogrammed labels I had made for Jen and Josh. Again, all inspired by daily reading of Style Me Pretty. Reading the blog was my daily joy! Style Me Pretty is a Godsend for every bride and Mother of the Bride!

We can’t tell you how good that makes us feel. To know that we have made this whole crazy wedding planning thing a wee bit more enjoyable for even just a few people … well … it’s an honor and a pleasure! And WE thank our Little Black Book members who have joined us in the journey!

photographs courtesy of Luke Snyder Photography

Gowns: Romona Keveza (bride), Jovani (mother of the bride), Coco Myles (bridesmaids; individually designed)

Congratulations Jen & Josh (and Joan!) … and thank you SO much for sharing!!

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Post tags: California Weddings, Coco Myles, Fall, Fall Wedding, Fleur De Lisa Cakes, Fleurs de France, Jovani, Luke Snyder Studio, Napa, Romona Keveza, Travel Theme, Winery
Post categories: Bouquets, Centerpieces, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Cakes, Wedding Decor, Wedding Flowers

***

Because April brings unpredictable weather, cocktails were held in a clear tent on the grounds of the winery.  Guests were treated to a variety of specialty hors d’oeuvres such as lobster cones with caviar, chilled pea soup with crab stuffed green peas and cheve wine country wontons with apricot dipping sauce – they also indulged on cheese, antipasto and other delicacies on a station.  Escort cards were arranged on custom made picks gleaming with crystals and set in moss.

The dinner tent popped with color – shades of blue and green accented with white flowers.  The carpet in the tent was custom dyed to match the invitation envelopes – just a little detail.  Each of the guests’ place settings featured a crystal bead wire chargers and menus with the pattern of Brooke’s dress & the couple’s new monogram.  We decided to use a pole tent so we could forgo a liner and instead project amazing pattern on the ceiling.  Crystal beaded chandeliers, moss poles with ribbons of roses in tones of white and green and handcrafted garland were used to create the finishing details in the tent.  We also used several tones of linen ranging from a light pear green to a deep ocean blue to create excitement among the 20+ tables!  Dark chiavari chairs were sweetly tied with aqua toned ribbons.

A few years ago, we found a gate in an abandoned lot – it’s been painted about 20 different colors and is featured in quite a few of our weddings …it was  one of the bride’s favorite décor details we do, so it was incorporated into the cocktail tent to lead guests into the dinner.  It’s true that no wine country wedding would be complete without photos of the couple in the vineyard – even in April, the buds were breaking.  The couple also chose a magnum wine bottle for their guest book instead of the traditional paper book (what’s better than great wine you can drink later?)

The same pattern on the invitations is projected on the ceiling using color changing LED lighting – over the course of dancing, the tones changed from deep blue to teal and back again.  The four tier cake made of fondant and handmade flowers featured crystal accents and also had a pattern reminiscent of the bride’s gown.  Being from the south, a groom’s cake was inevitable.  Mark was an avid fly fisherman, so brook surprised him with a tackle box and pole and fish for his cake – even the fly’s on the board were made from edible modeling chocolate.  To end the evening, guests were treated to a port and chocolate table where they cut their own chocolate from large slabs and enjoyed a variety of port.  (note…I’ve never in my life seen 200 people drink 12 bottles of port – they devoured it!)

It’s always an honor to be introduced into our couples lives by creating one of the most important days of their lives.  (note I said…one of the most important).  While each event we plan provides unique challenges, we never miss the fact that brides and grooms have a lot of options now when planning their parties and it’s a great feeling to think that they trust us with the monumental task.  I make it a point to thank my couples and the mothers/fathers after the wedding is over – because I am thankful that they entrusted us…so, thank you, again…Brooke & Mark.

Vendor info:
Location: Chateau St. Jean / Invitation: Dauphine Press / Photos:  Sherman Chu for Sasha Souza Events / Décor and Design, Floral: Sasha Souza Events / Cakes: Fleur De Lisa Cakes / Bride’s Gown: Vera Wang / Catering: Alex’s Catering / Lighting: Got Light

Thank you so much to Sasha for entertaining us here on SMP today!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Alex Catering, Dauphine Press, Fleur De Lisa Cakes, Got Light, Napa, Sasha Souza Events, Sherman Chu, Spring Wedding, Vera Wang
Post categories: Real Weddings