The brides fab jewelry comes from the cuties over at Haute Bride.

Magnus and I grew up in neighboring towns in the Bay Area and then attended the same college. But it wasn’t until our senior year of college that we met through mutual friends at a party. Magnus later surprised me with a beautiful sunset proposal on the rooftop of the same building where we had first met six years prior.

While dating, we’d spent many weekends traveling from San Francisco to Napa to get out of the city and enjoy all that the beautiful wine country has to offer.  We knew right off the bat that Napa is where we wanted get married.  With most of our friends and family already from the Bay Area, Napa provided a mini-destination wedding of sorts. The actual venue choice wasn’t as easy, as there are so many gorgeous venues in the area.  However, we knew we had found the site the minute we arrived at Auberge du Soleil.  The natural elegance and absolutely stunning views of the Napa Valley at Auberge sold us immediately.  It was important to us that our venue showcased the natural beauty of the area and the views from the ceremony site at Auberge surely fit the bill.

The flowers and decor were really important to me in the planning process.  I wanted to pick a color scheme and decor that didn’t compete with the natural beauty of the site, but still set the tone for an elegant fall wedding while reflecting our personalities.  I chose warm browns, taupes and varying shades of orange to complement the warm decor of Auberge, with touches of metallic gold throughout to incorporate a more glamorous feel to the day. I have always loved flowers, so I chose dense arrangements of orange flowers – roses, orchids, dahlias and more, with touches of green to add visual interest and texture.

It was a gorgeous and memorable day that went off without a hitch, with large thanks due to all of our wonderful vendors who helped keep us on track and provided seamless service.

Photography: Adeline & Grace Photography / Wedding Coordination: Suzy Berberian for A Dream Wedding / Venue & Catering: Auberge du Soleil / Hair: Rachel Zimmerman / Makeup: Nelanie Borges / Officiant: Rev. Don Emmel / Flowers: Tesoro / Cake: Perfect Endings / Ceremony & Reception Music: Eloquence String Quartet / Entertainment: DJ Dave Tutton / Bride’s Dress: Alvina Valenta / Bride’s Shoes and Bridesmaid’s Jewelry: J.Crew / Bride’s Jewelry: Haute Bride / Bride’s Veil: Bridal Galleria / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Priscilla of Boston / Groom’s Tuxedo: Canali / Groom’s Tie: Nordstrom / Groom’s Shoes: Bruno Magli / Groomsmen’s Tuxedos and Ties: Men’s Wearhouse / Invitations: Vera Wang / Engagement Ring and Wedding Bands: Tacori &  Diana

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: A Dream Wedding, Adeline & Grace Photography, Auberge du Soleil, Bridal Galleria, Bruno Magli, California, Canali, Diana, Eloquence String Quartet, Haute Bride, Men's Wearhouse, mountains, Napa Valley, Nelanie Borges, Nordstrom, Outdoor Wedding, Perfect Endings, Priscilla of Boston, Rachel Zimmerman, Rev. Don Emmel, Rutherford, Suzy Berberian, Tacori, Tesoro, Traditional Elegance, Vera Wang, Wedding Photography, Wine Corks
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Rosemary Special Events… From my first meeting with Lauren & Joe when we met to scout out venues in the Napa Valley, I just knew working with them would be a pleasure… they are such a great couple… so much fun and sweet! They wanted a simple, elegant celebration that featured the beauty of Napa Valley… classic and natural with just a touch of modern style.

They decided on Holy Family Mission, a charming and historic Catholic church built in 1912 set in the midst of the vineyards in Rutherford. For the reception they selected the Calistoga Ranch, a beautiful 48-room resort tucked in a private canyon just outside the town of Calistoga.

The wedding took place over Memorial Day weekend. Lauren wanted the wedding day to feel bright, summery and natural so we chose a palette of white and taupe with subtle green accents to keep it light and airy. We had a little weather scare with rain leading up to the wedding but in the final days the weather miraculously turned and they enjoyed temperatures in the mid-80s all weekend.

The traditional ceremony was intimate, simple and gorgeous. Lauren’s parish priest flew up from San Diego to perform the ceremony. Lauren looked absolutely stunning in an ivory, strapless Vera Wang gown. She carried a white bouquet of peonies, hydrangeas and garden roses that was finished with a vintage silk ribbon that her mother had found on a trip to France. Her bridesmaids wore full-length Kirstie Kelly dresses in a blush tone and the men looked very handsome in classic black tuxedos. Bunches of simple white hydrangea behind the altar and on the pews were the perfect accent to the gorgeous wood beamed ceilings and hand painted walls of church. A vintage lace French altar cloth given to the couple by Lauren’s mom graced the altar.

After the ceremony, guests were transported by shuttle up to Calistoga Ranch where they mingled over cocktails, sampled delicious bites of Calistoga Ranch’s spectacular cuisine and took in the 180-degree view of the surrounding lake and canyon. Designer, Nicole Sillapere blew everyone away with her absolutely stunning florals and event décor. In order for guests to savor every moment of sunlight and the natural surroundings, dinner was served under a soft and beautiful white Raj Tent with open sides. Nicole kept it clean and modern with contemporary white chairs, a mix of square, round and long tables with crisp white linens. Fluffy white peonies, Star of Bethlehem, lily of the valley, white tulips and white hydrangea were grouped separately in mixed sizes of white and glass vessels. The programs, escort cards, menus and place cards were gorgeous… each finished with taupe custom stitching. Place settings were accented with a taupe woven ribbon and a single gardenia leaf.

Guests enjoyed a delicious 3-course meal and listened to jazz standards performed by Ever Music Group. Once the sun went down and it started to get chilly, we ushered everyone into an underground wine cave that had been transformed into a chic, candlelit lounge for dancing. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Joe, a really talented singer/songwriter surprised Lauren with an original song he had written for her…. it was very romantic! They had a blast dancing the rest of the night to the sounds of DJ Goyo and enjoyed the chocolate wedding cake created by the pastry chef at Calistoga Ranch. It was such a fun and romantic celebration for such a fabulous couple. Congratulations Lauren and Joe!

Wedding Photography: Jose Villa / Wedding Gown (silver belt): Ivy & Aster, Sweet Pea/ Wedding Invitations: Tiny Pine Press / Other Paper Goods: Mira Aster / Event Planning: Rosemary Hattenbach of Rosemary Special Events / Floral Design & Event Décor: Nicole Sillapere / Wedding Ceremony Location: Holy Family Mission, Rutherford, CA / Wedding Reception Location & Catering: Calistoga Ranch / Wedding Cake: Calistoga Ranch / Tent: Raj Tents / Hair & Makeup: Darcy Hunt & Elise Newman of Primped Napa Valley / Band: Ever Music Group / DJ: DJ Goyo of Uptempo Productions / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bridesmaid Dresses: Kirstie Kelly / Film Work: Richard Photo

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 36 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: CA, Calistoga, Calistoga Ranch, Classic, DJ Goyo, Ever Music Group, Green, Holy Family Parish, Jose Villa, Kirstie Kelly, Lela Rose, Modern Style, Nicole Sillapere, Northern California, RAJ Tents, Rutherford, Taupe, Tented Reception, Uptempo Productions, Vera Wang, Vineyard Wedding, White
Post categories: Casual Elegance

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Pineapple Productions… Tracie and J.W. were such an amazing couple to work with – warm, generous to a fault, well-traveled foodies and avid wine collectors.  It was only fitting that, although based in Dallas, Texas, they would select Napa as the destination for their wedding weekend.  They envisioned an experience that would treat a small group of guests to beautiful wine country vistas, amazing food and specially selected wines from their personal collection.

On the wedding day, guests were transported by limousine caravan to Hall Rutherford, an operational winery, private residence and breathtaking vineyard.   As guests arrived, they were greeted with minted iced tea and offered a parasol before being escorted through the vineyard toward the residence.  The ceremony was held near the residence in front of a gorgeous sculpture surrounded by Rutherford’s legendary hillside beauty.

Tracie wore a gorgeous Monique Lhullier gown with some vintage feeling floral pin details.  The gown was inspiration for other mid-century inspired details such as the incredibly simple, but impeccable, old fashioned Chantilly cream wedding cake.

After the ceremony, the reception began with cocktails in the wine cave. The cave features an incredible chandelier comprised of 1500 Swarkovski crystals and is meant to represent the intricate root system of a grapevine.  Absolutely magical!  Also in the cave, oysters on the half shell were available alongside bloody mary granitas, the perfect pairing with the Hall Sauvignon Blanc.

Just as the sun was setting, guests were invited for dinner on the terrace.  The Martini Brothers Band provided Sinatra and other mid century supper club tunes as guests were treated to the likes of hand cut papardelle with truffle butter and Liberty Farms duck breast with pickled bing cherries.

The wedding reception design was based on a pale pink and ivory color palette, with touches of rich eggplant for originality and sophistication.  At long rectangular dinner tables, arrangements of fragrant free peonies, passion flower and natural grapevine were intermixed with California plums and sage green votives for an overall effect that was so effortless in feel.

Finally… the night ended with an after party set in the winery’s tank room.  The sleek, stainless steel tanks worked perfectly as a backdrop for a cool, hip late night lounge.  Mid-century modern furniture, combined with dramatic lighting, more peonies and sleek votives completed the after party look.

Event Planning: Allison Jackson of Pineapple Productions / Wedding Photography: Jennifer Baciocco / Wedding Venue: Hall Rutherford / Catering: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering / Wedding Cinematography: Thomas Hughes Films / Floral Design: Kathleen Deery Design / Lighting: Kathleen Deery Design / Wedding Cake: Perfect Endings / Ceremony Music: Lawrence String Trio via Star Sounds Productions / Band: The Martini Brothers / DJ: Walter Vela via Oye Productions / Transportation: Napa Valley Tours / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhullier / Groom’s Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: CA, Eggplant, Ermenegildo Zegna, Hall Rutherford, Ivory, Jennifer Baciocco, Kathleen Deery, Lawrence String Trio, Monique Lhullier, Napa Valley Tours, Napa Valley Wedding, Outdoor Ceremony, Oye Productions, Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, Perfect Endings, Pineapple Productions, Pink, Rutherford, Star Sounds Productions, The Martini Borthers, Thomas Hughes Films, Winery Wedding
Post categories: California Weddings, Napa Valley Weddings, Traditional Elegance

Click here to see the entire gallery!

From Michelle Walker Photography… In June 2010, Sharon Martin and Joel Savitzky wed at Auberge de Soleil in beautiful Rutherford, California.  Sharon and Joel, New York foodies inspired by all things French naturally picked Napa for their destination wedding.  At the time of the wedding Sharon was the Manager of Creative Services in the Marketing Department for Tiffany & Company in New York! Specializing in the design and installation of window displays, she brought her attention to detail and elegance to her wedding.

Notable design elements included the table numbers, which were enameled vintage French street number signs.  The bride visited Paris every summer with her mother and has fond memories of the blue and white street signs.  The unusual larger numbers (Table 24, Table 181) gave a sense of whimsy and a hint of disorder to keep the guests entertained.  The escort “tree” was filled with a card for each guest inspired by French postcards.  The color of the vintage postage stamp cleverly indicated which entrée the guest was having, without the guests even realizing it.  A custom cake-topper was ordered in Sharon and Joel’s likeness, down to the floral bouquet, groom’s tie and pretty red hair on the bride.

Arrangements were set in glass bottles that belonged to the bride’s grandmothers, collected over a fifty-year span.  They were shipped to the florist, and honored her grandparents who couldn’t attend the wedding.  The groom, an advertising and marketing art director, designed all of the stationery for the wedding, including their wedding invitation.

Sharon and Joel stayed at the private estate of Newton Winery, featuring stunning gardens and architecture, which meant stunning photos!

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Location: Auberge du Soleil / Wedding Photography: Michelle Walker Photography / Wedding Coordinator: Suzy Berberian Weddings & Events / Floral Design: Tesoro Flowers / Wedding Cupcakes: Kara’s Cupcakes / Hair & Makeup: The Powder Room / Ceremony Music: Davis Ramey Musical Services / Dinner & Dancing Music: AMS Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Groom’s Suit: Ralph Lauren Black Label / Groom’s Shoes: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Tie: Gucci / Bride’s Jewelry: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Hairpiece: Ce Jaune Bridal Vintage / Wedding Bands: Tiffany & Co. / Bridesmaid Dresses: Priscilla of Boston / Bridesmaid Jewelry: Sharon Martin Designs / Groomsmen Suits: J. Crew / Groomsmen Ties: Bergdorf Goodman / Cake Topper: Together Forever / Table Numbers: The Pudding Store Vintage / Honey favors: Marshall’s Farm Natural Honey / Calligraphy: Katherine Knauer / Officiant: Kimberly Thompson, A Beautiful Ceremony

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: AMS Entertainment, Auberge du Soleil, Bergdorf Goodman, CA, Ce Jaune Bridal Vintage, Davis Ramey Musical Services, Destination Wedding, French Inspired, Green, Gucci, Hugo Boss, J. Crew, Kara's Cupcakes, Katherine Knauer, Manolo Blahnik, Marshalls Honey, Melissa Sweet, Michelle Walker Photography, Napa Valley, Nicole Miller, Northern California Wedding, Priscilla of Boston, Purple, Ralph Lauren, Rutherford, Sharon Martin Designs, Suzy Berberian Weddings & Events, Tesoro Flowers, The Powder Room, The Pudding Store, Tiffany & Co., Together Forever, Vintage Touches, Wine Country Wedding
Post categories: California Weddings, Napa Valley Weddings, Traditional Elegance

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Gloria Wong Design… When asked what they are known for as a couple, Leslie and Jeff said that they are known for being great hosts for overnight guests. Friends have actually told them that their guest facilities rival those of a nice hotel! They take great pride in making their guests feel as though they’re at home. As their wedding designer, I latched onto this comment. We decided to create a concept based on the idea that Beaulieu Garden was Leslie and Jeff’s summer home at which they’ve invited guests to spend an enchanting evening. Therefore, we infused elements that you would normally find in Leslie and Jeff’s apartment (i.e. modern lamps, gold dishes with keys, newspapers, Leslie’s favorite Antipodes water from New Zealand, framed art, interesting books, cashmere throws, comfy pillows, etc). Leslie and Jeff described their style as clean, classic modern. So we tried to present their personal belongings in a neat edited manner.

Leslie also mentioned that she wanted her guests to feel as if they had woken from a summer reverie. We felt that we could capture a dream-like quality with our use of tone on tone color. For a blended look, we decided on infusing gradations of pink and aqua, two of Leslie’s favorite colors, wherever we could. We neutralized the soft palette with whites, greys and beiges. For a touch of luxe, we threw in some gold as an accent!

Lisa Wong Jackson of Good On Paper created all the paper products around an upholstery pattern that Leslie had pulled. Upon first view, we all concurred that the abstract pattern reminded us of a print that you would see on a weekend tote bag. It was an easy choice that this pattern would serve as inspiration for all the graphics on the invitation as well as all the framed art that would be showcased throughout the wedding.

An interesting commonality that Leslie and Jeff share is the fact that they both call multiple places their home. They wanted to pay tribute to all of their homes by presenting their guests with a vignette filled with photos, books, food, and mementos from these special places.

We decided to display guests’ names and table assignments in three different ways. The first way was having names and table numbers calligraphed onto a notebook. The second way really reinforced the idea of home; we printed this group of escort cards in various shades of pink to look like paint chip swatches. The third way involved coffee beans! Leslie credits the aroma of coffee for waking her up in the morning every day. So, we inserted the third group of escort cards into trays of coffee beans!  A drink tray, keys, and a basket filled with the wedding graphics disguised as wrapping paper served as decorative accent pieces.

The cake was inspired by Leslie’s pleated Vera Wang wedding gown. Leslie’s beautiful wedding dress looked as though it was constructed with individual layers of silk ribbon. We wanted a similar pleated look for the cake. We decided to enhance the cake by playing with gradations of pink as we had done with other elements from the wedding. We went with an ombre effect and colored the strands of ribbon from dark pink on the bottom to light pink on top.

For the dessert buffet, we wanted to present something simple and clean with a homey spirit. Pastries were arranged neatly on clean white cake ceramic stands, mugs, and colanders. Cupcakes and cookies were embellished with frosting in different shades of pink to echo the different shades of pink from the “paint chip” escort cards, the framed artwork, and the cake. Leslie and Jeff wanted to include their parents’ sweet wedding photos in this display of treats! They also wanted to include their favorite Asian snacks. As kids, they both loved munching on pineapple cakes and Pocky Sticks. So, we packaged the cakes and sticks and encouraged guests to take some home.

Photographer: Lisa Lefkowitz / Wedding Planner: Jubilee Lau Events / Wedding Designer: Gloria Wong Design / Wedding Venue: Beaulieu Garden / Caterer: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering / Floral Design: Nancy Liu Chin Designs / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Bridesmaid Dresses: J Crew / Wedding Stationery: Good On Paper / Letterpress Printing: AccuColor / Calligraphy: Tracy Joe Calligraphy / Event Lighting: Got Light? / Event Rentals: Classic Party Rentals + La Tavola Linen / Wedding Cake: Cake Coquette / DJ: A. Long Music / Wedding Cinematography: Weddings On Film / Ceremony Music: Lawrence Strings Group / Photobooth: Magnolia Photo Booth Co. / Makeup: Christine Craven Makeup / Hair: Kien Hoang

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 53 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: A Long Music, Accucolor, Aqua, Beaulieu Garden, Beige, CA, Cake Coquette, California Weddings, Candles, Christine Craven Makeup, Classic Party Rentals, Garden Wedding, Gloria Wong Design, Gold, Good On Paper, Got Light, Grey, J. Crew, Jubilee Lau Events, Kien Hoang, La Tavola Linen, Lawrence Strings Group, Lemonade Stand, Lisa Lefkowitz, Magnolia Photo Booth Co., Manolo Blahnik, Nancy Liu Chin Designs, Napa Valley, Outdoor Wedding, Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, Pink, Rutherford, Tracy Joe Calligraphy, Vera Wang, Weddings On Film
Post categories: California Weddings, Napa Valley Weddings, Traditional Elegance

Jose Villa, bless you for sending me a wedding that has made me the happiest blogger on the block.

From Brandy at Bliss Event Productions…

Unique touches included a vintage farm house door from Provence France that was used to display the escort cards.  Michelle purchased vintage door knobs that I tied to satin ribbon and hung from the door.  We also used old wine and milk crates to display parasols and the wedding ceremony programs.  French vintage hand held school chalkboards were used as menu boards for the french macaron station and in the ceremony area for beverage menus and directions signs. 

Michelle picked a bold and beautiful palette of colors for the wedding, Wedgewood Blue, Peach and Creams.  They were stunning against the dark mahogany dinner tables and chairs and popped against the floral decor elements.  But their piece d’resistance was the chandelier ceiling Michelle worked on creating with Jon Retsky from Got Light.  Featuring over 150 different varieties of crystal chandeliers, they were suspended in the foliage covered lattice above the dinner tables.  It was a beautiful during the day, but in the evening when the chandeliers were turned on… it was simply stunning.  Fleur de Lisa designed the 4 tier wedding cake and it was displayed on an old BV estate wine barrel.  Each guest received a bottle of BV Cabernet Sauvignon Wine as a welcome favor from the bride and groom.

Click here for part one, two, and  three.

Vendor Credits: Event Coordinator: Bliss Event Productions / Photography: Jose Villa / Venue: Bealieu Gardens / Catering: Paula Le Duc / Cinematography: Well Spun Weddings / Florals: FlowerWild Floral / Hair & Makeup: Sherrie Long / Officiant: Your Ceremony Matters / Cake: Fleur de Lisa / Photo Booth: Red Cheese / Chandeliers and lighting: Got Light / Bride’s shoes: Valentino

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 35 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Best of 2010, Bliss Event Production, California Weddings, Elegance Beaulieu Gardens, Flowerwild, Jose Villa, Los Angeles, magazine, Rutherford, Southern California
Post categories: California Weddings, Napa Valley Weddings, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

From Kate at Flowerwild…

The palette of the flowers for this event did go thru many transformations from inception to reality – but the final result was a direct result of Michelle really working diligently towards her vision. Heirloom garden roses, coral colored amaryllis, passion vine, succulent, twirls of grape vines, various herbs and wild accents paired with an eclectic mix of mercury glass and antique silver vessels were nestled all along the length of the runner.  The soft and subtle colors and scents were so delightful, especially with the surprising pop of coral!  All this, under a myriad of chandeliers hung like stars, illuminating the whole reception with a warm glow.

Click here for part one, two, and four.

Vendor Credits: Event Coordinator: Bliss Event Productions / Photography: Jose Villa / Venue: Bealieu Gardens / Catering: Paula Le Duc / Cinematography: Well Spun Weddings / Florals: FlowerWild Floral / Hair & Makeup: Sherrie Long / Officiant: Your Ceremony Matters / Cake: Fleur de Lisa / Photo Booth: Red Cheese / Bride’s shoes: Valentino

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beaulieu Gardens, Best of 2010, Bliss Event Production, California Weddings, Flowerwild, Jose Villa, Los Angeles, magazine, Rutherford, Southern California
Post categories: California Weddings, Casual Elegance, Napa Valley Weddings, Traditional Elegance

From Kate at Flowerwild…

Togetherness is the perfect way to describe their whole approach to the planning process.  Michelle and Steve researched and assembled a truly talented team of vendors from all over California-  like Brandy Cabral of Bliss Events Productions, Jose Villa, Got Light lighting – that I was so happy to be a part of. From there many of the style elements seemed to fall seamlessly into place.  We built a custom arch for the ceremony from driftwood and worked to make a very organic and asymmetrical design seem effortless.

Click here for part one, three, and four.

Vendor Credits: Event Coordinator: Bliss Event Productions / Photography: Jose Villa / Venue: Bealieu Gardens / Catering: Paula Le Duc / Cinematography: Well Spun Weddings / Florals: FlowerWild Floral / Hair & Makeup: Sherrie Long / Officiant: Your Ceremony Matters / Cake: Fleur de Lisa / Photo Booth: Red Cheese / Bride’s shoes: Valentino

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beaulieu Gardens, Best of 2010, Bliss Event Production, California Weddings, Flowerwild, Jose Villa, Los Angeles, magazine, Rutherford, Southern California
Post categories: California Weddings, Casual Elegance, Napa Valley Weddings, Traditional Elegance