Oh Anna Kuperberg, you never fail to amaze with your picture snapping skills and your sheer knack for photographing the coolest weddings on the planet. Case in point – a Sebastopol stunner that is rocking a short dress, loads of pretty hued dahlias and a bouquet that goes pop courtesy of Julie Stevens Design. Not to mention the pure spunk tucked into every nook and cranny. Join us in the gallery for so much more where this came from!
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From the Bride…Andy and I got engaged on my birthday in December, and we knew we wanted to have our wedding the following summer. But planning a wedding in six months meant that venue availability would be limited. After looking at a number of places in Napa and Sonoma counties, we fell in love with the Vine Hill House in Sebastopol. It was beautiful without being fussy, just like a backyard garden (if you were lucky enough to live on a vineyard). The only summer date they had available was July 4, so we decided to run with the theme.
Our favorite DIY element was our table and escort cards, which we made from images of vintage fireworks labels that we found online. They were colorful, fun, and set just the right tone. Instead of numbers, our tables had names—like “Flambo Jambo,” “Crackling Pearl,” and “Whirlwheel.” We attached the cards to popsicle sticks and planted them in small, galvanized steel buckets. The buckets were also filled with sparklers, which everyone lit during the dance party. Dahlias and billy balls, arranged in mason jars by Julie Stevens Designs, created fluffy pops of color. The music was really special. Six months before we got engaged, Andy and I heard a Dixieland band called the Cafe Borrone All Stars (at, you guessed it, Cafe Borrone) in Menlo Park, and we knew that when we got married we wanted them to play at our wedding. It took some work to track them down because they don’t typically play the wedding circuit, but when we did they were excited to do it, and really great to work with. They played “Honeysuckle Rose” as I walked down the aisle, and “Crazy ‘Bout My Baby” for our first dance (Andy and I took a few swing dance lessons, and we had a lift for our big finish!). Having great food at the wedding was really important to us. One of the big advantages of getting married in Sonoma County is that many of the caterers are deeply committed to using fresh, sustainable ingredients. Our favorite, Elaine Bell Catering, designed a menu that was delicious, light, summery, and showcased local produce like heirloom tomatoes and fresh corn. Instead of a wedding cake, we chose an assortment of cupcakes (including some that were gluten free) from Kara’s Cupcakes in San Francisco. They looked and tasted fantastic, and they were about half as expensive as a cake would have been.
Probably the most special touch at our wedding was our amazing chuppah, which was designed and constructed by my sister (and maid of honor), Andrea. Andrea is a sculptor in New York who teaches design at Parsons. Since my wedding, she has also made chuppahs for a couple of her close friends. Her chupphas have been so admired that she recently launched a chuppah design business (www.chuppahstudio.com). Overall, the day was a perfect celebration with our families and friends. . . even better than we hoped it would be. And we’re so lucky to have Anna Kuperberg’s unbelievable photos to preserve all of the magic, emotion, and fun of our day.
Wedding Photography: Anna Kuperberg Photography / Venue: Vine Hill House / Caterer: Elaine Bell Catering / Cupcakes: Kara’s Cupcakes / Music: Café Borrone All Stars / DJ: Grape Vine Music / Wedding Dress: Atelier des Modistes / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Groom’s Suit: Emilio Zegna / Bride’s Hair: It’s A Date at The Powder Room / Chuppah: Chuppah Studio / Flowers: Julie Stevens Design