There’s absolutely no question about it, when your parent’s have a backyard as stunning as this bride’s, you have to celebrate your big day there. We’re talking vineyards, pretty vistas for days and dog friendly! It really doesn’t get any better. Taking inspiration from her favorite chef, the Barefoot Contessa, this beautiful bride crafted a day that was casually elegant and centered around local food. It’s fresh and fun and Megan Reeves Photography captured all the gorgeous details. See it all right here.
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From the Bride… We were fortunate enough to hold our wedding in my parents’ backyard, which looks out to an old-vine zinfandel vineyard in the Russian River Valley. I think a backyard wedding immediately puts out the vibe that things are casual and relaxed. Children were running around playing lawn games, and our dog even roamed around greeting guests. In July, the grapevines are full, bees swarm the lavender, and flowers are in full bloom. I come from a foodie family, so our family-style dinner was something that was a priority. I wanted to give our guests a farm-to-table experience where everything was from Sonoma County and felt like a feast. The tables were set up banquet style which was great because you could look down the rows and see guests passing plates and breaking bread together. At one point, people even did “the wave”! We have had so many compliments that the food was not only the best wedding food they have ever had, but some of the best food they have ever had!
For the decor, I took inspiration from my idol: Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa. Her approach is unfussy and casually elegant. I used simple green hydrangea arrangements and all-white table linens for our dinner. Keeping a clean palette allowed the platters of colorful foods and our family’s wines to stand out. My mother is an avid cook and gardener, so I used lavender and herbs from her garden on each dinner plate. I turned to a good friend’s Etsy shop, Loo De Loop, for the custom bean bags and the flags. The chalkboard, Adirondack chairs and the cornhole boards were all built by Austin. He started Wine Barrel Workshop as a hobby business, so I put his woodworking skills to use! His mother is an artist and painted the custom cornhole boards.
I have so many great memories of the day, but if I had to pick, my favorite was when Austin and I sat down, and he looked at me, beaming, and said it was the absolute best day of his life. A close second was when he surprised the crowd with his killer breakdancing!
Wedding Photography: Megan Reeves Photography / Second Photographer: Ken Viale / Wedding Venue: The Home of the Bride’s Parents in Fulton, California / Floral Design: Wine Country Flowers / Wedding Day Coordination: Bonnie Christopher / Catering: Zazu Restaurant & Farm / Wedding Cake: Fleur de Lisa / Family Wines: Sanglier Cellars (Bride) + Hawley Winery (Groom) / Wedding Invitations: Minted / DJ: Falcon Christopher of SounDesign / Tent, Dance Floor, Chairs + Rentals: Party, Tents & Events / Adirondack Chairs: Wine Barrel Workshop (Owned by the Groom) / Flags + Beanbags: Loo De Loop / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza / Bride’s Shoes: Grace / Bride’s Earrings: Bridal Galleria / Hair + Makeup: It’s A Date at The Powder Room / Sparkler Send Off Sign: Chic Weddings by Jamie Irene