To know me is to know that I love garden weddings. Sure, give me a modern or traditional affair and I am all kinds of happy… but show me an al fresco soiree like this gorgeous gem styled by Dandelion Events and I can barely contain myself. Because this, loves, is beautiful blooms from Tesoro Flowers meets all sort of romance from Mike Larson. Needless to say: yes, please. See it all in the here.
From the Bride… Justin and I had been together for 10 years before we got engaged in May of 2012. We both went to graduate school after attending Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Justin went on to medical school in New Orleans, and I moved to Northern California to attend veterinary school. Throughout our relationship we had a very small and close group of family and friends that helped support us, our relationship, and our career goals. We wanted our wedding to not only celebrate our love for each other but also to thank all of our family and close friends that had supported us throughout the years.
We both grew up in Northern California and knew that we not only wanted to choose a wedding venue that celebrated the beauty of the state, but one that was also unique. Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma was the perfect place and we fell in love with it instantly, almost as quickly as with each other! Not only did we adore the beautiful scenery (the lush gardens, old world vines, rustic barn, and more modern tent), but we also were amazed by the variation in unique art pieces and installations scattered throughout the property. After deciding on the venue I was then able to focus on all of the details. I loved the idea of a rustic wedding but was terribly bored of constantly seeing weddings that highlighted mason jars and burlap. I wanted our wedding to exude the same rustic and romantic ambiance but in a different way-we used milk glass instead of mason jars, steered clear of burlap, and brought in assorted antique plates for dinner. Details were very important to me- incorporating finds from antique stores and Etsy, hand-made and decorated chalkboards, and a signature drink highlighting our love for our Italian greyhound all helped to express who we are as a couple.
Another wedding goal we had was to create a relaxed, intimate and romantic atmosphere. That really started with all of the vendors that we chose to help us celebrate our day. I tried very hard to not only hire vendors based on the quality of their work, but also on their individual personalities and who they truly were as people. I sincerely believe I lucked out with every single vendor that contributed to our wedding. Not only were they all amazing and talented at what they did, but they were all compassionate people whom genuinely cared about making our wedding one of the best days of our lives-for that I cannot thank any of them enough!
Good drinks, delicious food, and a talented cover band rounded out the priorities for our wedding. Local wines were featured, as well as two signature drinks. Sage Catering focuses on fresh, local produce and a “farm to table” ideology-there was no better way to celebrate one of the best regions for delicious food than to include them. They also provided us with tasty late-night snacks- mini BLTs and grilled cheese sandwiches-a hit with all of our guests! For dessert we decided to have an assortment of lemon bars, seven layer bars, and a delicious cake provided by Susie Cakes in Marin- their red velvet cake is out of this world! The music was provided by a cover band centered out of San Luis Obispo (a nod to where we met and fell in love). Live music really helped to create a fun and lively atmosphere and kept everyone dancing all night long.
Overall, our wedding was the best day of our lives and perfectly celebrated our love that we share for each other and those around us.
Photographer: Mike Larson | Videography: De Novo Studio | Flowers: Tesoro Flowers | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Sage Catering | Band: Matt Cross and the One Night Band | Groom's suit: Hugo Boss | Officiant: Jacqueline Eigen | Bridal Gown: Allure Bridal | Cake Topper: Melting Pot Love | Cake/Desserts: SusieCakes | Ceremony & Reception: Cornerstone Sonoma | Honeymoon: Cook Islands | Make-up/Hair: It's A Date at The Powder Room | Rentals: Dogwood Party Rentals | Styling/Day of Coordination: Leslie at Dandelion Events