Happy Friday, SMPers! Before you head off into the gorgeous spring weekend ahead, we’ve got one last dose of rustic goodness for you from Janae Shields Photography and Downey Street Events. From the apple orchard table seating station that couldn’t be any cuter to the twinkling dance floor lit up by Creative Lighting Design, it’s detail upon detail of ranch wedding perfection!
From Janae Shields Photography… This rustic Northern California wedding was the perfect setting for Kier and Tyler’s Wedding. Kier and Tyler being from San Francisco loved the intimate setting of Dawn Ranch Lodge to host their wedding weekend. They did a wonderful job mixing their casual style with rustic elements. Kier chose to have her bridesmaids wear brightly colored dresses fitting their own personal styles. The brides grandmother handmade every apple place card bringing in a personal touch from a loved one.
From The Bride…Tyler and I met through mutual friends when one of my best girlfriends started dating his best friend/roommate and the four of us joined a bowling league together. We bowled every Monday night together, and each week we dressed for a different theme. We weren’t the best bowlers but we had a great time. Our friends are now engaged and getting married next May!
Tyler proposed while we were on vacation in Cabo for his birthday. He proposed the day after his birthday and caught me off guard!
We really fell in love with the ability to host all, or nearly all, of our guests on site. A full weekend of celebrations, with the opportunity to really engage and spend time with all of our family and friends over a BBQ, breakfasts, and down time, really seemed like the right match for us. And, the space! Not only is it a beautiful venue, but soon as Tyler saw that we could play volleyball, corn hole, be in the river or the pool, he knew this was the place. It was like a rustic summer camp for adults!
Our wedding was simple with muted colors – mostly whites and greens with some champagne or blush accents. We were really going for a clean look that we enjoy in our everyday lives. My mother-in-law was instrumental in the wedding design. She created all of the decor for the Friday night BBQ as well as the escort card table. And one of my girlfriends designed our table numbers and other important accents.
To start, Tyler’s best friend married us and he did an amazing job! We also only had our siblings stand with us during the ceremony – I have a younger sister and he has a younger brother, so it worked perfectly. We still had friends join us for pictures and sit with us at the reception, but we kept it simple for the ceremony. We also had a friend read an excerpt of a favorite song during the ceremony to mix it up – our friends loved it! Lastly, we ate pies a la mode that were made from the apple trees in the orchard where the reception was held.
I had a wonderful time getting ready for the big day. Putting on my dress with my mom, sister, and mother-in-law looking on was really special. My grandmother did a reading at the wedding and later danced with my husband and brother-in-law, that is something I will always remember. Our favorite photos are those of “candid” moments where we are smiling and surrounded by our friends and family and you can tell how genuinely happy we are together.
We did not do traditional favors. Everyone received a “welcome” bag in their room with treats and tips for their stay. We also provided fresh biscuits with butter and jam from a local bakery for guests upon arrival.
Photography: Janae Shields Photography | Event Design: Katie Gong Of R Designworks | Event Planning: Downey Street Events | Floral Design: Dragonfly Floral | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Ceremony Venue: Dawn Ranch | Reception Venue: Dawn Ranch | Shoes: Louboutin | DJ: Sound In Motion | Officiant: Spencer Bunting | AV/Lighting: Creative Lighting Design | Bridal Boutique: Bridal Galleria | Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Lula Kate | Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier | Hair/Make-up: Meaganne McCandess Hair and Makeup | Men's Fashion: J.Crew | Musicians: San Francisco Conservatory Of Music