An Elevated Carmel Valley Wedding With Sophisticated Touches

•

September 22, 2023

The Planning

Design / Vibe / Vision

Allison and Tyler were drawn to the private estate weddings featured on our website, and asked for a wedding with ‘the look and feel’ of a private estate. One which encompassed an elevated, tasteful aesthetic. As this was to be a destination wedding, the bride and groom both wanted an exceptional experience that showed their appreciation for guests traveling all over the country to attend. Their vibe was sophisticated elegance with dramatic points of interest throughout the spaces.

Proposal Story

Allison and Tyler met through Hinge in 2016, and started dating shortly afterward. Four years later, Tyler proposed to Ally at her family lake house, which was their favorite place to spend weekends and holidays. Shortly after their engagement, Tyler and Allison packed their bags and drove across the country to Boston, where they embarked on their next adventure!

Getting Ready

Bridal Portraits

Flat Lays

The Fashion

Wedding Gown

Allison wore a KWH gown, purchased at Unveiled Bridal, San Francisco.

Bridesmaid Dresses

The Maid of Honor dress was from Anthropologie Wedding.

Wedding Party

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

The Details

Food & Drink

Along with a full premium bar, champagne and selected wines, guests were offered Allison and Tyler's signature cocktails. Her's was a Paloma and His, a Penicillin. Butler passed hors d'oeuvres included Rosemary Grilled Lamb Loin 'Lollipops', Pancetta Wrapped Fresh Prawns, Maryland Crab Cakes with Chipotle Relish, and Tempura Dipped Artichoke Hearts with Sesame Aioli. As guests made their way into dinner, NV Veuve Clicquot awaited them at table for a welcome toast by the bride's father. The First Course of Wedge Salad, with Cherry Tomatoes, Crumbled Bacon, and Blue Cheese Dressing was paired with a California Sauvignon Blanc by Kathryn Kennedy. Guests chose between Grilled Black Angus Filet Mignon with Truffles Demi Grace, served with Caramelized Shallot Whipped Potatoes and Haricot Verts, and paired with Rombauer Cabernet Sauvignon, or Pan Seared Skuna Bay Salmon, with Lemon Beurre Blanc, Saffron Risotto, and Spring Vegetables, paired with Talbott 'Sleepy Hollow' Chardonnay, locally produced in Monterey.

Florals & Decor

Our bride’s parents fell in love with Tehama as the venue, Clint Eastwood’s private golf club in Carmel Valley, California. Tehama, an architecturally designed California Spanish Revival inspired gem, provided the backdrop for Allison and Tyler’s wedding. We designed each space as we would for a private estate wedding, bringing in furnishings, lighting, and custom dance floor. We chose Theoni Collection and Chic Event Rentals as our vendor partners to help execute the design. Playing off the warm neutral tones of the reception spaces, our aesthetic of approachable elegance showcased the architectural detail. Our ceremony space set the tone with sophisticated black chairs to compliment the bridesmaid’s black dresses. The ‘supper club’ dinner | dancing design, black lounges, bars, and cigar bar carried the theme throughout the spaces. Loop Flowers always understands our vision so well, and they created stunning florals that felt organic and elegant in tones of creams, whites, and nude with touches of deep cabernet reds. These complemented and amplified the overall design throughout the spaces.

Wedding Cake

Allison and Tyler opted for a dessert bar in lieu of a wedding cake. Tehama provided a fun dessert trio for guests to enjoy after dinner. Valrhona Chocolate & Amarena Cherry Bombe with Port Cherry Sauce, Poached Pear Tart with Chantilly Cream, and classic Tiramisu (Allison's favorite) were on offer throughout the evening.

Special Detail #1

Allison & Tyler decided to read their personal vows to one another in private. Our photographer, Anya Kernes, did an amazing job of capturing all the emotion of the moment. The vow books were by etsy, and were personalized for them.

Special Detail #2

We wanted to add some personal touches throughout the wedding decor, so asked the bride's mother if she would share some favorite pieces for the day. Vintage silver serving trays were staged with our escort cards and made a lovely display on the escort table, an antique candelabra was our centerpiece on the dessert bar, and various touches of family were placed around the lounges. We especially loved the antique ivory and onyx box, which we used to hold gift cards.

Special Detail #3

Allison fell in love with the first wedding gown she saw a photo of. We had a giggle about how funny it would be if this turned out to be the gown she ended up buying. She tracked it down to a New York Bridal Salon, which was closing, and had sent the gown to another boutique in San Francisco. The universe aligned as she was flying into San Francisco for a family visit. Her first stop was to the bridal boutique where she tried on the gown and confirmed it was love at first site. The gown fit like it was literally made for her. We think the gown wanted to be worn by Allison and waited for her to find it.

Couple Portraits