We obviously see wedding after gorgeous wedding that we love. Weddings we adore with all of our blogger hearts, but this pretty little beauty snapped up by Greg Slick Photography consumed our hearts in the sweetest of ways. It took hold of our heart strings and still has not let go, nor do we want it to let go because this wedding is just.that.delicious. Perfectly sweet, perfectly detailed, perfectly perfect – try as you might, you cannot help but fall in love with each and every image in tucked away in full gallery of images!
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From the bride… Even though we now live on the east coast, we knew we wanted to get married back west, where we had met 3.5 years earlier. We love hiking, biking, running, fishing — really anything we can do together outdoors and enjoy nature. We wanted an outdoor venue that showcased California’s beauty, where we had fallen in love. After many fruitless venue visits, we finally found one that had everything we wanted: a redwood forest, vineyard, barn, and mountain views less than two hours from San Francisco, which would hopefully be easier for our east coast guests and have more predictable weather. The venue’s location offered incredible views – and a bunch of logistical hurdles to make it work. Our planner, Kathy, was experienced and coordinated all of the logistics: transportation, electricity, bathrooms, etc. She transformed a little spot on a hill into a fully functioning event space and helped give us a day of beautiful memories.
My favorite moment was seeing Kiran for the first time. I had been so nervous walking through the forest at our rehearsal, I was sure I was going to trip. But on the actual day, I was so excited to get to Kiran, I swear I floated right over the earth! I loved being walked down the aisle by both of my parents. Our musicians did an amazing job, too; I wanted to walk to an Irish folk song that wasn’t really in their repertoire, but they learned it and played it beautifully. Later, at the reception, we danced our first dance to Fleetwood Mac — the practice paid off, we had so much fun! The caterer worked with us to offer our guests a San Francisco treat to top off the night, bringing Its-Its to the dance floor before the night ended. Our families were really at the core of the celebration. We stayed in houses with them the week prior, had an intimate rehearsal dinner, and sat with them during the wedding reception. We both come from really close, loving families, and the whole week brought them together to form one even bigger loving family.
As far as advice for other brides, set early deadlines for yourself and get stuff done sooner than you think you should: it never hurts. You don’t want to be running around frazzled once your guests are in town. At that point, it’s not about trying to pull the event together, its about enjoying your time with your friends and family (that is the event). Also, planning a wedding from afar doesn’t have to be difficult — just be organized and make the best use of your time when you do visit the site (I only saw ours twice in person). Tap into local help if you can. I had the printed materials, like menus and place cards, mailed directly to my sister-in-law so that I wouldn’t have to lug them across the country.
Wedding Photography: Greg Slick Photography / Wedding Venue: A Private Residence in Calistoga, California / Floral Design: The Blue Orchid (Now Closed) / Wedding Planning: Kathy Higgins Weddings / Catering: Knickerbockers’ Catering / Wedding Lighting: Illusions lighting / Succulent Wreath: Fairy Blooms / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Band: Hot Club of San Francisco / Wedding Invitations: Betsy Dunlap + Blackbird Letterpress / Programs, Table Settings, Menu, Escort Cards + Other Printed Materials: Anna Michelle Cards / Guest Welcome Bags + Table Runners: DIY / Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino / Jewelry: Borrowed from Her Mother + Her Grandmother / Rings: Todd Reed + DIY / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ivy & Aster, J.Crew + RK Bridal / Hair + Makeup: Katie Nash Hair + Makeup / Men’s Suits: J.Crew / Men’s Ties: Hermes / Getting Ready Venues: Sonoma Ranch + Bellissimo House