This wedding captured by Jesse Leake Photography has Wine Country written all over it. It IS in wine country so that makes total sense and as a wine lover my self, I can so appreciate a nod to all things vino. From the Merlot hued florals by Brown Paper Design, to the save the dates inscribed on a bottle of (you guessed it) wine and right on through to the rustic elegance of Calistoga Ranch made even more so by the stylings of Alyssa Brown of Alison Events, LLC, this is a shining example of taking a cue from your venue and running with it. See so much more right here as well as a sweet film of the day by Paper Tape Films below.
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From the Bride… Blair and I met while working in the wine country in Napa. With most of my friends and family residing in Texas, and Blair’s in New Zealand, it only made sense to have everyone meet “halfway” in the valley that we call home. When Blair and I got engaged, we immediately knew we wanted a winter wedding inside of a wine cave. With a rustic yet modern approach, Calistoga Ranch was a great fit for the aesthetic we were searching for and being tucked into that little pocket of nature reminded us both of the gorgeous landscaping in New Zealand.
Our whole wedding was inspired by the prohibition era, from the French 75 signature cocktail to the cigarette girls handing out trinkets and cigars and even the save-the-date we sent out, which was a bottle of wine labeled with an antique-style prescription. The environment was warm and cozy throughout the evening and had the feeling of intimacy that Blair and I had hoped for, especially since bringing our family and friends together was one of the more important aspects of the wedding. By keeping the celebration pretty small, we were able to really spend time with everyone at the wedding.
My favorite moment of the day was when Blair saw me for the first time in my dress. We decided to do the “big reveal” before the ceremony, and it could not have been more perfect. We were surrounded by what looked like Aspen trees and there were tiny little finches fluttering around overhead. It was such a serene and peaceful moment between the two of us, and that feeling of serenity continued throughout the night. Of course, Blair’s favorite moment was when his Kiwi friends surprised him at the reception and did a tribal warrior dance called the Haka. Unless you are a rugby fan or are from New Zealand, you will have to YouTube it to fully understand.
Wedding Photography: Jesse Leake Photography / Wedding Venue: Calistoga Ranch in Calistoga, California / Event Planning: Alyssa Brown of Alison Events, LLC / Floral Design: Danielle Rowe of Brown Paper Design / Wedding Cinematography: Paper Tape Films / Wedding Paper Goods: Hello! Lucky / Wedding Cake: Sweet on Cake / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Linens: La Tavola / Lighting + Audio: reFRACTion / Photo Booth: Magnolia Photo Booth Co. / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Wedding Dress Details: Sew Heidi / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Makeup: Neja Cosmetics