Just when we thought we couldn’t possibly love onelove photography any more, this little pretty lands in our laps. It basically contains each and every element in wedding planning that is guaranteed to make us weak in the knees. From the soft color palette to the al fresco dining to the delicate detials – you almost have to catch your breath after taking in all the prettiness. And Bear Flag Farm? Don’t even get us started – it’s a wedding venue dreams are made of, and set the scene for one out of control beautiful wedding. See so much more here.
From the Bride… Going into our wedding we had three main goals in mind: (1) we wanted a one-of-a-kind setting, (2) the food had to be incredible, and (3) the dance party had to be out of control. We kept these three things in mind with every decision we made, and in the end it was so worth it! Hands down, Bear Flag Farm is the most beautiful place ever. Ever. It is completely unique, private and so, so elegant. The farm has distinct locations for each part of your day, so guests were able to move from the ceremony (on the lavender field), to the cocktail hour (in the “orangerie”), to the reception (on the sunken cottage lawn). It made each piece of the day feel even more special than the last and gave guests the opportunity to see different parts of the farm. Because the food was important to us, we went with Alex’s Catering (on recommendation from Tina Reikes, the owner/coordinator at Bear Flag). Everything was delicious. Our friends were literally chasing down the servers at cocktail hour to get thirds and fourths of the butternut squash soup “shooters” that came with a mini grilled cheese.
There were a few design elements that were really meaningful to me. First, I incorporated both of my grandmothers into my bouquet (all of my grandparents have passed away, so it was important for me to be able to honor them). To the base I pinned a handkerchief (carried by one of my grandmas, and my mother, on their wedding days) and a locket (worn by the other grandma on her wedding day). The handkerchief and locket also did double-duty, standing in as my something old, something borrowed and something blue. My dad also made and re-finished a number of our design elements. The blackboards/frames/easels were all his handy work, as were the escort card boards. It was awesome to include those handmade elements and it meant a lot for my dad to play such a big part in the design process (which is traditionally left up to the girls.)
Words cannot express how thankful I am that I found Tina Reikes and Bear Flag Farm. I knew planning a wedding from a distance would be tough, so it was wonderful to have a coordinator and planner that I trusted so deeply. Even when I couldn’t necessarily picture it, I knew that all of Tina’s design ideas would turn out beautifully. She also had a great way of calming me down the week before the wedding. My “type A” personality is such that I was sending her emails and lists just a few days before the wedding. Her note back to me: “No more lists. I have everything covered. Go enjoy your friends and family.” BEST ADVICE EVER. I was stressing over small stuff that was not only handled, but completely unimportant in the grand scheme of things. By relinquishing complete control to her, I was able to enjoy all the pre-wedding events with my out-of-town guests and was completely relaxed by the time Saturday rolled around. Tina is also very picky about the vendors she works with. While it might seem limiting at first, it is actually a huge blessing. Because she is so selective (and has worked with them all in the past) you know you are only going to get the highest-quality product.
Erik and I wrote most of our ceremony (including our vows and an anecdote we each wrote for the other). It focused a lot on growth as a couple, but also as individuals. I recently completed grad school (one year in London and one in Los Angeles) and Erik is currently in grad school in Chicago. While the travel and distance is tough, we remain supportive of each other’s personal and career growth opportunities. That said, our ceremony was incredibly meaningful to both of us. Another stand-out moment was doing the “invisible horse dance” with our guests as Gangnam Style (by PSY) blasted out over the dance floor.
Wedding Photography: onelove photography / Wedding Venue: Bear Flag Farm in Winters, California / Wedding Design + Coordination: Tina Reikes of Bear Flag Farm / Floral Design: In-House Bear Flag Farm Team / Officiant: Lisa Francesca / Catering: Alex’s Catering / Wedding Cake: Katrina Rozelle / DJ: Wine Valley Entertainment / String Quartet: The Dolanc String Quartet / Wedding Stationery: Hello!Lucky / Lighting: Monkeyglue Confetti Lighting / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals + Hartmann Studio Rentals / Tents: Zephyr Tents / Wedding Dress: Rivini via Mia Bridal Couture / Bride’s Veil + Hair Accessories: Mia Bridal Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Tory Burch / Bride’s Rings: Bride: Estate Engagement Ring + Family Wedding Band / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuillier / Makeup + Hair: Lola at Thirteen Salon / Groom’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank + Brooks Brothers / Groom’s Ring: Custom made Wedding Band via Shaftel Diamond Co. / Linens: La Tavola Linen