Saratoga, California Wedding from Lori Paladino Photography
Take a minute to really mull this wedding theme over because it is pretty fabulous: homespun luxe-backyard picnic. How is that for spot-on awesomeness? And we haven't even gotten into the pretty details crafted by A Bride’s Best Friend and Amy Burke. Those are awash with a color palette that truly embodies everything happy and shiny about yellow and details that fit right in with a fab backyard celebration. Only this backyard is the stunning backdrop of Villa Montalvo and it is so perfectly captured by Lori Paladino Photography. Take it all in right here.
From Elisheva of A Bride's Best Friend: College sweethearts Caitlin and Timm came to me just over a year before their wedding. In our first meeting, they told me their favorite times are spent hanging out with friends in Cait’s parent’s backyard in Portola Valley. The wanted to re-create the same casual, fun and intimate feel for their 200 guests on their wedding day. The theme we came up with was homespun luxe-backyard picnic, and we used lots of Cait and her mom, Mary Jane’s DIY talents to bring everything together. Mary Jane illustrated their signature yellow poppy bouquet in a mason jar which was the motif we used on the invitations, menus, and other printed goods all by HelloLucky! She also hand-sewed Cait and Timm a wedding quilt in their wedding colors: bright yellows and oranges. The scraps left over were used for escort cards and favors.
The whole day was as relaxed as could be. Cait and her bridesmaids got ready at her parent’s home with the help of Joey and the team at JBeautique, then headed to Stanford Memorial Church for the ceremony. The 1903 sanctuary was a sacred backdrop for Cait and Timm to exchange vows. Afterwards, guests were shuttled to Villa Montalvo where we had set outdoor lounge furniture and lots of comfy and shady places within the gardens. A signature sangria made with red wine from Cait’s parent’s vineyard was served along with the groom’s favorite beer from his home state of Michigan, “Oberon” special ordered by the bride as a surprise. After cocktails, guests found their escort cards which were written on fabric backed squares left over from the wedding quilt Cait’s mom designed and made for the couple. The cards were laid out to mimic a quilt together. On the back of each card was a handrwritten personal note to the guest from the bride and groom.
Guests were then escorted to the Veranda for dinner, where simple tables dressed in whites and natural colors were adorned with lots of moveable centerpieces all in cream, bright yellows, oranges in wood toned vessels and tea tins were all provided by Amy Burke designs. The collage of centerpieces made it easier for us to serve a relaxed, family style dinner that featured California summer ingredients like roasted peach and goat cheese salad with roasted walnuts by Melon’s catering. After dinner, guests were invited to “shop” the favor bar, stocked with homemade items made by the bride, groom, and the bride’s mom. Cait’s mom saved every scrap of fabric left over from their wedding quilt to make bookmarks and coasters. She also hand illustrated moleskin notebooks with the same poppy & mason jar motif. Other items were bride & groom-made mini-meyer lemon preserves from scratch, and of course, bottles of Peak Lane Wine from the bride’s parents home. After enjoying a pie buffet in lieu of cake including a blueberry pie that Melon’s made with Timm’s grandma’s heirloom recipe, their DJ, Ron Grandia turned up the energy on the dance floor. At the end of the night, no one wanted to leave!
Photography: Lori Paladino Photography | Wedding Planner + Designer: A Bride’s Best Friend | Floral Design: Amy Burke | Ceremony Venue: Stanford Memorial Church | Reception Venue: Villa Montalvo | Caterer: Melons Catering | DJ: Ron Grandia | Hair + Makeup: JBeautique | Invitation Designer: Hello Lucky | Transportation: Lone Star | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Wedding Gown: Priscilla of Boston | Shoes: Valentino
The whole day was as relaxed as could be. Cait and her bridesmaids got ready at her parent’s home with the help of Joey and the team at JBeautique, then headed to Stanford Memorial Church for the ceremony. The 1903 sanctuary was a sacred backdrop for Cait and Timm to exchange vows. Afterwards, guests were shuttled to Villa Montalvo where we had set outdoor lounge furniture and lots of comfy and shady places within the gardens. A signature sangria made with red wine from Cait’s parent’s vineyard was served along with the groom’s favorite beer from his home state of Michigan, “Oberon” special ordered by the bride as a surprise. After cocktails, guests found their escort cards which were written on fabric backed squares left over from the wedding quilt Cait’s mom designed and made for the couple. The cards were laid out to mimic a quilt together. On the back of each card was a handrwritten personal note to the guest from the bride and groom.
Guests were then escorted to the Veranda for dinner, where simple tables dressed in whites and natural colors were adorned with lots of moveable centerpieces all in cream, bright yellows, oranges in wood toned vessels and tea tins were all provided by Amy Burke designs. The collage of centerpieces made it easier for us to serve a relaxed, family style dinner that featured California summer ingredients like roasted peach and goat cheese salad with roasted walnuts by Melon’s catering. After dinner, guests were invited to “shop” the favor bar, stocked with homemade items made by the bride, groom, and the bride’s mom. Cait’s mom saved every scrap of fabric left over from their wedding quilt to make bookmarks and coasters. She also hand illustrated moleskin notebooks with the same poppy & mason jar motif. Other items were bride & groom-made mini-meyer lemon preserves from scratch, and of course, bottles of Peak Lane Wine from the bride’s parents home. After enjoying a pie buffet in lieu of cake including a blueberry pie that Melon’s made with Timm’s grandma’s heirloom recipe, their DJ, Ron Grandia turned up the energy on the dance floor. At the end of the night, no one wanted to leave!
Photography: Lori Paladino Photography | Wedding Planner + Designer: A Bride’s Best Friend | Floral Design: Amy Burke | Ceremony Venue: Stanford Memorial Church | Reception Venue: Villa Montalvo | Caterer: Melons Catering | DJ: Ron Grandia | Hair + Makeup: JBeautique | Invitation Designer: Hello Lucky | Transportation: Lone Star | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Wedding Gown: Priscilla of Boston | Shoes: Valentino