We tend to wait with bated breath for our next Jose Villa wedding. Because to see a wedding through the lens of Jose’s camera is seeing the subtlety of true magic unfold. Soft, exquisitely captured moments that tell a love story with a sense of ease and grace that is almost tangible. So today we’re diving all in, from the tips of our toes to the pitter patter of our hearts, to this stunning Jose Villa celebration. And if you can’t wait for Part II, there is much more right here in our gallery.
From the Bride… Living in Northern California does not leave one wanting when it comes to finding a gorgeous place to host a wedding. When we were engaged, we started looking high and low – Napa and wine country, Big Sur, Tahoe, and even briefly considered a destination wedding in the Caribbean. Ultimately we chose Carmel because I had grown up spending summers and holidays visiting my grandparents there and attending tennis camp just down the road from the Santa Lucia Preserve. It felt like home and brought back many wonderful memories of family time and summer spent on the court. It was wonderful to share this place with our friends and Drew’s family from Texas and New Mexico.
We wanted our day to be about our family and friends – We really wanted to honor them and thank them for the roles that they have played in our lives. My three brothers served as my ‘bridesmen,’ with my twin brother acting as ‘man of honor,’ while Drew’s two brothers and cousins served as groomsmen. Instead of simple place cards, the place settings were actually envelopes that held notes that Drew and I had written personally to each and every guest. We still hear from our family and friends about how much it meant to them to have a personalized place card!
It was also important to us that the day be about our faith. The priest that married us is a longtime friend of Drew’s from Notre Dame (where we met), and we were honored that Fr. Jim agreed to perform the ceremony (and flew from Peru to be there, no less)! We spent 5 days with him on a marriage retreat in Montana a few months prior to the wedding – we cooked, napped, read on the porch, fished, and generally spent our time together praying over scripture that we ultimately chose for our ceremony at the historic Mission San Borromeo de Carmel. It made for a Mass that was very personal to us while remaining compelling for our guests.
Photography: Jose Villa Photography | Cinematography: Joel Serrato Film Photographer | Coordination: Barbara Llewellyn Catering | Event Design: Kate Holt Creative | Floral Design: Kate Holt Creative | Wedding Gown: Vera Wang | Rings: Faraone Mennella | Hair And Makeup: Marisa Perel | Band: Notorious | Transportation: Main Event Transportation | Venue: Santa Lucia Preserve | Furniture Rentals: Hartmann Studios | Grooms Tux: Tom Ford | Lighting + Draping: Classic Party Rentals | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Paper Production And Calligraphy: Feast Calligraphy | Programs + Welcome Bags: Julie Dewalt Of Gather And Co. | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Veil: Vera Wang