Napa Valley Wedding at Shady Oaks Ranch
Have I mentioned how much I love Napa weddings? Of course I have, and probably on more than one occasion. And my love comes from weddings like this one - where every moment just seems magical, and every detail on a new level of lovely. Andi Hatch was behind the lens to capture every gorgeous moment of this Napa Valley beauty, and you can see all the swoon-worthy moments here.
From Andi Hatch...I am excited to share this lovely wedding at a private estate in Napa. This dreamy summer wedding occurred at a secret private estate in Napa which hosts only a few weddings each year. The mother of the bride found the venue on a tip from a busboy who drew a map on a paper napkin, proclaiming that when he eventually found the right girl, this is where he would marry her. It is a gorgeous venue with graceful lawns, massive oak trees, vineyards, English gardens and a guest house. A perfect location for an outdoor summer wedding in wine county, complete with rocking dance party under a giant oak tree.
From the Bride...Our wedding was an absolutely magical day in the Napa Valley surrounded by our friends and family. We decided to get married at a private estate in wine country because because of its proximity to Mendocino, where both David and I grew up. We loved the idea of incorporating some traditional elegance into our garden party, and we also wanted our guests to feel relaxed and comfortable. Our venue was gorgeous, and provided the intimate yet expansive setting we had dreamed of. The ceremony took place in front of a lovely pond, shaded by ancient trees, with green lawns, fruit trees and flowers surrounding us. My father passed away suddenly a few years ago, so my mother escorted me down the aisle, and I carried a charm with my father’s photo on my bouquet. David’s parents escorted him down the aisle, and his nephew was our ring bearer.
A string quartet played classical music as our guests were greeted with lavender lemonade. David’s cousin officiated our ceremony, which we crafted together with him. The whole ceremony was meaningful and from the heart, and there weren’t too many dry eyes! Our mothers both read poems, and David’s sister read a traditional hand blessing. We spent a lot of time writing our own vows, pronouncing them to each other for the first time at our wedding. Once we were announced as husband and wife, right after our first kiss, David surprised me by performing a song! He had secretly been taking voice lessons for months; you can’t get more romantic than that!
During dinner, our guests sat at long white farm tables and dined on delicious farm-to-table cuisine and local wines. After dinner, we took to the dance floor for our first dance to Michael Buble’s Hold On, for which we had been taking dance lessons together. The vibe was set for a very lively dance party under the stars. DJ Dan of Love in the Mix was awesome and kept everyone moving!
David and I are grateful to our families for all their support in making it a reality. Some of our fondest memories from the day were seeing our diverse group of family and friends come together and have so much fun. We are blessed to have a wonderful community of family and friends, and we only wished the day had lasted longer so that we would have had more time with everyone.
From the Bride...Our wedding was an absolutely magical day in the Napa Valley surrounded by our friends and family. We decided to get married at a private estate in wine country because because of its proximity to Mendocino, where both David and I grew up. We loved the idea of incorporating some traditional elegance into our garden party, and we also wanted our guests to feel relaxed and comfortable. Our venue was gorgeous, and provided the intimate yet expansive setting we had dreamed of. The ceremony took place in front of a lovely pond, shaded by ancient trees, with green lawns, fruit trees and flowers surrounding us. My father passed away suddenly a few years ago, so my mother escorted me down the aisle, and I carried a charm with my father’s photo on my bouquet. David’s parents escorted him down the aisle, and his nephew was our ring bearer.
A string quartet played classical music as our guests were greeted with lavender lemonade. David’s cousin officiated our ceremony, which we crafted together with him. The whole ceremony was meaningful and from the heart, and there weren’t too many dry eyes! Our mothers both read poems, and David’s sister read a traditional hand blessing. We spent a lot of time writing our own vows, pronouncing them to each other for the first time at our wedding. Once we were announced as husband and wife, right after our first kiss, David surprised me by performing a song! He had secretly been taking voice lessons for months; you can’t get more romantic than that!
During dinner, our guests sat at long white farm tables and dined on delicious farm-to-table cuisine and local wines. After dinner, we took to the dance floor for our first dance to Michael Buble’s Hold On, for which we had been taking dance lessons together. The vibe was set for a very lively dance party under the stars. DJ Dan of Love in the Mix was awesome and kept everyone moving!
David and I are grateful to our families for all their support in making it a reality. Some of our fondest memories from the day were seeing our diverse group of family and friends come together and have so much fun. We are blessed to have a wonderful community of family and friends, and we only wished the day had lasted longer so that we would have had more time with everyone.