This modern take on the classic farm wedding is equal parts fabulous Carneros Inn backdrop and crafty vendors like A Savvy Event, Poppystone Designs and Kate Webber behind the camera. All together they fashioned this clean lined, elegant white wedding with touches of pastel and an overall feel of laid back elegance. It’s gorgeous, especially if you have a weakness for a good, long farm table!
Matt and Perry met at a small boarding school in Connecticut in 2006 and have been together ever since. They grew up alongside one another and always shared passions for art, food and travel. As best friends for over eight years, their relationship remained a constant through many changes: graduating from high school and college, moving from Connecticut to Chicago and finally landing together in Southern California.
Matt proposed to Perry in the fall and they set their wedding date a year and a half out to give them ample planning time. Although most of their family and friends are from New England, they had fallen in love with the West Coast. When faced with the decision of a wedding location, what better place for wine and food enthusiasts than the Northern California region of Napa Valley. As nature lovers, another important aspect was the ability to have an outdoor ceremony with no weather concerns.
In the spring, they traveled up to wine country to look at wedding venues for their dream wedding – touring beautiful vineyards and hotels. Their home base was The Carneros Inn, a recommendation from Matt’s parents. They had never felt more comfortable and relaxed in their lives and quickly realized – look no further!
They worked closely with their planner Kelly at ASE to bring their ideas into the big picture. In keeping with the architecture of TCI, the design theme was “modern farm.” Matt brought his love for simplicity and Perry mixed in romantic and ethereal vibes.
Perry especially implemented her style in the design of her wedding dress. Living in LA made gave her access to some of the most well-known designers – Monique Lhuillier, Morgane Le Fay and Claire Pettibone just to name a few. Trying on over 35 dresses, none were quite right. She had an undying love for the dresses of French designer, Laure de Sagazan, who unfortunately would require Perry to make multiple trips to Paris for proper fittings. In lieu of her dream Parisian dress, she decided she would custom design her own dress! Perry found a gorgeous vintage all-over beaded pearl bodice that she fell immediately in love with and sketched designs of how to incorporate her bodice into her dream wedding dress – after nearly six months of developing designs, fabric hunting for the perfect sinks and lace, fittings and adding special details the dress was completed. The finished product was a fitted silk charmeuse under layer with a flowing crinkled sink chiffon outer layer which parted down the middle and was lined with french lace. Perry’s favorite part of the dress was placed on the back of the charmeuse belt: the hand-made flower with silk chiffon petals and a center made of pearls from the bodice – finished this detail off with delicate ribbons of chiffon used for the skirt.
Along with Kelly, they curated a group of amazing vendors who collaborated to create the day that Perry and Matt envisioned. As a photographer herself, it was important for Perry to find not only a “wedding photographer,” but also an art photographer. She knew she had found the perfect match after connecting with Kate Webber over the phone. They shared a passion and love for photography and design and also discovered many connections they had while growing up in Connecticut. Kate captured artful as well as endearing moments, including a favorite of Matt embracing Brian, his best man and brother, and Layne, Perry’s maid of honor and sister, sharing feelings of excitement. Jarred with WCV also captured the intimate mood of the wedding through the medium of film – he was every easy to work with and made sure Perry and Matt felt at ease.
Claire with Poppystone worked closely with Perry to evolve the wedding floral design; the style being California Farm Modern with emphasis on lavender, sage greens, ivory peonies and blush garden roses. Claire found an amazing iron arbor, which she decorated modestly with ivory garden roses. Claire designed a beautiful wreath of lavender and french herbs as a centerpiece at the reception. Because they had an exciting honeymoon in Tuscany planned, this influenced food choices and floral themes; such as potted lavender in terra cotta pots lining the aisle.
Photography: Kate Webber | Videography: Wine Country Videographers | Event Planning: A Savvy Event | Floral Design: PoppyStone Floral Couture | Wedding Venue: Carneros Resort and Spa | Invitations & Stationary: The Card Bar | Musicians: Laurent Fourgo | Photobooth: Magnolia Photo Booth Co.