When a hurricane misses you by one day, giving way to the most picturesque skies imaginable, I’m pretty sure some major luck is on your side. I adore Belle Mer; add in elegant florals and candlelight and it just shines. April K Photography and Ready Set Film captured everything but the smell of the sea, but if you spend some time in the full gallery, you may just start to feel a ocean breeze before long.
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From The Bride…Jake and I attended the same college together in Boston, but met many years after graduation and became fast friends. After a couple of years of friendship, our relationship developed into something more… just as Jake was accepted at a California graduate school. We decided to both make the 3,000 mile move to northern California and it was the best decision we’ve ever made. We had a thousand adventures throughout our time on the west coast – many of which included day and weekend trips to Napa and Sonoma!
After we got engaged (4 years and another cross country move back to Boston later) we were deciding between a local wedding in New England vs. a destination wedding in California. Ultimately we decided to have the wedding near our home and families. We envisioned finding a venue with a blank canvas so that we could create an elegant wedding with vintage touches throughout. We instantly fell in love with Belle Mer’s neutral palate, open space, high ceilings, and perfectly manicured lawn. We booked a wedding on July 5th.
After Hurricane Arthur rolled through on July 4th, the skies cleared and everything about our day was sunny and perfect. Our vendors made planning a breeze! Moira from Stoneblossom took my vision of combining the vintage feel and neutral palate of California wine country with the modern elegance of Belle Mer. My mom sowed a piece of my childhood blanket into my dress as my “something old” and my grandmother gave me a beautiful diamond necklace to wear that my grandfather had given her years ago. My father surprised us by writing a welcome toast using a metaphor about “filling a mug” with adventures, love, laughter, and children – everyone in the wedding received an actual mug with our photo on it as a favor.
Because of the hurricane, the July 4th fireworks were cancelled and rescheduled to take place on our wedding day. One of the most memorable moments of our wedding was when the fireworks began and our entire party watched them together outside. Jake and I toasted our marriage with a glass of champagne and went inside to dance the night away with all our family and friends. It was truly a magical day!
Photography: April K Photography | Flowers: Stoneblossom | Wedding Gown: Judd Waddell | Reception Venue: Belle Mer: A Longwood Venue | Shoes: Michael Kors | Bridesmaids Dresses: Love Lane | Calligraphy: Jan Garver Of Jan Script | Ties: Bows And Ties | Men's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Hair Piece: Vintage Hair Pins | Music: Wilson Stevens | Signage/ Menu/ Programs: Just My Type | Video: readyset[film]