Near or far, when it comes to welcoming your wedding guests, doing it in style is key. And I’d say these two cuties nailed it with their gorgeously cozy Napa welcome soiree, grape stomping and all! Guests were greeted with sweet welcome bags designed by the planning genius that is Laurie Arons Special Events, while Rebecca Yale Portraits (the Bride’s amazing sis!) snapped up all the pretty touches and smiling faces. Join in all the fun right here in the gallery.
This beautiful sign from The First Snowfall makes for a stunning welcome to Grgich Hills Estate.
Guests getting their stomp on! We’ve officially added grape stomping to our must-try list at SMP.
Stamped table numbers placed in halved wine corks from Kathryn Murray made for a sweet touch.
How gorgeous are those custom wood welcome bag tags from Anticipate Invitations paired with Curlicue Calligraphy? The perfect rustic detail for a vineyard soiree.
From Rebecca Yale Portraits…I love nothing more than photographing an amazing party full of great friends, great wine and great food and this one is particularly special to me because it was the welcome dinner kicking off the celebration for my sister’s destination wedding weekend in Napa. We chose Grgich Hills Estate, one of our favorite vineyard’s in Napa, to host the party and it was the perfect intro to Napa for all of our East Coast friends who had flown in from New York. Not only is Grgich one of the most beautiful vineyards around with the most delectable of wines, but they have a very storied history within Napa. A bottle of 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, made by Mike Grgich, won the blind Paris tasting in 1973 that put Napa on the map as a world class wine region. Kelly at Grgich helped us create such a lovely evening for our friends and family, which began with a cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres on the patio of the Ranch House. Guests were invited to stomp the grapes (a la Lucy) and taste the grapes that had just been pulled off the vines. Underneath strings of twinkly lights guests dined next to the vineyard and watched as the sun set over the endless rows of vines.
Upon their arrival in Napa guests were presented with a welcome bag, crafted by Laurie Arons Special Events, containing all of the couple’s favorite snacks and essentials for a weekend in wine country including a map of the area, bouchon from Bouchon Bakery and a one day membership pass at Grgich. The totes were perfect to carry around all weekend, perhaps holding a bottle or two of wine purchased at the amazing local vineyards. My sister accessorized for the weekend with the FEED bridal bag, which not only makes a perfect tote for the weekend, but also provides 1 child with micro-nutrient powder for an entire year! It even has cute compartments inside for something old, new, borrowed and blue.
Photography: Rebecca Yale Portraits | Coordination: Grgich Hills Estate | Floral Design: Thoughts In Bloom | Reception Venue: Grgich Hills Estate | Bride's Shoes: Miu Miu | Catering: Oak Avenue Catering | Calligraphy: Written Word Calligraphy | Bride's Bag: Feed | Bride's Dress: Haute Hippie | Escort Cards: Rifle Paper Co. | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Lighting And Linens: Classic Party Rentals | Pashminas: Yadis Closet | Sign: The First Snow | Table Number Stamps: Kathryn Murray Calligraphy | Table Numbers: Better Off Wed | Welcome Bag: Laurie Arons Special Events | Welcome Bag Calligraphy: Curlicue Designs Calligraphy | Welcome Bag Tags: Anticipate Invitations