The second I heard this bride and groom happened to be high school sweethearts who dated for seven years before getting engaged, I felt instantly connected. It’s the very same tale I lived out with my own high school sweetie, and you better believe this celebration was worth the wait. Set at the lush Villagio Inn And Spa and photographed by Emily Blake, it’s an al fresco “I do” style front and center. More pretty right here.
From The Bride…Ryan and I are high school sweethearts and had been dating for seven years before he asked me to marry him. Right from the start, we knew we wanted a wine country wedding with an outdoor ceremony and reception. We envisioned our wedding to be romantic and elegant, yet still laid back and somewhat casual. Most of all, we wanted our wedding to be a night of celebration, surrounded with our closest friends and family.We immediately fell in love with the Villagio Inn and Spa in Yountville and knew it was the perfect venue. The outdoor pavilions, with their lush green lawns and beautiful gardens were the perfect settings for both our ceremony and reception.
Our ceremony was short and sweet, exactly what we envisioned. It was held on a brick stage under a wooden gazebo with an elegant backdrop made of natural stone and ivy. After the ceremony, our guests enjoyed appetizers and signature cocktails of Kentucky Mules in copper mugs and Blood Orange Margaritas.
Our reception was held on the east garden lawn. We chose to keep the décor simple with a mixture of round tables along with some farm tables. We chose chairs in a natural finish to keep the overall look somewhat rustic casual. We kept our color palette neutral as well, with a combination of blush and navy. Our tables were accented with blush vintage glasses and lavender sprigs. The floral arrangements, which tied everything together, were spectacular. Our florist, Emily Bentley of Shotgun Floral, did an amazing job of capturing my vision. She used a mixture of dahlias, ranunculus, garden roses, black eyed susans, and lavender in vintage gold vases, keeping a very natural, but elegant look.
After dinner, we moved into the historic barrel room on the Villagio property for dancing. Hundreds of candles lined the exposed brick perimeter, creating a very romantic feel. Our DJ, Chris DeBol of Boutique DJ’s did an excellent job and got everyone up on their feet dancing the night away.
Our wedding was even better than we could have ever imagined and when we look back on our
wedding day, we feel completely blessed. We are thankful for all of our friends and family who made the day as special and unforgettable as it was and for the amazing team of vendors that turned our dreams into reality. From our photographer, Emily Blake, who did a fabulous job capturing our memories to our calligrapher, Anne Robin who absolutely outdid herself on the invitation suite, escort cards, place cards, menus and welcome signs.
We are thankful for Gillian Shenon, a very talented wedding planner and organizer. She guided us through the process, helping us with everything from venue selection to choosing napkin colors. She made sure every detail was perfect. Everything about our wedding was unforgettable. It was beyond what we ever could have imagined.
Photography: Emily Blake Photography | Coordination: Gillian Shenon | Floral Design: Shotgun Floral Studio | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Bouchon Bakery | Invitations: Anne Robin | DJ: Boutique DJs | Hair And Make-up: Ramee Hurwitz | Location: Villagio Inn And Spa | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Table Numbers : Kristin Clark Designs