There’s a reason California is such a hot spot for celebrations – they’re always absolutely glowing. And these pics by Christine Sargologos, with assistance by Kayla Fletcher, are no exception. Bursting with beauty (Huckleberry Karen Designs’ creations have me in awe) and full of romance (just look at these two!), today is going to be well spent in our VAULT, soaking up every sun-drenched snap right here!
From Christine Sargologos Photography… I always feel lucky when a couple invites me in to shoot their wedding. It’s even more special when they are your friends, and your bride has impeccable taste. In the last two years I’ve gotten to know Crystalin from her style blog, Crystalinmarie.com. In that time we’ve shot together countless times, even roping Mike in for a few shoots here and there. Together they are sweet, goofy and just happy. I was elated when they got engaged, even more excited when we shot their engagement photos, and was teary and smiling throughout their wedding day.
Their relaxed, elegant wedding suited them perfectly and was gorgeously put together by Alison of Engaged and Inspired. Dahlias and roses in the slightest shades of pink dressed the tables, and cafe lights hung over the dinner and dance floor. Minimal, feminine and timeless bridesmaid dresses in a variety of styles and handsome J.Crew suites made the wedding party stand out without being too fussy. Lawn games kept guests busy, as others watched from the garden lounge. All together, this was one of the most thoughtful and classically beautiful weddings I’ve shot this year, and I feel so lucky.
From the Bride… Before the planning process started, my vision for our wedding was something simple and casual yet beautiful and memorable. I also knew I wanted to be dancing the night away under market lights.
Seeing as though we wanted to get married outdoors in a laid back setting, we knew a winery would be the perfect venue. Once we found the venue, everything else fell into place. The color palette I had originally envisioned was reaffirmed after walking the grounds of Wente Vineyards. I knew the white, beige, blush, and gold would look beautiful against all the greenery and really reflect the whole California summer wedding vibe we were going for. We kept the decor simple to let the little details shine and really embraced the beauty of venue. As I look back on my inspiration board, I can truly say, our vision came to life. I can’t thank our coordinator, Allison, enough for really understanding us and making the best day of our life truly magical.
We worked with a girlfriend who also happens to be a designer at Meghann Miniello on all our stationery, signs, and paper goods. We came up with a custom logo and added different variations of it to everything to really bring cohesiveness to our wedding. My husband and I also thought we could DIY everything and then halfway through planning realized it wasn’t possible. We ended up only DIYing the Ladder Golf, which came out amazing!
It’s hard to choose a favorite moment, but the first look and sunset photos were pretty special. It was two parts of the day where Mike and I were alone and could really talk about how surreal the day felt and how amazing it was to have all our loved ones there to celebrate us. I had a vision for the draped arbor, but I hadn’t seen a mockup or anything. When I was walking down the aisle, I was in shock with how beautiful the ceremony looked and how stunning thearbor looked with the drapes and garland. That came together beautifully!
Going into dress shopping, I knew exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a dress that wasn’t overly feminine, didn’t overwhelm my petite frame, but classic and something I could look back on and still love. Prior to getting engaged I had always gravitated toward more simple dresses. Although I knew what I wanted, I did try on all different styles to make sure I didn’t love another silhouette. When it came time to say yes to the dress, I went with my gut and chose a strapless, lace, sheath dress from the Monique Lhuillier Bliss Collection.
The flowers were one of my favorite parts about our wedding. I struggled with explaining my exact vision for the bouquets and centerpieces, and after I don’t know how many emails, Karen and her team did an incredible job. The bouquets were airy, neutral, and laid back and really reflected the style of our wedding. Everything turned out exactly how I envisioned!
The bridesmaid dresses were one of the hardest parts of the planning process, but one that paid off. Finding different dresses in the right color scheme at affordable prices was tough and took me up until the last couple of months before the wedding. Seeing all the dresses laid out on your floor is one thing, but to have all the girls actually wearing their dresses together is another. I hadn’t seen all the girls in their dresses until the day of the wedding. Talk about trust!
With so many other beautiful details of the wedding, it’s quite shocking that the groomsmen suits were one of my favorite details. Mike was adamant on having fitted suits, so we knew renting wasn’t an option. We worked hard on finding the perfect suits to match Mike’s chambray suit at the perfect price. There were a couple hiccups during the process, but it all worked out for the best and the guys looked sharp!
One piece of advice I would share is this: find the most awesome vendors including a bad ass wedding coordinator. Lean on them as much as you can so that you can fully enjoy your day.
Photography: Christine Sargologos Photography | Videography: Frame 44 | Event Design: engaged & inspired | Floral Design: Petite Petal | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Stationery: Meghann Miniello | Bride's Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids' Dresses: ASOS | Makeup: Priscilla Francine Makeup | Hair: Nora Artistry | DJ: Sound Productions | Bow Tie: Make My Day | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Venue: Wente Vineyards | Earrings: Sweet & Spark | Groom's Shoes: Cole Haan | Groom's Watch: Oris Watches | Photography - Assistance: Kayla F Photography | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals