Elegant Summer Winery Wedding
It all started when she was eight. The planning, the dreaming, the (eventual) pinning... it was all weddings, all the time for this beautiful bride. So when it came time to put together the real thing, she was an inspiration board just waiting to happen... and her sweet beau? Happily along for the ride. Think elegant + fun-filled details all captured beautifully by Brooke Beasley. Fall in love in THE VAULT.
From the Bride... It was around the age of eight years old that I really started planning my wedding. Instead of "Babysitter Club" books, I was borrowing wedding magazines from the local library and tabbing ideas that fit my dream wedding vision. I've seen every episode of every wedding-themed reality TV show and even had a Wedding Pinterest board well before I was engaged. It goes without saying that I was obsessed with anything wedding!
In early 2008, while attending California Polytechnic State University in beautiful San Luis Obispo, some friends introduced me to Aria. We had many mutual friends since we were both involved with the Greek system and started our relationship with sushi dates, hiking adventures, and lots of laughter. After five years of dating (three of which were were long distance), Aria and I finally settled in the San Francisco Bay Area together and we were engaged within a few months. The evening he proposed was a complete dream come true and the surprise dinner he planned with our families from out of town was a memory I'll never forget! We even have the menu, signed by all our family members, framed on our wall today!
Being a fiancée was a title I was so excited to hold! I began planning the details of our wedding shortly after our engagement, but surprisingly found it so much more difficult than I thought. Because I had been exposed to SO much wedding inspiration for years of my life, I had quite a hard time making decisions! With the help of my decisive husband-to-be, and my incredibly organized mother, I started making specific decisions about a year into planning. Thankfully, my sweet fiancé learned to say "Yes, dear" to my many ideas and projects!
First, we toured about 20 venues all over California! As a school teacher, I knew I wanted to get married in the summer because I had the time off work. I was hunting for an outdoor venue, with Spanish or Mediterranean influences. Once we stumbled upon some photos of the Martinelli Event Center and Garré Winery, which happen to be taken by the extremely talented wedding photographer Brooke Beasley, we knew we had found our perfect venue! After that, the flowers, food, and other vendors just fell into place. I was so in love with Brooke Beasley's photography style and after a short phone call with her, I instantly knew she was the photographer for us! It was like chatting with a friend you had know for years, so I knew Brooke would help us feel confident and comfortable, while capturing the look we were hoping for. I also tried on 57 wedding dresses before finding the perfect balance of fitted, flared, and sparkle!
For inspiration, I researched other winery weddings on Style Me Pretty and knew I wanted a romantic and refreshing feel for all our guests. I was hoping our wedding would look timeless, but also wanted to add a few fun and modern twists! I'm a sucker for all things with sparkle, so I used bold, navy stripes, bows, and gold to add a touch of Kate Spade-inspired flair. We also knew we wanted to treat our guests to handmade ice cream sandwiches to enjoy as a late night snack on that warm, summer evening.
When the big day finally arrived, I was honored and humbled by the amazing work of our vendors and my incredible mother who served as the world's BEST unofficial wedding planner. After spending many years planning the wedding in my own head, it was remarkable to see every detail come together in real life! It was overwhelmingly special to walk down the aisle, surrounded by so many friends and family from different parts of our life. I will always remember the look in my husband's eyes as we held hands at the altar and exchanged personalized vows. During our first dance together, it felt like there was no one else in the world but him and me. The whole day was a complete dream and the best celebration I have ever been a part of! Every day since our wedding has been a great reminder of how lucky I am to be surrounded by such supportive family and friends and to committed to the love of my life!
In early 2008, while attending California Polytechnic State University in beautiful San Luis Obispo, some friends introduced me to Aria. We had many mutual friends since we were both involved with the Greek system and started our relationship with sushi dates, hiking adventures, and lots of laughter. After five years of dating (three of which were were long distance), Aria and I finally settled in the San Francisco Bay Area together and we were engaged within a few months. The evening he proposed was a complete dream come true and the surprise dinner he planned with our families from out of town was a memory I'll never forget! We even have the menu, signed by all our family members, framed on our wall today!
Being a fiancée was a title I was so excited to hold! I began planning the details of our wedding shortly after our engagement, but surprisingly found it so much more difficult than I thought. Because I had been exposed to SO much wedding inspiration for years of my life, I had quite a hard time making decisions! With the help of my decisive husband-to-be, and my incredibly organized mother, I started making specific decisions about a year into planning. Thankfully, my sweet fiancé learned to say "Yes, dear" to my many ideas and projects!
First, we toured about 20 venues all over California! As a school teacher, I knew I wanted to get married in the summer because I had the time off work. I was hunting for an outdoor venue, with Spanish or Mediterranean influences. Once we stumbled upon some photos of the Martinelli Event Center and Garré Winery, which happen to be taken by the extremely talented wedding photographer Brooke Beasley, we knew we had found our perfect venue! After that, the flowers, food, and other vendors just fell into place. I was so in love with Brooke Beasley's photography style and after a short phone call with her, I instantly knew she was the photographer for us! It was like chatting with a friend you had know for years, so I knew Brooke would help us feel confident and comfortable, while capturing the look we were hoping for. I also tried on 57 wedding dresses before finding the perfect balance of fitted, flared, and sparkle!
For inspiration, I researched other winery weddings on Style Me Pretty and knew I wanted a romantic and refreshing feel for all our guests. I was hoping our wedding would look timeless, but also wanted to add a few fun and modern twists! I'm a sucker for all things with sparkle, so I used bold, navy stripes, bows, and gold to add a touch of Kate Spade-inspired flair. We also knew we wanted to treat our guests to handmade ice cream sandwiches to enjoy as a late night snack on that warm, summer evening.
When the big day finally arrived, I was honored and humbled by the amazing work of our vendors and my incredible mother who served as the world's BEST unofficial wedding planner. After spending many years planning the wedding in my own head, it was remarkable to see every detail come together in real life! It was overwhelmingly special to walk down the aisle, surrounded by so many friends and family from different parts of our life. I will always remember the look in my husband's eyes as we held hands at the altar and exchanged personalized vows. During our first dance together, it felt like there was no one else in the world but him and me. The whole day was a complete dream and the best celebration I have ever been a part of! Every day since our wedding has been a great reminder of how lucky I am to be surrounded by such supportive family and friends and to committed to the love of my life!
