As a wedding planner herself, this Bride knew exactly what she wanted for her own wedding day. She planned a casual, al fresco fête with the help of her team at Sip and Twirl – think a mix of round and rectangular farmhouse style tables bedecked in romantic La Tavola linens and topped with fresh arrangements by Fiori Floral Design, all aglow under the Sonoma sun. Luckily for us, Dawn Heumann Weddings captured the day and is sharing it all right here!
From the Bride… When I thought about my wedding day, the key word for me was “simplicity”. I wanted to keep the focus on the natural beauty that the venue and its surroundings had to offer. In my mind, there was no need to go overboard on any of the design elements since the breathtaking vineyard view and dreamy Redwood grove spoke for themselves. Being a wedding planner in Scottsdale, Arizona, I have seen a variety of weddings and was able to pick and choose things that I have seen work well (and leave out elements that I feel haven’t worked the best). For example, we chose to forego a cake altogether and instead have a dessert bar where guests could pick and choose bite sized desserts intermittently during dancing. We also decided to have a pseudo “wedding party” who were very much involved in festivities leading up to our wedding and got ready with us on wedding morning, but only my sister and Shane’s brother stood up with us during the ceremony.
It was an interesting experience for me to go through the planning process as a Bride instead of a planner and to truly see things from the eyes of my clients. No matter what type of wedding you are having, there are always things that are thrown your way! The last month before the wedding is stressful because not only are you finalizing everything with your vendors, but you are also receiving last minute RSVPs and answering questions from guests. If you are able to put things in perspective and remember the ultimate meaning and reason behind your wedding day, I think that helps a lot in staying calm and collected. I can now speak to my clients from a Brides’ perspective, and I think that has given me a stronger connection to each couple that I work with. The day goes by in a flash, and it’s so important to soak up every moment and be as present as possible.
Photography: Dawn Heumann Photography | Event Planning: Sip And Twirl | Floral Design: Fiori Floral Design | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Catering: Trends Catering | DJ: AMS Entertainment SLO | Groom's Attire: Celebrity Tux And Tails | Venue: Vine Hill House | Photo Booth: Flying Camera | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola