For these two fine gentlemen, an elegant yet masculine soiree was to be had at the Carneros Resort in Napa, planned by their best friend wedding planner, Lindsey Boyce of Host & Haven! With subtle hints of blues, tans and warm whites, from linens by La Tavola to florals by La Fleuriste, the picture-perfect Summer day captured by Megan Clouse was everything Matt and Brooks dreamed of with their closest friends and family by their side! Take a look below and be sure to check out the full gallery here!
From the Couple…Matt and Brooks were set up by a mutual friend, Jon, who Brooks met shortly after moving to New York City. The two would often meet for lunch to catch up, talk about the TV news business, and plot their next career moves. Jon landed at CNN a few years after (no thanks to lunch plotting, actually) and, there, he met Matt. Matt was a broadcast news guy who’d recently joined the cable news network. It’s unclear exactly why but for one reason or another Jon pulled together a list of potential first dates for Matt. Matt carefully reviewed the list, vetting most of the names using Facebook. ‘Brooks Lancaster’ piqued Matt’s interest and cleared Facebook vetting so Jon made an e-mail introduction. Matt and Brooks emailed for a few weeks before meeting up but eventually did share pasta, wine, and a lot of laughs at a small Italian restaurant in New York City called Gallo Nero.
They dated for the next 5 or so years getting to know one another, traveling, spending time with each other’s families, eventually moving in together, and then on November 16, 2017, Matt surprised Brooks in Paris and asked Brooks to marry him. Brooks was there with one of his best friends, Liam, and while Brooks never saw it coming, Liam and Matt had been orchestrating the surprise all along. Matt and Brooks had spent some time in Paris a few years earlier and fell in love with the city, and with one another. Lindsey, a former co-worker turned good friend texted Brooks the next day: “Freaking out. I love you so much. Congratulations! I’m planning this wedding so don’t even argue with me.” Lindsey had followed her wedding planning passion to Charleston, SC a few years before, had just opened her own business, Host & Haven. Naturally, no argument was made and so the next year and a half following the engagement was spent planning the big day with Lindsey. Matt and Brooks were married in Napa, CA on June 9, 2019, surrounded just shy of 100 of their closest friends and family.
From Lindsey Boyce, Host & Haven…For Matt and Brooks, we wanted a day that felt tailored, curated, and airy. We kept the hues of the day to warm white, dark olive greens, limestone, and Wedgwood blue. The ceremony took place in a garden on the Carneros property on a clear, blue day in June with their closest family and friends. We selected a bright, white chair to pop against the greenery along with a pair of lush floor arrangements at the base of the aisle. The front of the altar was adorned with a growing rose bush to frame out the rolling wine country hills in the background. A local guitarist, Justin Diaz, played a mix of Motown classics and current pop music during the pre-ceremony. To combat the warmer temperatures, we also offered gusts parasols and fruit-infused refreshments upon arrival. The ceremony was heartfelt and included close friends and family members who shared personal stories about Matt and Brooks. A best friend of the couple, Allison Grace, became a minister to officiate the ceremony.
Once the marriage was sealed with a kiss, the newlyweds and guests were greeted with bubbles and a short walk to the reception on top of the hill. Cocktail hour included Wedgewood blue linens and soft floral on the tables along with passed wine and hors d’oeuvres. Just as the sun began to set, the gentlemen made their way to the dance floor for a first dance. For the reception design, we chose a sleek opaque ivory charger and layered the menu card and place card on top. The place card was creatively wrapped around the silverware to keep it in place during Carneros’ summer breeze. We chose La Tavola Tuscany Fine Linens in limestone for a subtle color change and all the tables were adorned with beautiful floral by La Fleuriste. The centerpieces included lush peonies, garden roses, ranunculus, hellebore, and soft berries. The elegant but masculine design was the perfect way to represent the couple. Guests dined under a canopy of trees and twinkle lights with a three-course meal before dancing the night away. The cake was a delicious multitier masterpiece with mixed flavored tiers including a chocolate stout tier and Meyer lemon curd tier. They left the reception under paper airplanes, which was a tribute to their love of travel, aviation, and new experiences ahead.
Photography: Megan Clouse Photography | Design: Lindsey Boyce Design | Floral Design: La Fleuriste | Cake: Cake Bloom | Stationery: Prairie & Sage | Reception Venue: Carneros Resort and Spa | Shoes: Stubbs And Wootton | DJ: California Mobile DJ | Groom's Attire: Todd Synder | Ceremony Music : Wine Country Entertainment | Catering & Bar : Carneros Resort and Spa | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Bright Event Rentals