A Sweet Summertime Soirée at Silverado Napa

Linde wanted a laidback but romantic setting and the outdoor space at Silverado was the perfect backdrop. Rose & Olive's whimsical garden style florals were a compliment to beautiful wine country. The punchy colors of summer combined with seasonal texture and foliage brought a modern touch to the garden setting.

Our proposal was very quiet and private, exactly how I’ve always wanted it! He proposed in our apartment in San Francisco with just the two of us and our dog. We had reservations to go out to an Italian dinner that night, but we decided to cancel and order pizza and drink wine. We spent the rest of the night dancing and singing to music videos! It was perfect.

I knew I wanted something simple and classic. I started following different designers on Instagram and was always a fan of Alyssa Kristin. I went to a couple different bridal shops before finding Unveiled Bridal in San Francisco, and it was the best experience I could have asked for. It is a small shop, so I was the only bride in the room. It was very intimate and the owners are sisters, which is always a plus! They were so helpful and patient with me when I couldn’t make up my mind and made me feel comfortable throughout the entire process. They carry Alyssa Kristin dresses, so I was able to try on the ones I had been eyeing and fell in love with the fabric and the support. It only needed a couple of alterations and fit like a glove on the wedding day. I felt comfortable and confident the entire night!

Choosing the bridesmaids dresses was one of the hardest parts of planning for me. I had to choose a dress that 7 of my best friends with completely different body types would feel comfortable in. I decided to go with different style dresses in the same color and brand. I chose BHLDN dresses in the color Oyster. I also liked that the dresses could be exchanged if it wasn’t a good fit. Every girl looked amazing!

The chef at Silverado was amazing and added a flower to each dish, which added a personal and pretty touch. We had an open bar with 2 signature drinks, a mango margarita (my favorite) and an elderflower gin and tonic (my husband’s favorite).

The florals were created by my best friend and bridesmaid, Rose and Olive Design. She had two tough jobs that day! I was so honored that she wanted to be part of my big day in two ways. She did an absolutely amazing job, and the florals were my favorite part of the decor. I chose everything else based on the floral color palette and wanted some fun color throughout. My wedding planner, Courtney, (who is also a friend!) helped me choose rentals and decor and walked me through every detail I needed for the day. I could not have survived the wedding planning process without her! Every vendor we used could not have been more perfect for us.

The cake we chose was the same cake from the same bakery used at my parent’s wedding 37 years ago, a vanilla cake with raspberry filling. The toppers we used were handmade in Germany from my grandparent’s wedding 65 years ago. They were also used at my parent’s wedding and my brother’s wedding.

The most special detail for me were the guests that attended. We originally wanted to keep the day small, but we could not decide where to draw the line, so we ended up inviting everyone we love! It is the one time you get to throw yourself a party with your entire family and friends, and we don’t regret a big invite list at all.

Another special detail were all the items and traditions that were passed down from previous generations of the family. My husband’s wedding band was his grandfather’s and my wedding band was my grandmother’s. I also wore my other grandmother’s wedding band on my right hand. The glass box that held the rings was my late aunt’s, the champagne flutes we used to toast were a homage to Paul’s grandmother, and the cake toppers were used at my grandparent’s wedding in Germany 65 years ago!

Lastly, writing our own vows had to be the most memorable part of the day. I have a fear of public speaking and did not want to write my own vows, but my husband was adamant that we do. It ended up being the easiest and most fun part of the ceremony!