A Timeless California Wedding in Carmel Valley at Bernardus Lodge

Lauren Megerdichian
August 6, 2024
Categories: Real Weddings, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

[section title=”The Planning”]

[field title=”Wedding Colors”]White and shades of green [/field]

[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]From the bride:

From the beginning, I wanted something elegant that felt upscale but comfortable – very California chic. I love green (as does Isaac) and it felt minimal and classic without going for a more stark and trendy black and white, or opting for a color that would stand out more. Working with Hudson Paperie to put together our custom stationery was a highlight, and it really helped set the tone and form the design for everything else. Bernardus is already beautiful and has a gorgeous backdrop, so playing into the garden theme felt just right. The rentals from Theoni really aided the European look, with our antique bar and hutch setups for cocktail hour, as well as the mix of traditional and modern pieces I chose for the lounge setups. The florals from Gavita Flora were absolutely perfect. The creams/whites and greenery played off the surroundings and our décor to really pull it all together. [/field]

[field title=”Proposal Story”]From the bride:

Our proposal was one of the most incredible days we’ve ever shared – and such a wonderful surprise! We had brought some friends to visit my family for the weekend and planned to show them around Santa Clara University, where we met and fell in love. Unbeknownst to me, Isaac had other plans for our visit. As we parked and started walking, I noticed he was acting a little nervous. We walked into the Mission Gardens, a favorite spot on campus known for its beautiful rose bushes, and I saw scattered rose petals under the gazebo.

In that moment, I realized what was happening. Isaac knelt down and popped the question! Overjoyed, I immediately said yes. It was the sweetest proposal, bringing us back to where we met, became friends, and fell in love. I was reeling, still processing it all, and ecstatic to be engaged! Isaac had arranged for a photographer to capture the moment, and then we took more photos around the campus.

We had plans to meet up with my family for dinner, but I was so excited and wanted to call and tell my friends and family right away! Isaac convinced me to enjoy the moment and call everyone later that evening after dinner. I agreed – but I had no idea what was in store for us.

When we got to the restaurant, we were taken to a private room, and the doors opened to reveal all of our family and closest friends waiting for us! It was the biggest surprise (after the proposal, of course) and I was absolutely shocked to see so many friends and family who had flown in to celebrate with us. We had the most incredible night with our loved ones, creating one of my favorite memories together. I couldn’t have asked for anything better – it was perfect!

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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

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[section title=”The Fashion”]

[field title=”Wedding Gown”]From the bride:

I absolutely loved my wedding dress. As a little girl, I had always imagined my fairytale wedding, and when I put on the dress I chose, it felt like that vision had come to life. The gorgeous Monique Lhuillier dress immediately caught my eye at Bridal Galleria in San Francisco. The lace design and subtle sparkle captivated me as the light hit it just right. The pattern was perfect for our outdoor, European-inspired vineyard wedding, and I could vividly picture the train trailing behind me as I walked down the rose garden aisle at our venue. I knew I had to try it on.

I loved how the dress looked on me, but I wasn’t initially sure it was the one. I was torn between it and another Monique Lhuillier design. However, its effortless, light skirt and intricate details felt more “me” than the other, which featured more structured lace. As I stood there, the consultant mentioned a matching long-sleeve piece that could be added and removed, which immediately piqued my interest. I had been considering different looks for the ceremony and reception, and loved the idea of transforming my dress without needing an entirely different outfit for the reception.

We returned a second time so I could try the dress with a jacket borrowed from the designer. As soon as I put it on with the jacket, I knew it was perfect. It was the ideal mix of elegant, sophisticated, soft, and feminine that I had been looking for. Nora at Noliza Wedding Gown Alterations in San Francisco tailored the dress to fit me perfectly, and it was a dream to wear on my wedding day. I completed the look with beautiful white pointed-toe pumps from Jimmy Choo.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]From the bride:

The bridesmaid dresses were from BHLDN by Anthropologie, and I absolutely loved their deep olive-green color and elegant silhouette. The green perfectly matched our wedding colors of white and green, creating a timeless look. I thought the color and style would look beautiful on all my bridesmaids, and they did! Everyone looked stunning, and I’m thrilled with how the dresses paired with the groomsmen’s tuxes for a cohesive, classic look.[/field]

[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]

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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

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[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

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[section title=”The Details”]

[field title=”Food & Drink”]From the bride:

Isaac and I had so much fun choosing our signature cocktails. One of Isaac’s long-time favorites is a Gold Rush, which inspired his “Golden Hour” cocktail. The bourbon, honey, and lemon are some of his favorite flavors, so it was only fitting that his signature drink on our wedding day featured all three!

My signature cocktail, which we named “Strawberry Love,” took a bit more time to perfect. I wanted something summery, fresh, and easy to drink for our late June wedding—something that reflected what I love. My dad, a great home mixologist, helped us brainstorm ideas one evening, and we landed on a sophisticated strawberry daiquiri-inspired drink. It was perfect for me, as I love strawberries and have been visiting Kauai with my family for many years (we even went to Kauai for part of our honeymoon!). Including Koloa Rum from Kauai added a wonderful personal touch.

The drink turned out wonderfully and provided a beautiful contrast to Isaac’s signature cocktail – and both were delicious!

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]From the bride:

From the beginning, I wanted something elegant that felt upscale but comfortable – very California chic. I love green (as does Isaac) and it felt minimal and classic without going for a more stark and trendy black and white, or opting for a color that would stand out more. Working with Hudson Paperie to put together our custom stationery was a highlight, and it really helped set the tone and form the design for everything else. Bernardus is already beautiful and has a gorgeous backdrop, so playing into the garden theme felt just right. The rentals from Theoni really aided the European look, with our antique bar and hutch setups for cocktail hour, as well as the mix of traditional and modern pieces I chose for the lounge setups. The florals from Gavita Flora were absolutely perfect. The creams/whites and greenery played off the surroundings and our décor to really pull it all together. [/field]

[field title=”Wedding Cake”]From the bride:

Tart + Tin created the wedding cake of our dreams. The design was simple, elegant, and beautiful, with smooth white icing and fresh florals cascading diagonally down the side of the three tiers. Alexis decorated the cake beautifully on our wedding day with blooms from our florist, Gavita Flora.

We opted for two flavors. The first was one of Tart + Tin’s spectacular signature flavors, Brown Butter-Salted Caramel. The other was a custom combination of Meyer Lemon and Brown Butter. The salted caramel cake was perfectly salty and toasty-sweet, with a delicious richness from the brown butter-flecked frosting. We knew this flavor would be a crowd pleaser! The custom flavor, which we sampled at our cake tasting, featured fresh Meyer lemon cake with a bright Meyer lemon curd that paired incredibly well with the nutty aroma of the brown butter frosting.

Both Isaac and I agreed that it is still the best cake we’ve ever had, wedding or otherwise! We’re so happy with how it turned out, both in flavor and design.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]From the bride:

Our First Dance song was “Love Like This” by Ben Rector. We both love Ben Rector, and this beautiful song perfectly captured our love in such a sweet and meaningful way. For my walk down the aisle, I chose “Turning Page” by Sleeping At Last. It’s a stunning piece, and hearing it played by Sutro Strings, our fantastic string quartet, made the moment feel incredibly real and emotional.[/field]

[field title=”Special Detail #1″]From the bride:

My dad and stepmom, Pat, collect classic cars and were kind enough to let us use their beautiful 1955 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud as our getaway car. It sat out front of Bernardus throughout our wedding weekend, adding a touch of vintage charm to the festivities. Being driven off in it at the end of the night felt like a true fairytale ending and was so much fun![/field]

[field title=”Special Detail #2″]From the bride:

A special aspect of the wedding planning process was the custom stationery provided by Hudson Paperie. Working with Chelsey was a dream! I had always envisioned a cohesive stationery suite that matched from the save-the-dates to the day-of items like menus and place cards at our reception. This vision was brought to life with carefully selected colors, showcasing soft olive greens and creams that perfectly told the color story of our wedding. Everything turned out beautifully and tied our event together in a way that was incredibly meaningful to me.[/field]

[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]

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[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]

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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

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