Molly and Ross’ wedding took place amongst the beautiful vineyards of Napa Valley, California, but at heart, it was a southern affair. The bride—originally from Bunkie, Louisiana—aimed to make sure to honor southern traditions throughout and kicked off the theme with a Second Line, with a brass band leading the choir and guests from the Mont La Salle Chapel into the reception space at Christian Brothers Retreat to kick off the celebration. Classic details planned by Cole Drake Events like romantic florals in white by Jeanne Eckard, a 28-person elegant bridal party and a beautiful family-style dinner under bistro lights added to the Southern-meets-Napa vibe. Lucky for us, Janine Licare Photography was on hand to capture it all in these stunning, sun-strewn images.
What made the wedding special and unique?
As Molly said, we wanted the wedding to be “a mix between of our two lives so everyone could see a little of Louisiana while in Napa.”
What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?
Molly and Ross’ wedding took place amongst the beautiful vineyards of Napa Valley, California, but at heart, this wedding was as Southern as can be. Molly is originally from Bunkie, Louisiana, so it was important to her that southern traditions make into their wedding day. Between their unique take on a Second Line, the church choir, the large bridal party (28 including the bride and groom!), and Molly’s bridals, this wedding was full of Southern touches.
Another special touch was their Signature Cocktail – The Salty Butter Dog (an homage to their dog, Butter, who couldn’t be there). At the reception, instead of table numbers, the tables were named after cities that were meaningful to Molly and Ross, including Bunkie (where she’s from), San Francisco, Cottonport, and Rome, to name a few. The buttons on their cake mimicked the buttons on the back of her Antonio Gual wedding gown.
Because of fire hazards, sparklers typically aren’t allowed in Napa. Molly and Ross still wanted a Grand Exit from their reception, so they improvised and chose silver streamers as their alternative, which ended up being even more fun because they got so tangled in the streamers by the time they reached the middle of their exit, they couldn’t go any farther!
How Molly and Ross met (from Molly):
Ross and I met in Austin, Texas, in June eight years ago. In the summer it is so hot that the only place you can be is on Lake Austin on a boat with friends. As we were heading back in after a long day, I saw some of my friends on another boat waving at me to join them. So I hopped out and swam to their boat (disclaimer: I am not a strong swimmer). When I got to my friends’ boat as we were docking, I noticed a nice looking man driving the truck to pick us up. We then all went to Maudie’s on the Lake and that nice looking man named Ross was sitting right next to me. We hit it off immediately and a few days later he asked me on our first official date at The Grove.
Photography: Janine Licare Photography // Planner: Cole Drake Events // Florals: Jeanne Eckard // Stationery: Paper N’ Things // Wedding Venue: Christian Brothers Retreat and Mont La Salle Chapel // Getting ready location: Silverado Resort // Cake: Elegant Cheesecakes // Hair and Makeup: Flower and Gold // Dress: Antonio Gual // Bridal Salon: I Do Bridal Couture // Shoes: Viajiyu // Grooms Attire: Dolce and Gabanna // Linens: La Tavola // Bridesmaids dresses: Monique Lhuillier // Band: Wine Country Entertainment