Callie and Kyle spent their second date celebrating the 4th of July holiday in Napa, and when it came time for a proposal, Kyle decided the destination was a perfect spot to pop the question, so naturally, it made perfect sense for their wedding to take place in the same gorgeous valley! The pair hails from Texas, so their destination wedding Beaulieu Gardens was an extra special affair that brought their nearest and dearest to a place that held so much sentimental value! We’re absolutely enamored with the gorgeous details pulled together by Event Planner, Shannon Leahy along with florals by Kathleen Deery Design. Very special thanks to photographer Jennifer Lindberg who was on hand to capture these gorgeous images!
What made the wedding special and unique?
Without a doubt, the venue made our wedding so special and unique. Beaulieu Garden is a magical place. From the dramatic entrance through the tree lined road to the ceremony in the garden to the dinner under the arbor lit with twinkle lights, it was all so beautiful. Napa is a special place for us and to have the wedding in Napa at such a spectacular place was more than I could have asked for.
Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!
I found my beautiful Ines di Santo dress with a bit of luck and lots of searching! One Saturday, my mother, my sister and I visited three or four different shops. I had no idea what I wanted so I tried on lots of dresses. By the end of the day, I thought I knew which dress I wanted. The bridal shop (which has since closed) agreed to open the store on Sunday so that I could try it on again one last time before it was packed up and sent back with the trunk show. When my mom and I walked in, I spotted this gorgeous dress out of the corner of my eye that I had not seen the day before. When I tried it on, I knew it was “the one” because it was the first and only one that made me truly smile. After the wedding, one of our friends came up to me and said “My wife makes me watch Say Yes to the Dress every weekend and this dress blows all of those dresses away!”, so it was clearly the right choice!
What were some touches added to make it personal?
Kyle and I love food and wine, so we made sure to incorporate our favorite things to eat and drink. For the cocktail hour, we had Moscow Mules, Kyle’s favorite drink, in copper mugs. For dinner, we served our guests a beautiful beet salad and delicious roasted chicken, two of my favorite things. Instead of a groom’s cake, we had profiteroles with ice cream and sorbet and a choice of sauces, Kyle’s favorite dessert. It all felt like us. We were so lucky to have worked with Paula Le Duc and her team who went above and beyond our expectations.
What was the most memorable part of the day?
The most memorable part of the day was the very beginning of the ceremony. I walked in with my mom, gave her a hug goodbye and then walked by myself for a few steps. I stopped so that Kyle could join me and we could walk together towards the steps where the ceremony took place. He walked towards me with the biggest smile on his face and when he got to me, he said “Wow!” I loved that I got to share those moments with my mom and that Kyle and I took those last steps together as a team.
Tell us how you met and became engaged.
Kyle and I knew each other in college and shared mutual friends. Many years later, Kyle was visiting friends in Houston and we ran into each other at a Kentucky Derby party. I loved catching up with him and thought maybe something more was there, so the next time I was in Dallas, I asked him out for a drink. I had a great time that night and Kyle must have thought so too because two weeks later, he asked me to spend July 4th with him in Napa! It was an amazing trip and clearly the best second date of my life! Everything seemed so easy and natural as if we had been dating for years. From there, we dated long distance between Houston and Dallas for four years. For my birthday in January, Kyle and I returned to Napa for a long weekend. I thought maybe we would get engaged, but I was so happy to go on the trip and spend time together that I really didn’t think about it much. On Saturday afternoon, we visited a winery called Constant located on Diamond Mountain (wink wink). It was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. The owner of the winery poured us a couple of glasses of wine and then casually left us alone. After a bit of prodding on Kyle’s part, we walked outside to enjoy the view. I heard Kyle say my name behind me and when I turned around, he was on one knee and asked “Will you marry me?” I was so happy and surprised and of course said Yes! We celebrated that night at the French Laundry. It was so special to get engaged and then married in Napa, the place where it all began.
Vendors: Photography: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings // Event Planner: Shannon Leahy // Venue: Beaulieu Gardens // Caterer: Paula LeDuc // Invitations: Toast and Laurel // Hair & Makeup: Sarah Hyde // Band: Wonderbread 5 // Ceremony/Cocktail Music: Starlite Strings // Cake: Perfect Endings // Officiant: Father Carpenter // Flowers: Kathleen Deery Design // Transportation: Pure Luxury // Getaway Car: Classic Convertible Wine Tours