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Real Weddings:

Brigit and TJ’s wedding at Calistoga Ranch

featuring Lauren and Abby Photography

Brigit and TJ worked with Grey Collective member and planner-extraordinaire Callista & Company to personalize every detail for their modern yet whimsical Calistoga Ranch wedding. Studio Mondine‘s dreamy rose-filled florals stunned while guests took home custom labeled wine bottles placed in personalized bags, and the bride designed and printed each component of the wedding stationery. Brigit’s Monique Lhuillier dress was a dream against the rustic elegance of the redwood forests. Lucky for us, Lauren and Abby Photography was on hand to capture it all in these gorgeous film photographs.

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From the bride: We ultimately envisioned our wedding as a stylish yet relaxed affair, paying homage to our Chinese heritage, but with our own minimal and modern aesthetic. We poured our hearts into caring for our guests and the details that made our wedding personal.

We chose beautiful Calistoga Ranch in Napa as the venue for our wedding celebration and the evening began on the ranch’s meadow, nestled between pristine trees and a creek and with an autumn sunset making us feel like part of some serene painting. TJ and I love to spend weekends hiking in the majestic California redwood forests, so starting our evening on the meadow was our way of sharing this aspect of ourselves.

Lush flowers by Studio Mondine complemented the venue’s natural beauty and our signature drink added a splash of pink romance to the table. The invitation suites and other event details were also designed to be cohesive with our modern yet romantic theme. I used the classic Bodoni as the guiding elements and subtle smoke texture to add the whimsical feel across all design.

Planning & Design: Callista & Company // Event Design: Brigit.KH.Studio // Photography: Lauren and Abby Photography // Floral Design: Studio Mondine // Venue & Catering: Calistoga Ranch // Design: Brigit.KH.Studio // Cake: Branching Out Cakes // Dress: Monique Lhuillier // Shuttles: Napa Valley Tours and Transportation // Rentals: Encore Events Rentals // Entertainment: Entire Productions // Hair & Make Up: Kenny Duy / Fellini Salon

 

 

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Real Weddings:

Amy and Jeff’s wedding at Holman Ranch

photography by Carlie Statsky

When Amy and Jeff imagined their wedding they, they “We envisioned a place where we could bond the families, where we felt on top of the world and at peace all at the same time.” Holman Ranch was the perfect venue situated atop rolling hills with view that rival Tuscany.  Planned by Engaged & Inspired , the color palette was kept to minimal with standout details adding interest, like robust white bouquets by Gavita Flora, and a gigantic white rose wreath by Blair Dugan Floral Design, striped table napkins with custom silk and calligraphy bands, and metallic calligraphy on geodes for table numbers. We’re loving all the perfectly executed details and Carlie Statsky was behind the lens to capture all the beautiful images of the day.

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Since Jeff and I are both the last in our families to get married, we wanted to throw a timeless event for the memory books. Weddings traditionally are a union of two families, and we knew that. We envisioned a place where we could bond the families, where we felt on top of the world and at peace all at the same time. We wanted an over all experience from driving in to the town, staying all together, to an amazing party. We searched high and low for venues that would accomplish this. We thought we had found it until we drove into Holman Ranch; we were immediately speechless. It was quiet, stunning and represented both sides of our family so well. A Tuscan winery, sitting on top of rolling hills with a horse ranch onsite. Perfect.

We tried talking ourselves out of it, we even toured other sites to convince ourselves others would do. If you have been to Holman, you are one of the lucky few that know no site compares. Photos simply don’t do it justice.

After booking our wedding, the planning began. I have never been one of those girls who had all their wedding details planned out. I didn’t have to be for this venue; it would have stolen the show anyway, we just needed to accentuate it. We envisioned an affair that brought the family together, honored our Italian heritage and was simple yet took your breath away. That is exactly what our wedding turned out to be. The tables were something out of my Italian grandmother’s garden, the bar and band kept people dancing all night long, and the views of “Tuscany” kept everyone in a fantasy land. We loved every moment.

We took every opportunity to honor our families. Jeff wore his grandfathers’ pin, I wore my mother’s broaches (brought by my Grandpa in Italy) and a handkerchief my sister made on my bouquet, Jeff’s uncle officiated our union, and my grandfather stole the show with a beautiful speech. I am so thankful we had the opportunity to bring our families together on our special day.

When people ask me some of my highlights I obviously struggle since there were so many. I have noticed the ones that really stand out to me are the moments where things seemed to stand still for just a second. When I was sitting in the makeup chair watching the vendors pull the day together, imagining what Jeff was feeling, our private toast directly after the ceremony, when my sister helped me with my dress and gave me a big hug before I went to my first look, when BOTH my parents walked me down the isle and we shared a laugh, and when my grandfather delivered an amazing speech.

However, my absolute favorite moment was when we were introduced at dinner, the solid wood doors swung open, and we saw all of our friends and family in this beautiful courtyard. This moment literally took my breath away. This was the moment I realized that our family were all here bonding and celebrating, and we are now husband and wife. This is happening here and now, at this crazy beautiful event on a hilltop overlooking rolling vineyards below.

Photography: Carlie Statsky // Planning & Design: Engaged & Inspired // Floral Design: Gavita Flora // Giant Floral Wreath: Blair Dugan Floral Design // Paper Goods: Minted // Venue: Holman Ranch // Bride’s Shoes: Louboutin // Wedding Dress: Lihi Hod // Catering: Paradise Catering

 

Real Weddings:

Allison and Christian’s Charleston Wedding

Photography by Virgil Buano

Allison and Christian’s love for old world glitz and southern charm is apparent in every detail of their stunning Charleston nuptials designed by A Charleston Bride. Allison stunned in a crystal-encrusted and tulle Jenny Packham while the groom in his classic black tux was flanked by groomsmen in white dinner jackets and bow ties. Vows were said in a classic church ceremony at Grace Episcopal Church, followed by a reception kicked off with a cocktail hour in the garden of the Govenor Thomas Bennett House. Overhead string lights and a beautiful bar with a jazz ensemble captured the New Orleans flair of the groom’s heritage. Palmetto Bloom created romantic florals in soft white, and added impact with graphic rust palms set against luxe pink velvet accents throughout the lounge area. And, lucky for us, it’s all captured beautifully in these images by Virgil Buano.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

 The groom, Christian J. Leveque, is known as the master of surprises and always has tricks up his sleeve. From giving his bride-to-be, Allison, a pile of Legos she had to build into the Empire State Building before being whisked away for a birthday in NYC, to a surprise engagement in New Orleans where each candid moment was captured by a hidden photographer, to the unveiling of his surprise honeymoon plans to the Maldives and Dubai, this groom never disappoints.

Christian and Allison tied the knot on February 25, 2017 in Charleston, South Carolina. The joyous occasion started with a 4:00 pm ceremony at Grace Church Cathedral followed by a cocktail hour and reception at the Governor Thomas Bennett House. The night was capped off with an after party at The McKee’s. Lindsey Boyce of A Charleston Bride planned every detail of this amazing day to perfection. Virgil Bunao put his signature touch on the photography at the wedding, as well as an engagement shoot in downtown Charleston and bridal portraits at Lowndes Grove. Adam Siegel captured the event in motion, providing flawless video production. Betsy Weir of Lemontree Calligraphy & Illustration, a watercolor studio based in Melbourne, Australia, designed an original crest displaying the bride and groom’s heritage that was used throughout their wedding season, including save the dates and a gobo projection on the dance floor during the reception. Jonie LaRosee of Palmetto Bloom went above and beyond with her creative floral designs and bouquets for the special occasion.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

The bride chose two different looks for her big day, both of which were from White on Daniel Island. Allison’s first dress – designed by Jenny Packham and known as the Dixie – was vintage inspired and embellished with heavy crystals. For the reception Allison changed into a two-piece couture gown designed by Jodi Moylan, owner and designer at White. The talented Madison Hughes was the make-up artist and stylist that dolled up the entire wedding party. For Allison’s first look, Madison styled her hair down in soft elegant, romantic curls – then for the reception Madison created a beautiful up-do so she could dance the night away. The mother of the bride wore a blush Romona Keveza gown she discovered while wedding dress shopping with Allison in New York City from the bridal boutique Panache with the help of Elise Rosenblum.

Christian’s 13 leading men wore ivory dinner jackets from Berlin’s paired with midnight blue tuxedo pants and Ralph Lauren pocket squares, highlighting the groom’s love of southern staples with a contemporary twist. The groom wore a custom midnight blue tuxedo from Klein Epstein & Parker of Los Angeles, California. Christian chose to mark the occasion with a quote from Winston Churchill embroidered inside his jacket that was revealed to his bride during their first look, as well as a final touch of their wedding hashtag #Lev4ev under the jacket collar.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

The reception kicked off with a cocktail hour in the garden of the Thomas Bennett House. Overhead string lights and a beautiful bar with a jazz ensemble captured the New Orleans flare of the groom’s heritage. The couple’s love for old world glitz and southern charm was evident from their choreographed first dance that started with a classical tune and ended with the South Carolina state dance. Cru Catering outdid themselves with delicious southern dishes displaying both Louisiana and South Carolina Lowcountry cuisines. Guests indulged in these tasty entrees served in the secret garden during the reception. The wedding cake was designed by Jim Smeal, who drew inspiration from a floral dress design and crafted the perfect cake to represent the couple’s big day. The 8-piece Atlanta band, Mo’ Sol, brought the party to life as they performed an electric mix of Motown classics and modern hits.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The groom and his groomsmen surprised the bride by paying homage to the classic scene from the 80’s hit movie Top Gun, serenading her with “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.” With beignets in hand, guests were draped with Mardi Gras beads and sequined feather masks as the night drew to an end. The couple exited to the famous New Orleans “Second Line” wedding tradition. Allison and Christian had beautiful custom-made umbrellas for the occasion, as their guests formed a long line waving monogrammed handkerchiefs and sending the couple off in style at the close of this magical night. The couple made their getaway in a vintage 1948 Oldsmobile convertible, taking in the crisp Charleston air and waving goodbye to the many friends and family who helped celebrate the new Leveques.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

From the groom: Allison and I met at the wedding for two mutual friends, although we did not know each other previously. The attraction was instant and the chemistry undeniable. I was living in Atlanta at the time, while Allison was in Charleston. A few weeks after the wedding, Allison visited me in Atlanta on Mother’s Day, which was very special to me as my mother succumbed to leukemia and passed away when I was 20. Subsequently, I visited Allison in Charleston for Memorial Day weekend. The rest, as they say, is history. We were basically inseparable from that moment forward!

I wanted the proposal to be unique and special. After nearly five years of courtship, Allison was convinced I couldn’t surprise her but I still had a few tricks up my sleeve! I grew up in New Orleans and we were planning a weekend trip there for a friend’s wedding. I knew the timing would be perfect, as Allison wouldn’t be expecting it! My dad picked us up from the airport and was waiting to stealthily hand off the custom engagement ring I had designed myself. He dropped us off at the rehearsal dinner and wished me luck, knowing I would be proposing the next day. It was there that the mother of the bride-to-be told Allison we were invited to an intimate family brunch the following morning at the Columns Hotel on St. Charles Avenue – a New Orleans favorite of ours. Of course this was all part of an elaborate plan to get an unsuspecting Allison to the right spot for me to pop the big question! The next morning we arrived for “brunch” and were met by a photographer who told us she was there to photograph the brunch for the wedding party and asked if we minded letting her snap some photos to perfect the lighting, as we were the first from the wedding party to arrive. Allison, ever the picture aficionado, ate it up. Shortly thereafter she said, “I hope we get to do this one day,” to which I replied, “How about right now?” Before she could quite figure out what I meant, I dropped down on one knee and asked Allison if she would give me my life’s greatest honor and spend forever with me. Luckily she YES!! (Christian spent over 6 months custom designing the ring with a jeweler in New Orleans. Allison had no idea what any of it would look like…it truly is spectacular and very unique. The center stone came from Sri Lanka!)

Christian + Allison | Charleston, SC from Adam Siegel on Vimeo.

Coordinator: A Charleston Bride // Photographer: Virgil Buano // Floral Design: Palmetto Bloom // Calligraphy and Invitation Suite: Sweet Magnolia Paper // Watercolor Crest: Lemon Tree Calligraphy // Ceremony Venue: Grace Episcopal Church // Reception Venue: Govenor Thomas Bennett House // Bridal Gown #1: Jenny Packham / White on Daniel Island // Bridal Gown #2 (Reception): Jodi Moylan of White on Daniel Island // Hair and Makeup: Madison Hughes // Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo // Groom’s Custom Tuxedo: Klein Epstein & Parker // Groomsmen Tuxedos: Berlin’s // Rings: Aucoin Hart Jewelers (New Orleans) // Caterer: Cru Catering // Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal // Videographer: Siegel Films // Equipment Rentals: Snyder Events // Tent Rentals: Skyline Tent Company // Linen Rentals: La Tavola Linens // Lounge Rentals: Ooh! Events // Lighting Rentals: Technical Event Company // Reception Musicians: Mo’ Sol Band // Transportation: Carolina Executive Limo

Real Weddings:

Laura and Scott’s wedding at Carmel Valley Ranch

featuring Amanda Wei Photography

Laura and Scott’s wedding had us at unruly-purple-wildflower-centerpieces. And that’s just a sliver of the floral-gorgeousness that Fionna Floral brought to the Carmel Valley Ranch wedding planned by Amazae Events. Look for the delicate greenery climbing up the simple wood arbor, huge overflowing white arrangements flanking the ceremony isle, a soft and textured bouquet and stately potted herbs on the escort table. No detail was left un-flowered and we’re loving the way it tied into the vibe of the ranch. The event was completed with invitations by Rachel Brandzel Creative, a dessert bar by Monterey Donuts and Laura’s beautiful tailored lace Lela Rose gown. Lucky for us, Amanda Wei Photography was on hand to capture all the details in these lovely images of the day.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

From the very beginning my goal for the wedding was to be a fun, beautiful, and relaxed party, and a great weekend getaway for my family and friends. I wanted the ceremony and reception to be seem personal and intimate. The location, Carmel Valley Ranch, was perfect for these goals! My whole extended family and many friends were able to stay at the Ranch. It was so fun to run into people at the pool, restaurant, and spa before the wedding! The venue for the ceremony and the reception had beautiful views of the valley and the weather was perfect! The activities and relaxed vibe of the venue added to the great weekend getaway. I thought that Amazea did a great job of bringing the aesthetics of the Ranch and Carmel Valley into the decor of the wedding.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

I found my gown at Jin Wang in San Francisco. My cousins, aunts, sister, mother, and I all traveled from Seattle to San Francisco for a girls weekend and some dress shopping. Jin Wang was our last stop and the whole experience there was perfect. The dress was a gorgeous Lela Rose, that Jin custom tailored.  It had straps and she made it strapless. Also, she took in the bottom layer to make it more of a sheath fit and left the lace overlay A-line. The dress was light weight and fit perfectly. The lace had this wonderful silver threading that added just the right amount of shimmer.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

My husband’s best friend did the ceremony. I thought it reflected our personalities and our relationship. We had signature drinks, Moscow Mules (my favorite) in copper cups, which tied in to the decor.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

This is always the hardest question to answer because everything was memorable! I loved the dancing! I also loved right after the ceremony being with just Scott and then being joined by the bridal party and our immediate families to celebrate for just a few minutes on our own. We had some champagne and toasted the occasion!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Scott and I met through mutual friends when we were living in Manhattan. The first long trip we took was a ski trip to the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where we decided we needed to get out of Manhattan and be closer to family, nature, and skiing (for my husband). Shortly after we moved across the country to Seattle (where I am from). We took a trip to Alaska to ski. On a beautiful drive from the city up to the mountains Scott pulled over so we could take pictures. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was very surprised because I didn’t expect he would propose on the side of the road. We also honeymooned in the mountains in Japan!

Photography: Amanda Wei Photography // Coordination: Amazae Events // Florals: Fionna Floral // Invitations: Rachel Brandzel Creative // Wedding Stationery: The Quill // Venue & Catering: Carmel Valley Ranch // Hair & Makeup: Melissa Hoffmann // Linens: WildFlower Linen // Rentals: Chic Event Rentals / Williams Party Rentals // Dessert Bar: Monterey Donuts // Entertainment: The Lucky Devils Band

 

Real Weddings:

Jelena and Andrew’s Charleston Wedding

photography by Sean Money + Elizabeth Fay

Jelena and Andrew had become smitten with the coastal beauty of Charleston on a road trip taken in the early stages of their courtship. So, when it came time to choose a wedding location, the couple wanted to share their love for the city with all their family and friends. The Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantation offered the perfect backdrop to their intimate celebration and Ooh! Events helped tie all the details together including lush florals and garlands of California bay leaves, seeded eucalyptus and magnolia leaves by Out of the Garden. Sean Money + Elizabeth Fay worked their magic behind the lens to capture all the lovely details in these beautiful images.

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How did you meet?

We met at a bar in Boston! Andrew was doing his residency at MGH and I was finishing my first year of dental school. I ended up leaving town a few days after our initial meeting for a summer externship, but we reconnected at the end of summer and went on our first date. The evening of our first date was also the eve of Hurricane Irene in Boston. It was only fitting that Hurricane Hermine made landfall the weekend of our wedding. Luckily, the storm passed just in time for the most beautiful weather you could imagine on the actual wedding day.

Why Charleston/Boone Hall Cotton Dock?

Andrew and I did a year of long distance while dating. We drove his belongings from Boston to Atlanta and stopped in Charleston for two nights on our roadtrip. We fell in love with the coastal beauty, the amazing food and the southern culture. After we finished school we moved to Dallas together and got engaged. Once we started planning the wedding we decided that we wanted our family and friends to have an excuse to visit our favorite city and experience a little taste of the south. We had visited Boone Hall before and were in love with the beautiful plantation, the alley of oak trees and the sense of history on the property. We immediately knew we had to book it for our venue!

What was the planning process like? 

Before we even secured the venue, I had started the planning process. I used several wedding blogs. Grey Likes especially, and sites to research vendors and got in touch with them for availability and quotes. I had to make sure that the vision in my head was attainable on our budget before making any commitments. Once I confirmed that the venue and photographers were available, the rest came together one by one. Because I lived in Dallas and worked full-time, all my planning was done long distance, which was definitely a challenge. I had several photos and examples of what I was envisioning and I referred all the vendors to my Pinterest board to get a feel for the aesthetic/vibe I wanted. We made two trips to Charleston during the planning process. The first trip was to meet potential vendors for planning, rentals, florals, catering and hair & makeup. The second trip was for the food tasting (this was the only part Andrew was involved in) and to meet our coordinator.

How did the idea process flow back and forth with the planner and the bride?

Candice from Ooh! Events came into the planning process as our “day of coordinator” sixty days prior to the wedding. It was a major relief for me to finally have someone to take over all the vendors I had booked and begin the final stages of putting all the details together. We emailed back and forth almost daily. Because our first meeting was so great, I felt very comfortable letting her take over.

What did you want for your big day? What was especially important to the bride/the groom/the families?

We wanted to incorporate our personal style with the existing beauty of Boone Hall. We chose the venue because we felt something special walking around the plantation, and we didn’t want to distract from that feeling with too much additional decor. The ceremony took place at the front gate with no additional decor necessary other than the back drop of oak trees. We wanted an intimate celebration where guests would be swept away by the moss on the oak trees, the summer breeze on the water and the timeless beauty of the plantation. It was important for us to have an intimate and personalized event, but to also let the venue shine. We wanted our guests to leave with a memory of the way they felt when they were at Boone Hall, not just a memory of a party.

Can you describe some of the details (flowers, palette, invitations, welcome bag, favors, food, cake, special touches…what did you love and why?)

Our palette was very neutral. We chose white, ivory, gold and green. One of the ways we wanted to create an intimate experience was to seat the guests at long farm tables all connected in a U shape. We had lush greenery runners of California bay leaves, seeded eucalyptus and magnolia leaves on the tables with tapered candles and white flowers throughout. We used our own collection of old wine corks to create the place card holders. Sitting at the table during dinner and seeing all of our family and friends so close during the most beautiful time of day (golden hour) was one of the most memorable moments for us. The candlelight, greenery runner and the unique table arrangement all contributed to the intimacy and warmth of the reception. As an added touch Capri Blue Volcano scented votives were scattered throughout the entire reception area so that the scent would always remind us of this special day!

We placed a round bar on the dock to encourage people to interact and be outside near the water. White drapes, gold chandeliers, gold mirrors and lots of candles helped to create a timeless look that didn’t take away from the venue’s existing beauty and style. We really wanted our wedding to be timeless, so the decor was elegant and neutral and simply there as a compliment to the venue’s own charm and beauty.

We had so many comments on the amazing passed hors d’oeuvres! This is where we incorporated a taste of the south. We chose fried okra, shrimp and grits and fried chicken in waffle cones – a guest favorite which also came out for an encore late night on the dance floor.

When it came to the party, we had a mix of American and Serbian music (my side of the family) and the guests were up dancing the entire night. We had traditional “rakija” shots and had everyone dancing until the sparkler sendoff in a vintage mustang. The sendoff car was another memorable moment for us. We drove off in the back of the convertible listening to the breeze in the oak trees and smelling the sweet coastal air. We had the entire drive back into town to be alone and take in all the magical moments of the day. Alone with no cameras, it was a perfect end to a perfect day.

Design & Coordination & Rentals: Ooh! Events // Photography: Sean Money + Elizabeth Fay // Floral: Out of the Garden // Venue: The Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantation // Dress Brand/Designer: Enzoani // Boutique: Bridal Boutique Lewisville // Hair/Makeup: Dannon Collard // Tabletop Rentals: Polished Tabletop  // Catering: CRU Catering // DJ: Lucas the DJ // Ceremony Entertainment: Charleston Strings