May and Reilly - UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley, CA

June, 2018.

Photographer: Kate’s Captures Photography / Floral Design: Katharina Stuart Floral Art and Design

Cake and Dessert Bar: Rachel’s Cakes / Catering: Carrie Dove Catering / DJ: Berkeley Squares

May and Reilly’s wedding was one of my favorites from 2018 for many reasons. The first is that May was one of the most laid-back brides I think I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing, and yet she has exquisite taste. She had so many wonderful ideas to bring even more beauty and class to the Julia Morgan Hall (window boxes dripping with flowers hanging from the walls! Plates and goblets with just a slight touch of gold! Not one, but two boho chic wedding dresses!), and yet each decision was made as casually as what she was going to have for lunch during our planning meetings. The second reason that I loved this wedding was that every single vendor that worked alongside me was a trusted friend and colleague, which made the entire day run so smoothly that it was an absolute dream day for everyone involved. When we wedding professionals meet another vendor that we trust, respect, and enjoy working with, we wholeheartedly endorse them for future weddings, which becomes a win-win situation for all involved. This wedding was proof that when we all work together to make a couple’s vision come to life, the outcome can’t be anything but complete perfection.

Mia and Richard - Outdoor Art Club, Mill Valley, CA

May, 2018.

Ceremony Venue: Old St. Hilary, Tiburon, CA / Reception Venue: Outdoor Art Club, Mill Valley, CA

Photos: Sebastien Bicard Photography / Cake: Tartine Bakery

The 2018 season started with a stunner of a wedding for Mia and Richard. The weather in the Bay Area in May can be finicky, but their wedding weekend had blue skies and gorgeous views for miles from the front steps of Old St. Hilary, the ceremony venue, in Tiburon. Mia and Richard are both quietly classy and that’s exactly the tone that their wedding took on; it was intimate, with each detail perfectly thought out and executed. Some of my favorite moments from the day were captured beautifully by their photographer, Sebastien Bicard: the ‘first look’ of Richard singing a song to Mia, how the austere simplicity of a chapel and field of tall grass can transform to a blog-worthy backdrop for couple portraits, and the homey warmth that was felt at both the ceremony and reception, thanks to dark-paneled walls and an intimate setting. Sebastien’s photography takes my breath away and his style is one that isn’t seen very often in wedding portraiture - shadows and darkness are enhanced, which in turn actually call attention to the gorgeous details of Mia’s dress and earrings, for example. These pictures are a dream come true both for a couple looking for portraits that last a lifetime and for a planner that wants to showcase how a venue can turn from just an empty space to all of the dreams and visions of a perfect wedding brought to life.

AuBrey and Billy - Park Winters, CA

October, 2017.

Photos: Cherlyn Wagner Photography / Flowers: Tori Pattochi / Cake: Natty Cakes

AuBrey and Billy were perhaps the most unconventional couple that I've worked with - and I mean that in the best sense possible. Not only was their dog, Waffles, in the ceremony, but he was in all of the wedding party photos and was featured on their invitations and wedding signage. AuBrey was originally going to wear a black wedding dress, but ultimately decided on a gorgeous cream lace number, paired with a bold red lipstick. To top it all off, their cake was a funfetti cake (isn't that secretly everyone's dream wedding cake??).

Park Winters was a perfect all-in-one venue: the house, extensive grounds, and bell tower provided ample space for every part of the wedding day from getting ready to collapsing into bed after a full night of dancing and everything between. The staff was attentive from the moment that we stepped foot on the grounds, and left nothing wanting.