June 14th, 2012
The best decision we made was hiring Paige and Kelly of Bash/Please, event planners that listened to our hopes for the wedding (“a fantastic party that feels like us”) and helped make them a reality. It was all planned perfectly (you can see their initial inspiration boards here) and it was fun to see it all come together. They oversaw the entire day, told us where to be and when, and created a sense of calm that was so comforting. They also came up with tons of the little details that I love – a wire basket filled with vintage handkerchiefs, a lemonade stand for when guests first arrived, and antique keys attached to the place cards. And perhaps the biggest nod to their planning abilities is that everything went off without a hitch. Oh and the fun party we had hoped for? It was even better than we could have imagined.
When we first visited the Ralston White Retreat last summer, I wasn’t sure if it was going to work. The exterior was breathtaking and the layout ideal for a party, but the interiors were seriously dated. I questioned how we were going to be able to transform the space and got the answer as soon as we hired Gayle Nicoletti, of Bloomingayles: flowers. Gayle’s from Mill Valley and was also familiar with the property, which was an enormous help. We wanted the floral design to seem almost as though it were part of the decor – she hung a garland over the main entrance, tucked ranunculus inside a library card catalog, and filled the rooms with stunning flowers that looked as though they could have been picked right outside. She also created the most incredible bouquet for me with pink peonies and tiny sprigs of jasmine. The florals, paired with antique furniture and accessories that we rented from One True Love Vintage, transformed the space to feel positively magical.
I have a serious sweet tooth, so when Geoffrey and I went cake tasting (hands down, the best part of wedding planning!), we had a hard time narrowing it down to one flavor. So instead of picking one, we chose three small cakes – vanilla, chocolate, and red velvet. Guests loved having the option to choose and after the wedding, we took home three slices that we ate together in our hotel bed later that night.
I had initially been conflicted on whether we were going to give out favors, since they often seem forced and rarely are items people want. I’ve always had a soft spot for mix CDs – I think they’re one of the most personal and entertaining gifts, so when Michael offered to make us a mashup mix of his work, we jumped at the chance. And for the record, I’ve had mine playing in my car ever since.
The details and decor played a huge role in transforming the space and creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. But the most important thing, and what truly made the day so special, was that we were surrounded by an enormous amount of love and I’ll be sharing my five favorite moments tomorrow.
Photographs Max Wanger
Details:
Event planners: Bash/Please
Wedding Invitations: Walnut Paperie
Floral design: Bloomingayles
Cake: Susie Cakes
Vintage rentals: One True Love Vintage
Favors: Mix CDs: The Flashdance
Votives and Table Numbers: Bhldn
Next up: Wedding Week – Five Moments
June 13th, 2012
After the ceremony, guests moved onto the terrace for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. We hired Delicious Catering and crafted menus that incorporated local and seasonal ingredients. When deciding on the cocktail hour food, we wanted things that were flavorful, unique, and easy to eat (there’s nothing cute about appetizers that end up down the front of your outfit). My favorites were the potato gaufrette with ahi tuna tartar, olive oil, and wasabi tobiko and the dungeness crab cakes topped with a lemon caper aïoli. Our friends, Danny Ronen, of Fair Trade Spirits, and Russell Davis, came up with an inspired craft cocktail menu that’s still the talk of our wedding. All of the drinks were a hit, but the Smokey Revolver, shown below, was my top choice.
We then moved into the dining room, which had such a wonderful ambiance – almost like an old, wooden library tucked inside a forest. Each table had about eight people and we served the food family style. It felt so warm and friendly and I loved passing food around the table and being able to take a little of everything (though I did hoard the aged tri tip and the mascarpone polenta). A few toasts were given and then we moved into a separate room for dancing.
Geoffrey and I took a few dancing lessons in the months before the wedding, but we couldn’t shake the same problem that had plagued us from the beginning: I kept trying to lead. But as we stood just outside of the room where everyone was standing and our song started to play, I felt myself letting go. We chose a Ryan Adams song, one of our favorite artists, and he took my hand as we made our way into the room. I was aware of everyone’s eyes on us, but for the first time, I didn’t pay attention to what we had planned or how we’d look. I let him lead.
For the duration of the wedding up until this point, I hadn’t cried. My cheeks hurt from grinning so much, my eyes misty. That changed the second I heard the first chord of “You Can Close Your Eyes,” the James Taylor song my dad and I chose. Quite simply, I lost it. I buried my head on his shoulder and let him guide us gently around the dance floor. In some ways, I think I had been looking forward to that moment for most of my life. We had spent months sending each other potential songs choices (you’d be surprised how hard it is to find one that’s not too predictable or terribly inappropriate). We had attempted to practice on several occasions, but had to stop since we got so worked up. Luckily the transition from our weepy routine to the rest of the party went smoothly. Our DJ, Michael Antonia (also known as The Flashdance) kicked things off with an upbeat song that packed the dance floor immediately. He played such great music for the remainder of the night that I didn’t leave once (except to cut the cake). And though I hadn’t intended on changing out of my dress, Bhldn graciously sent me one that I received the day before, so I slipped it on and kicked off my shoes.
At the end of the night, our guests gathered outside on the lawn with sparklers and created a pathway that we ran though to get to our car. It was such a climactic exit and I loved seeing everyone’s faces lit in glittery golds.
Photographs: Max Wanger
Food: Delicious Catering
Drinks: Russell Davis in collaboration with Fair Trade Spirits
DJ: The Flashdance
2nd Dress: Bhldn c/o
Next up: Wedding Week – Details & Decor
August 8th, 2011
Alice + Olivia Dress, Vintage Brooch and Clutch, J.Crew Bracelets, Philosophy Heels, Estee Lauder “Wicked Green” Nailpolish
This dress was a bit of an impulse purchase when I needed an outfit for an event a few weeks back. The ombre blue feels reminiscent of waves and I love that the one-shoulder detailing isn’t too revealing. It’s turned out to be my go-to cocktail dress this summer (I also wore it to the BHLDN party in New York) that’s balanced nicely by a loose fishtail braid and minimal make-up.
July 29th, 2011
{Adorable miniature sandwiches stamped with “BLT”}
My trip to New York, although short, was amazing. The BHLDN event was gorgeous and like always, I left inspired and even more excited (if that’s possible) about my own wedding. I managed to squeeze in a rather insane amount of meetings in the 48-hour window I had and cannot wait to sleep in my own bed tonight.
{A vintage chair for the formerly awkward corner of the dining room}
{Just one of the beautiful baubled bibs at the BHLDN event}
{A chic new candle snuffer – I love the bone handle and skull base}
{Sparkles make everything more appealing}
