This spectacular venue is probably the one place where I have done the most of my weddings in the last decade – and for good reason! I keep recommending Fogarty for its endless views, from San Francisco to Silicon Valley; for its romantic setting amidst lush vineyards, and for its polished event spaces and accommodating staff. In short – the perfect combination for a garden-themed, summery, mostly outdoor wedding!

My Fogarty weddings have ranged from intimate gatherings to 200 people; were anywhere from rustic to elegant, and came in a rainbow of accent colors.

Here is my personal inspiration – how I want to see it! Fresh citrus colors …

… combined with natural materials like wood and rattan, candlelight and metallic gold accents.

This would complement the spectacular views from the ceremony lawn (actually using the ceremony chairs from the venue inventory)…

… and rattan lounge furniture, potted shrubs and fluffy pillows would be perfect for Cocktail Hour on the open deck.

For dinner in the Pavilion, I am envisioning suspended florals (after all, the Pavilion was constructed with exactly such decor in mind – the struts can carry the load!)…

… and the new venue dining chairs would look great with this design.

The place settings combine elegance, natural materials and – with pretty menu cards – a touch of formality.

And, of course, the Sweetheart Table gets special treatment!

Cake cutting would happen in the Hill House…

… the basketweave design of the cake matching the “natural materials” theme of the decor, and the rustic bare wooden dessert table playing along with desserts in citrus colors.

Here again – the design at a glance:

I hope you like it!

This is the first installment in what will hopefully become a real series – starting with one of my all-time favorite wedding venues in the Bay Area. Kohl Mansion is a historic landmark in classic Tudor architecture, set in beautiful, lush formal gardens, with a melange of dark wood paneling and double-height spaces (the Great Hall) and light-filled nearly playful rooms – e.g. the Morning Room with its black-and-white checkerboard floor and the Green Room, the original dining room of the mansion, painted a very light shade of pastel green. Then there is the elegant library with its Persian rugs, the formal entrance foyer, the photogenic grand staircase … I could go on and on. This mansion is high elegance personified – perfect for high-end weddings!

My idea to complement the architectural beauty with a nod to wedding events: Chinese-pattern blue-and-white china and pink roses and peonies…

… starting with invitations and wedding day stationery.

This is what the ceremony could look like:

… followed by cocktails in the Courtyard…

… and dinner in the Great Hall.

This is how I would envision the place settings:

… and Cake Cutting in the Morning Room.

We’d also have a dessert buffet right there…

… and a comfortable lounge area for quiet conversations…

… while others are dancing in the Green Room.

And here is the whole design concept at a glance – I hope you like it!

Having trouble with your wedding Thank-You’s? When, Who, How?

It’s actually easy.

When: no later than 2 weeks after receiving the gift (before the wedding) or no later than 2 weeks after your wedding.

Whom do you need to send a Thank You note?

Everyone!

• Guests that have attended your wedding, whether they gave you a gift or not
• Guests that were invited, did not come, but sent a gift
• People who were not even invited but gave you a gift
• Your vendors

How should you write these notes?

Hand-write. Absolutely hand-write. Preferably on stationery matching your invitations, but if you don’t have that, either use a card with a wedding photo or even a generic nice Thank You card. And use a good pen or, even better, fountain pen.

Here is the template:

• “Dear” (recipient’s name or names)
• “Thank you for” (the item they gave you as a gift, also cash gift)
• How you intend to use the item or how you’ve used it so far
• Then say how much you loved celebrating alongside them at your wedding (or how how much you are looking forward to celebrate with them, if you’re sending this note before the big day)
• A “thank you again” phrase to wrap up
• “Warmest regards,” followed by both your names

Now…. how hard was that??