J & S – a Glorious Summer Wedding at Nestldown

“J” and “S” are both very private people – so all we are allowed to share about the glorious summer wedding we at A Day Like No Other planned and designed for them are detail shots. Given how beautiful and unique their chosen venue – Nestldown – is, and given the exquisite decor and details of their nuptials, it’s well worth the effort! Photographer Stephane Leon and videographer Tony Castaneda captured every precious moment.

The bride spent the night before the wedding at the onsite guesthouse at Nestldown – an experience all its own! First order of the day: hair and makeup services by Wowpretty Salon.

The secluded patio at the guesthouse was the perfect location to capture her exquisite wedding dress.

True princess slippers – beaded and embellished – complemented this one-of-a kind dress.

Delicate mother-of-pearl jewelry, a hint of fragrance… and the bride was ready to get dressed, with the help of her mother and bridesmaids.

And here she is – ready for the ceremony! (The bride was adamant: no First Look! The first moment for her groom to see her would be at the ceremony).

A dramatic cathedral-length veil accompanied the dress – quite audacious, given the terrain at Nestldown!

Groom “S” was getting ready as well…

… wearing true classics, including monogrammed shirt cuffs – however, HIS way (no socks!).

The ceremony area had been set up in the “chapel,” a stunning natural grove of towering, centuries-old Redwood trees.

Lush arrangements of summer flowers (all floral decor by Green Petal Designs) lined the aisle which was covered with ivory rose petals. It was a gorgeous sight to behold.

This is the aisle at Nestldown for brides and grooms to enter the ceremony area – talk about drama!

While we are not at liberty to share any photos of the ceremony, we may show the beautiful dinner setup on the main lawn, with crossback chairs and classically-elegant place settings, summery centerpieces by Green Petal Designs, and the permanently installed twinkle lights in the surrounding trees which turned the scene magical as dusk was falling.

On their way to dinner, guests signed magnum bottles of the couple’s favorite wine, to be opened on milestone anniversaries to come.

Blue Heron Catering served a delicious meal as the sun was setting beyond the treetops. Next highlight of the evening: a showstopper of a wedding cake by The Buttery, as delicious as it was pretty to look at.

Dancing (including a choreographed First Dance routine!) happened in the Barn, the central building of the Nestldown event space, under an enormous crystal chandelier, and to the tunes of Big Fun Disc Jockeys.

At the conclusion of the evening, the couple departed in true Nestldown style: in an original historic London taxi!

Off to a lifetime of happiness together!

Courtney and Mike – a Glorious Fall Wedding at Thomas Fogarty Winery

When Courtney and Mike were getting into wedding planning, their venue decision was an easy one: they fell head over heels for Thomas Fogarty Winery – a spectacular spot perched on a ridge high above Silicon Valley, with endless views from the San Francisco skyline to Silicon Valley.

Once the venue was booked, the couple enlisted my company, A Day Like No Other, to help with everything else – and that, as it turned out, was a lot! Vendor sourcing, logistics, scheduling, design and decor and last-minute changes and additions.

For a full nine months, Courtney, Mike, and for a good part also Mother-of-the-Bride Lariann, worked together to make it all happen – and finally, on a sunny, gorgeous day in mid-September, the big day had arrived.

Bride Courtney – shy by nature – started the day very nervous… and only as things began to unfold as planned, she relaxed and took it all in! Her day began with hair and makeup services by Lilly’s Beauty World and by dressing up in her diaphanous lace wedding dress and strappy heels…

… with her bridesmaids assisting. Photographer Megan Reeves captured all these precious moments.

Groom Mike had likewise dressed up – in fashionable all-black – with a boutonniere befitting the overall floral decor theme of Fall sunset colors (all floral decor by Green Petal Designs).

Ready for their First Look!

After that, the couple had many, many more photos to take, first of all with VIP guest DeeDee, the family dog …

… who OF COURSE wore a matching flower collar for her doggie Mom’s big day!

Soon, guests began arriving via shuttle (by Corinthian Ground Transportation). The ceremony lawn at the winery was beautifully decorated and ready for the big moment, and Spanish guitarist Jay Alvarez greeted guests with his melodious prelude music.

The couple had chosen a very special “flower girl” for their processional – doggie DeeDee, accompanied by her “Doggie Mom for the Day,” Melinda (by A Day Like No Other).

And here comes the bride!

The ceremony was officiated by a relative of the couple – and she had come all the way from France for that! A truly tight-knit, international family… and a very emotional moment.

“You may now kiss the bride!”

While their guests were being treated to delicious hors d’oeuvres (by Continental Catering) and exquisite Thomas Fogarty wines …

… the newlyweds had many more photos to take.

Meanwhile, the production team of A Day Like No Other was tirelessly working behind the scenes to make the celebration “unfold like magic.”

In the meantime, dinner had been set up in the open Pavilion…

… and guests found their seat assignments on a gilded mirror.

The dining tables were set with elegant black-and-white, gold-rimmed plates and gold-toned cutlery by Bright Event Rentals

Each place setting was adorned with a stunning purple dahlia bloom… it doesn’t get much more elegant!

Centerpieces in gold-toned vessels (by Green Petal Designs) were literally glowing in the colors of the sunset, and the newlyweds’ Sweetheart Table, of course, received extra-special treatment.

Dinner is served! And what a dinner (by Continental Catering) that was…

The Dining Pavilion had been outfitted with string lights overhead (by Just De’Lights), a special gift by the Mother of the Groom – and as dusk fell, the atmosphere turned truly magical.

After dinner, guests were invited into the Hill House for Cake Cutting and dancing. Krumbs Cakes had delivered another one of their edible masterpieces…

… and decorated it with more sunset-colored flowers. So pretty!

Following time-honored tradition, the first joint task of the newlyweds was – to cut their cake!

Guests were also treated to pretty little favors – no detail had been forgotten.

Dance music was provided by DJ Erick (from Sound in Motion), and Courtney and Mike shared their First Dance as a married couple, surrounded by their applauding guests.

That, of course, brought everyone on the dance floor!

What a party… all the happiness in the world to Courtney and Mike on their shared journey!

A Tropical Fiesta for Kristi and John

Kristi and John are living and working in tropical Costa Rica, with lush vegetation surrounding them and monkeys as visitors on their patio – BUT they have family ties to the Bay Area, and that’s where they wanted to tie the knot after many years together in which John had already become a true stepdad to Kristi’s children Emma and Alejandro.

The couple chose the beautiful setting of Crystal Springs in Burlingame for their ceremony, followed by a reception in the nearby Clubhouse of the Crystal Springs golf course – and what a celebration that was! Every tiny detail was thought through and elevated, and so the planning process with my company, A Day Like No Other, was very intense. Finally, the big day had arrived… now look for yourself!

Kristi had her hair and makeup done offsite (by Design Her Image), and all she had to do when arriving at the venue was to step into her elegant wedding dress – which literally fit her like a glove…

… and head out for her first look with groom John, all beautifully captured by photographer Frank J. Lee.

More photos and video (by Filmore Productions) before the first guests arrived…

For her bridal bouquet and floral decor throughout, Kristi had asked for bold orange and red colors and for an equally bold look featuring her favorite flower, the spectacular Bird of Paradise, and Pampas Grass – and here is what florist Janelle of Green Petal Designs came up with:

The wedding pavilion was adorned with a huge spray of flowers, the aisle chairs showed matching smaller arrangements…

… and the aisle itself was covered with a carpet of yellow and orange rose petals. Spectacular!

The ceremony was officiated by a close friend of the couple, and Kristi’s son and daughter were their Best Man and Maid of Honor.

Here comes the adorable flower girl:

… followed by the bride, accompanied by her father and her son.

The ceremony was heartfelt, but short and sweet – and the two were finally, officially declared husband and wife. “You may now kiss the bride!”

Just married!!

While bride and groom kept taking many more photos and videos ….

… their guests were shuttled over to the Clubhouse where a cocktail reception was waiting for them.

The entrance had been decorated with the signature bold floral arrangements, and the walkway to the reception hall had been lined with giant Bird-of-Paradise plants (by Indoor Greenery). What a transformation!

But that was just the beginning… the perimeter of the reception hall had been draped (by Bright Event Rentals) …

… and the space had been transformed into an elegant indoor “jungle” with many more tall palm trees and Bird-of-Paradise plants (by Indoor Greenery) and with breathtaking tall centerpieces on the dining tables (by Green Petal Designs).

Gold Chiavari chairs complemented the elegant place settings from Hensley Event Resources…

… all in Kristi’s favorite colors, of course!

Aside from a delicious dinner (by Cheat-A-Little Catering), the guests were entertained with a stunning vintage bike-photobooth (by The Booth Bus) …

and with incredible magic tricks by magician extraordinaire Nick Ivory.

They were also sitting for caricatures by renowned caricature artist Mike Rosenthal.

Photo credit: ADLNO

After dinner, the couple shared their First Dance to their favorite tunes by DJ Mark Addington

… who also directed the (truly rediscovered!) classic wedding crowd pleaser: the Shoe Game!

Next order of the day: cutting the wedding cake (likewise adorned with stunning Bird-of-Paradise blooms!)…

… then there was a dessert bar in addition to the cake, and lastly, guests were treated to a personalized shot glass as a wedding favor.

The newlyweds enjoyed a little private moment on the adjacent patio…

… and enjoyed their new status as Mr. and Mrs.

What a party!! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness, Kristi and John!

The most unique Wedding of the Season: Kerry and Damien at the IC Mark Hopkins

Kerry and Damien were the very first couple to contact my company, A Day Like No Other, after the pandemic for help with their wedding planning. From the first moment on, one thing was clear: these two would not follow convention but only their own distinct tastes and preferences. They both have a soft spot for the Golden Twenties – Art Deco, glamour, feathers, Charleston dancing, Prohibition-era cocktails and exceptionally good food. But they are also really quirky with a shared love for Godzilla and all things nerdy and geeky like Dungeons and Dragons, superhero novels, silly video games, and good sci-fi. You see – that’s not a recipe for a “cookie-cutter” wedding!

For their wedding venue, Kerry and Damien fell in love with a historic San Francisco icon – the Mark Hopkins Hotel on Nob Hill. And that’s where all the magic unfolded last Saturday, after a full eighteen months of planning!

The ceremony took place in the Room of the Dons…

… officiated by a good friend of the couple; and here comes the bride, accompanied by her two nephews.

In lieu of fresh flowers, the bride carried a “book bouquet” – handmade from the pages of one of her favorite books, and – you guessed it – she had gifted all her bridesmaids with similarly unique bouquets.

Following the ceremony, the couple had many, many photos to take with photographer Megan Reeves (all we have right now are the phone snapshots of our production team…) and video with Ric Grover of Grover Films (again – just wait until you see the REAL photos and video!), while their guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Kerry and Damien had made sure there were lots of personal touches…

Meanwhile, the historic, newly renovated Peacock Ballroom had been prepared for the main part of the evening, with gilded Chiavari chairs surrounding the dining tables topped by white marabou feather arrangements.

The amazing Amanda Castro Band was setting up on the stage, the Mark Hopkins catering team was preparing food, and the SoGood photo booth had been set up. Also at work – and for a few hours already! – was Live Painter Talia Koval, the big surprise of the evening. She had prepared her canvas to capture the couple’s First Dance – under the watchful eyes of the guests, and in oil on canvas, no less!

And here is the finished piece of art, a keepsake for the newlyweds.

But there was more! Not only one glorious wedding cake (from Butter&) adorned with Art Deco feathers and the San Francisco skyline…

… but two…

AND, yes!, you saw that correctly – Kerry and Damien with their unmistakable quirkiness had placed a bridal T-Rex couple in front of the cakes, guarding them until cake-cutting time!

And IF you thought that that was all, you were badly mistaken, because the best was yet to come! In addition to a seven-piece band, the couple had also booked three professional ballroom dancers – in Charleston costume, OF COURSE! – to give their guests an upbeat dance instruction. Needless to say, that brought everyone on the dance floor!

What an epic party! Congratulations, and a lifetime of happiness to you, Kerry and Damien!

At Last: Roxanna and Clay are Getting Married!

A wedding a full three years in the making – hard to believe! But like so many other couples, Roxanna’s and Clay’s planning got derailed first by the COVID pandemic, and then by an accident and surgeries… and all that added up to three years of planning and replanning. I was so honored that my company, A Day Like No Other, was chosen for this task, with Clay’s mother deeply involved in all design decisions – and she did a FABULOUS job! Finally, the Great Day had arrived, and Heavens literally smiled on Roxanna and Clay, with a glorious summer day at Nestldown Estate in the Redwoods of Los Gatos.

Roxanna and her bridesmaids had spent the night before together at the luxurious onsite guesthouse, so the morning of Wedding Day went off to a leisurely start with hair and makeup services by Fiona and team of Urban Beauty Loft.

Photo credit: Bre Thurston
Photo credit: Bre Thurston

While the ladies were being transformed into the most beautiful versions of themselves…

Photo credit: Bre Thurston

… all vendor teams were hard at work behind the scenes to make the couple’s vision a reality.

The Nestldown venue team was preparing the ceremony site and all the whimsical features that the venue offers – from the life-size train to the authentic London taxis – while orchestrating a multitude of vendor deliveries.

Florist Natasha from Golden Fields Floristry decorated the hexagonal arch the couple had chosen with a profusion of gorgeous summer flowers in their favorite shades of pink, mauve and ivory.

Photo credit: ADLNO
Photo credit: ADLNO

The Betty Zlatchin Catering team under the leadership of Norema Salinas supervised the setup of the rustic bare wooden dining tables and chairs (from Bright Event Rentals) …

Photo credit: ADLNO

… which florist Natasha then decorated with lush green garlands, pink and ivory blooms and candles. Elegant place settings in gold and pink and laser-cut name “cards” completed the rustic-elegant look.

Photo credit: ADLNO

Then, of course, the catering team had to prepare food and set up the bars and and and…

All the while, our photographers (Bre Thurston and team) and videographer (Will Cook of Kindlewood Films) captured the preparations and then took the couple out into the Redwoods for their First Look.

Photo credit: Bre Thurston
Photo credit: Bre Thurston

For the time being, we only have a few preview photos from Bre in addition to our iPhone snapshots, but wait until you see ALL their photos and video!

Soon enough, guests began arriving, and our ceremony musicians – the Mersonacta string quartet under the leadership of Laura Jeannin – serenaded the guests as they were being seated in the “chapel” – an impressive natural Redwood grove.

Photo credit: Bre Thurston
Photo credit: Bre Thurston

Here comes the bride, on her father’s arm, to the sounds of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You.” The ceremony was officiated by a close friend of the couple, with just the right mix of lightheartedness and gravitas.

Photo credit: Bre Thurston
Photo credit: ADLNO

And here they are – JUST MARRIED!!!

Photo credit: Bre Thurston

Off to many more photos, while guests were treated to drinks and delicious hors d’oeuvres.

Photo credit: Bre Thurston
Photo credit: Bre Thurston

For extra entertainment, the couple had booked The Booth Bus, an authentic vintage VW bus outfitted with a state-of-the-art photo booth.

Photo credit: Bre Thurston

Next up – dinner on the Main Lawn! Guests found their table assignments on the escort card table.

Photo credit: ADLNO
Photo credit: ADLNO

The newlyweds had a beautifully decorated Sweetheart Table all to themselves, overlooking the romantic Koi Pond and presiding over the long rows of guest tables.

Photo credit: ADLNO
Photo credit: Bre Thurston

DJ and MC “King” Raffi of Sound in Motion invited guests to dinner and took over musical entertainment from then on. BZC Catering served a delicious farm-to-table menu, toasts were proposed …

Photo credit: Bre Thurston

… and as dusk fell and the string lights in the trees surrounding the Main Lawn were coming on twinkling, the scene turned truly magical.

Photo credit: Bre Thurston

After dinner, guests were invited to the Barn – the big indoor event space at Nestldown – which had been set up with elegant lounge furniture (from Blueprint Studios) for dancing and desserts…

Photo credit: ADLNO

and, of course, for the cutting of THE CAKE…

Photo credit: ADLNO

… a true showstopper by BethAnn Goldberg of Studio Cake. What followed was the couple’s First Dance…

Photo credit: Bre Thurston
Photo credit: Bre Thurston

… a wild dance party to the sounds of DJ Raffi’s music …

Photo credit: Bre Thurston

… and a Grand Send-off to the London Taxi getaway car with guests waving LED sparklers.

Photo credit: Bre Thurston

What a party!! Wishing Roxanna and Clay a lifetime of happiness – keep celebrating!

Nghi and Jim opening the 2022 wedding season at Gamble Garden

The first wedding of my 2022 wedding season was already a very special one – and I am so honored that my company, A Day Like No Other, was chosen to plan this truly life changing event. For both bride and groom, this was their second marriage – they have children, and they both had taken their time to overcome the heartbreak of their first attempt. Neither was interested in yet another “big affair” – they were both “over that.” Instead, they were hoping for an intimate, deeply meaningful celebration with just their children, their closest friends and family members present – Nghi’s parents and her son, Jim’s sons. They had chosen a venue that embodies exactly this spirit; nothing flashy or glamorous. The venue of their choice was Elizabeth Gamble Garden, a small gem of a public park in the heart of Palo Alto, just large enough to accommodate their 50 guests, and already in bloom in early May with an abundance of rose varietals.

Nghi and her bridesmaids got ready onsite, in the historic Carriage House on the property.

Under the experienced hands of makeup artist Nguyen Ha, the pretty bride was transformed into a drop-dead gorgeous beauty.

Nghi’s two bridesmaids helped her to get into her form-fitting elegant dress …

… with a dramatic train …

… and many tiny buttons – and the bride adjusted her jewelry.

Florist extraordinaire Janelle Jacky-Litt of Green Petal Designs delivered an ethereal bridal bouquet in ivory, blush pink and light blue hues, with bridesmaids’ bouquets, boutonnieres and table decor to match.

And here are bride and bridesmaids, with the biggest smiles of their lives!

With that, bride Nghi was ready to step out…

Isn’t she stunning?!

Here with her biggest admirer… her son.

Meanwhile, groom Jim had also gotten ready…

… and here he is with all the boys – Nghi’s and his own.

Time for the “First Look!”

That’s amore! Now the couple was off to many more photos and video footage with acclaimed photographer Kevin Chin and videographer William Cook of Kindlewood Films.

Guests began arriving for the ceremony in the Rose Garden, officiated by Dr. Konrad Hölé of Officially Yours, and serenaded by the Magnolia Jazz Trio led by Robbie Schlosser.

Here comes the bride, accompanied by her parents.

After exchanging rings…

… they were officially declared “husband and wife,” and Jim received permission to “kiss the bride.”

Just married!

And off to more photos and video among a profusion of blooms – including the official photo of the newly united blended family.

All the while their guests enjoyed cocktails and Jazz – and left their “well wishes for the new Mr. & Mrs!”

My production team – Deanna and Stephanie – and the team of Continental Caterers were busy working behind the scenes to get everything ready and set up for dinner.

Dinner tables were set up under a majestic tree…

… it doesn’t get more romantic than that! The table setting reflected the feminine pastel hues of the bridal bouquet…

… and floating candles turned the scene truly magical.

The entrance of the newlyweds officially opened dinner…

The feast that followed was truly memorable – Continental Catering pulled all stops!

The couple was clearly enjoying themselves.

Maybe even more memorable than dinner itself – were the desserts! Have a look:

Following these mouthwatering treats, the newlyweds had time to mingle with their guests. But the last highlight of the evening was still to come: a gorgeous wedding cake by Krumbs Cakes, OF COURSE adorned with the same blush pink and light blue flowers that accompanied the couple and the guests through the whole celebration.

With that, they had accomplished their official joint task as a married couple. The evening concluded with the newlyweds enjoying the company of their handpicked guests, and everyone had a great time.

Wishing you all the happiness in the world, Nghi and Jim!

Linnea & Curtis – a Party despite the Pandemic

Like so many couples who had planned to get married in 2020, Linnea’s and Curtis’ plans had to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They decided to get married as planned (in a small ceremony) and to postpone their party… and for that party, they enlisted the help of my company, A Day Like No Other.

For their venue, they had chosen Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, a historic Spanish-Mediterranean-style compound amidst lush gardens, housing boutiques, art galleries and studios.

The bride got ready onsite in the bridal suite… with photographer Trung Hoang capturing all the precious moments throughout the day.

… and here she is, ready with her bouquet from Orange Blossom’s Floral Design.

Groom Curtis had likewise dressed up and was ready for the First Look.

As they already WERE “Mr.” and “Mrs.”, Linnea and Curtis skipped a ceremony and jumped right into Cocktail Hour with their guests. Two caricature artists sketched guests’ portraits – a beautiful favor for everyone to take home.

Cozy lounge vignettes from Seventh Heaven Vintage furniture rental offered quiet retreats from the party.

The team of Cafe Wisteria, the inhouse catering operation at Allied Arts Guild, had set up dinner tables, clothed in vibrant colors.

Dessert came in the form of irresistible donuts by Johnny Doughnuts.

After dinner, it was time for Sunset photos for the couple, while guests were having a great time socializing as darkness fell.

After dinner, the couple’s First Dance to tunes by Elite Entertainment opened the dance floor. The new “Mr.” and “Mrs.” had finally had the party they deserved all along!

Courtney and Jesse: a Dream Wedding at Nestldown

These two were one of the many couples who had to reschedule their Great Day by a full year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And many things can happen in a year! For example, moving to the other side of the continent, buying a house, getting settled… and so, the Mother of the Bride shouldered many of the necessary planning tasks together with my company, A Day Like No Other, to ensure a seamless, perfect celebration.

The couple had chosen Nestldown Estate for their nuptials – a true dream location. Nestled deep in the Redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains and appointed with any luxury imaginable, it was the perfect venue for a truly memorable celebration.

The bride and her bridesmaids used the elegant onsite guesthouse for getting ready in the morning. Photography wife-and-husband “Team Bre Thurston” and videographer William Cook of Kindlewood Films captured every moment.

Hair and makeup stylist Violet Herod and her team “The Makeup Dolls” transformed these pretty ladies into drop-down gorgeous red-carpet beauties.

Next: the DRESS! An ethereal lace-encrusted confection that fit the bride like a glove.

Then – the shoes! Definitely the right dose of glamour to go with that dress…

… and, not to forget: the rings.

Once the bride had gotten into her regal outfit for the day, all that was still missing was her bouquet (like all florals by Emily of Flowergirl Em),

…and she was ready for official photos. After emotional Mother-Daughter…

… and Father-Daughter photos…

…the venue’s famous original London taxi took Courtney to the location of her First Look, a romantic spot under towering Redwood trees.

Groom Jesse had also gotten ready with the help of his groomsmen…

… and was waiting for permission to finally see his bride in all her finery!

Time for photos and then – time to proceed to the ceremony! This time, Courtney and Jesse rode the London taxi together.

The ceremony spot at Nestldown is the “Chapel” – a natural Redwood clearing of breathtaking beauty. Florist Emily had worked her magic to make it even more special…

… and music by the Amethyst Ensemble gave it an elegant touch.

Here comes the bride, on her father’s arm.

The ceremony was officiated by a close friend of the couple.

“You may now kiss the bride!”

Just married!!

For the newlyweds – time for many more photos…

For the guests – time for Cocktail Hour with entertainment! The Amethyst Ensemble was playing, the Nestldown gardens were to be explored, and the Booth Bus photo booth was waiting.

For the catering crew of La Bocca Fina it was “showtime” after many hours of preparation and setup. The results were spectacular: the glamorous “boho chic” dining tables as much as the delicious food.

Guests found their assigned table through a unique display of calligraphed vases (by Flowergirl Em).

Everyone was having a great time, and as darkness fell, the scene turned magical – illuminated by string lights in the trees and by candlelight on the tables.

After dinner, everyone moved to the Apple Knoll for the couple’s First Dance…

…cake cutting…

… and dancing. And what a dance party that was! Los Gatos DJs got everyone on the dance floor in no time.

And OF COURSE, the newlyweds got a spectacular Send-off to match.

Everyone agreed – that was an event to remember. A lifetime of happiness to Courtney and Jesse!

Sarah and Patrick – an elegant Fall wedding

After nearly a full year of long-distance planning, Sarah’s and Patrick’s big day finally arrived. Living and working in New York, they had chosen my company, A Day Like No Other, to help them with the planning and coordination of their wedding.

For the bride, her bridesmaids and the mothers, the day began with hair and makeup services by Tiffany Chiang of Design Her Image – and the results were truly stunning! Here is the bride, with a beautiful glow…

… and here are her bridesmaids!

Her two Maids-of-Honor helped her to get into her lace-encrusted, ballgown-style dress…

… and sparkly wedding shoes.

Green Petal Designs delivered a gorgeous bridal bouquet…

… as well as bridesmaids bouquets, wrist corsages, boutonnieres (and the floral decor for the reception), and with that, the bride was ready for her First Look.

Corinthian Ground Transportation took her and (separately!) the groom and bridal party to the church where both the First Look and the wedding ceremony would be held: Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley, a spectacular church set in a Redwood grove where the bride’s parents had gotten married 35 years ago.

Nearly there – as Sarah is approaching Patrick, videographer Martin Meyer of martinFILMS and photographers Manali and Kaitlin of Manali Anne Photography are capturing every moment (just wait until you see THEIR photos! For the time being, all we have are my snapshots…)

Happiness!

Very soon, guests were arriving (all transported in style by Corinthian Ground Transportation), and the ceremony began. Following tradition, the bride was escorted in by her father.

The apse of the church behind the altar is all glass, looking out onto the Redwoods. It is truly a spectacular sight.

The brother of the bride, a classically trained Baritone, gave a moving performance during the ceremony.

Just married!!

While the couple had many more “official” wedding photos taken with their family members, guests were shuttled to the reception at Thomas Fogarty Winery, high up on a mountain ridge overlooking all of Silicon Valley.

The teams of Continental Catering, Green Petal Designs and Just De’Lights (lighting installation) as well as my tireless assistant Stephanie had been hard at work for hours to get everything ready in time. The weather gods threw us a curveball – low-hanging clouds settled on the mountain ridge, and it got chilly, foggy and wet… so we had to move cocktails inside. But that did not dampen anyone’s spirits!

With space heaters in place, dinner could still happen in the open Pavilion…

… with elegant place settings and cute candle favors for each guest.

When darkness fell during dinner, the scene turned really magical…

… and the couple enjoyed their First Dance as husband and wife right there, on a balcony overlooking the vineyard.

After that, the whole party moved inside for Cake Cutting (cake by Susie Cakes)…

… and a lot of dancing to tunes by DJ Paul Burchfield of Big Fun Disc Jockeys. Everything eventually comes to an end… but this party ended on a decidedly high note with a private Last Dance for the newlyweds while guests were gathering outside for a spectacular sparkler send-off!

What a night! Sarah and Patrick are going on their Honeymoon – to Hawaii! And then off to a lifetime of joy, laughter and happiness… that’s what we are wishing for you!