Sandra and Jacob had very clear ideas of how their long-anticipated wedding should look and feel – rustic, relaxed, a celebration of the Fall in California, the Great Outdoors. Nothing too formal, a collaboration of their friends and families, just easy. They would do the planning all by themselves! The only help they were going to accept was a wedding coordinator for their Great Day so they could be sure everything would run smoothly. And to that end, they enlisted my company, A Day Like No Other, well ahead of time.
They chose their venue, Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills, right in Silicon Valley, and yet – it feels like a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the hi-tech capital of the world. 
It doesn’t even have cell phone reception! So far, so good. And then life got busy. And suddenly there was a maze of venue rules and regulations to navigate. Nothing was easy. Catering the way Sandra and Jacob had hoped for wasn’t permitted. And so on and so forth. The proverbial devil was in every single detail. At one point, Sandra was totally desperate. So we all decided that a little extra help from their wedding planner would lift the burden – and allow the two to actually enjoy the time leading up to their Great Day!
Look how beautiful it all turned out to be:
While our Senior Coordinator Kelsey was the first one onsite to work her magic behind the scenes, Sandra’s day began with hair and makeup by Nancy Eklund of Miabel Artistry.
Florist Lanette Anderson of Hidden Villa had created a beautiful bridal bouquet of fresh-plucked garden flowers, all natural-looking and exactly what Sandra had hoped for.
Meanwhile Jacob was also getting ready.
Dress, shoes and jewelry were waiting…
… and now Sandra is ready to meet her groom.
First Look!
And after that, it was time for photos with Mike and Nat of Choco Studio.
The bridesmaids wore nostalgic floral dresses, the groomsmen had grey suits, and everything was “artfully mismatched,” befitting the relaxed and fun vibe of the event.
The ceremony took place outdoors …
… under a rustic chuppah …
… and “Here Comes the Bride!”
The ceremony concluded with the traditional “breaking of the glass.”
And with that, they are husband and wife – Mazel Tov!
Off to more photos in the beautiful gardens surrounding the ceremony site …
… while guests were invited to cocktails. The bar was decorated (a labor of love from family members!) with bunting and pennants fluttering in the light autumnal breeze, and lawn games were awaiting the grown-ups (and all sorts of toys for the little guests!).
Dinner took also place outdoors, and with dusk falling, the scenery under the string lights (by AM Party Rentals) turned magical.
Guests found their seats following a seating chart crafted by the couple…
… and simple garden flower arrangements adorned the tables.
Catering duties were shared by Continental Caterers and the couple’s all-time favorite food trucks: the Waffle Roost and Hiyaaa!
Everyone had a really great time!
143 Photo Booth was a hit with the guests, and DJ Turner Hayes of Elite Entertainment rounded out the fun during the later part of the evening with a traditional Hora Dance, followed by a wild dance party for everyone!
But that was by far not all!
Jacob’s Dad had brought his band for a very special performance – he’d never been more proud to play music than on this day!
There were delicious desserts (lots of them!) …
… and once that beautiful party came to an end, guests received very practical wedding favors – flashlights for the way back to their cars!
True to its name, Hidden Villa became engulfed and hidden in darkness, and the sounds of nature took over again… exactly the way that Sandra and Jacob wanted it to be.
A wonderful beginning to a hopefully long and happy journey together – our best wishes on your way!