Never heard of it? You should! The Arlo is a brand-new, super-modern, hyper-chic wedding venue in the countryside just outside of Austin, TX, and living proof that YES, you can have urban elegance AND romantic rolling hills!
It’s all white with huge windows all around, and that way, bright daylight floods the expansive interior spaces.
There is a double-height Great Room for dinner and dancing, accommodating up to 300 (!) guests; there is even a stunning indoor ceremony space with massive ceiling beams – that are meant to be decorated with suspended greenery, florals or swags.
There is a white-on-white flight of stairs for unforgettable send-offs…
There is a bridal suite right out of “ELLE Decor” – so beautifully designed and decorated! – and a whole cottage for groom and groomsmen; there are covered, shaded patios for Cocktail Hour…
… and of course, a ceremony lawn, with the ceremony spot anchored on an outdoor fireplace.
Not to forget, there are endless views, and heavenly peace and quiet – less than an hour from the city, yet truly a world apart.
To me, the Arlo was a huge discovery, and I can’t wait to create “wedding magic” there!
If ever there was a super-busy young couple planning their wedding, it’s THEM! Groom Alex is working long hours as a software engineer. Bride Isheeta was completing Medical School during our planning time and took her final exams just weeks before her wedding. Together they managed TWO cross-country moves while we were collaborating on their Big Day. Small wonder they needed the help of my company, A Day Like No Other, to plan their wedding celebration!
They had fallen in love with one of the most romantic venues in all of the San Francisco Bay Area, Thomas Fogarty Winery. Nestled into rolling vineyards, and perched high up on a mountain ridge, with endless views from the San Francisco skyline to Silicon Valley – it clearly spoke to these two nature lovers!
After nearly a year of diligent planning, the Great Day had finally arrived – a beautiful, sunny early summer day under blue skies and with a slight breeze. Just perfect.
For bride Isheeta, the day began with hair and makeup services by Vivian Sampson Beauty…
… followed by dressing up with the help of her Mom – the quintessential Mother-Daughter moment!
And likewise, groom Alex and HIS Mom had THEIR moment.
Photographer Melissa Floriano and Avalos Films videographers captured all these precious scenes, from start to finish.
The first big highlight of the day was, of course, the couple’s First Look…
…. followed by many, many photos of the bride and groom…
Florist Janelle of Green Petal Designs had created stunning bouquets and floral arrangements with the bride’s favorite flowers – orchids and roses. So elegant… Time was going by so quickly, guests were arriving (via shuttles from Corinthian Ground Transportation), and then – the ceremony began. Groom Alex was escorted by both his parents…
… a super cute flower girl (with an orchid flower crown!) stole the show…
… and after her, bride Isheeta appeared with her parents.
Always such an emotional moment… and the scenery was simply breathtaking.
The ceremony was officiated by a longtime friend of the couple – it doesn’t get much more personal than that!
“You May Now Kiss the Bride!” – and there they are, just married!
While guests were enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres supplied by Continental Catering, serenaded by DJ Woody of Big Fun Disc Jockeys and entertaining themselves with making a Polaroid scrapbook for the couple ….
… the newlyweds had more pictures to take.
Dinner time! Our catering team had set up dinner tables in the open Pavilion with elegant chairs and tabletop items from Hensley Event Resources …
When Andrea and Pedro first approached my wedding planning company, A Day Like No Other, they had pretty much settled on their venue but were seeking help with everything else – and it was fortunate that they had not yet booked that venue… Being very familiar with it, it was obvious to me that this would by far not offer sufficient room and function spaces for the 180-people event that the couple was envisioning. So – we started over! Again, fortunately, Andrea and Pedro quickly found their perfect venue among the alternatives that I proposed: Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San Jose, an elegant property with a golf course amid green rolling hills, a ceremony area with a waterfall as a backdrop, and a clubhouse with a beautiful patio for cocktails and a huge ballroom with picture windows for dinner and dancing (plus a super supportive venue manager!!).
Our planning took close to a year, and finally, finally – the Big Day arrived.
For the bride, it started with hair and makeup services by Wowpretty Salon …
… and getting ready with her bridesmaids.
Andrea had chosen an elegant strapless, formfitting lace wedding dress…
… and glittery bridal shoes fit for a princess!
Photographer Frank J. Lee captured every moment from start to finish.
What’s missing? Her bridal bouquet, a very feminine, handtied summer bouquet with English Garden Roses in soft hues of ivory, pink and rust (all wedding flowers by Marie Krick of Laurel & Vine).
Ready for her pre-ceremony photos! Following time-honored tradition, Andrea had decided to let her groom first see her at the ceremony. Groom Pedro had meanwhile also gotten dressed up with the help of his groomsmen…
Ready for many photos on the beautiful grounds of the property.
Soon, their guests began arriving by shuttle (by Corinthian Ground Transportation), and many work teams – the A Day Like No Other team Haneen and Diane, the venue crew, the florist, the DJ (Henry Kim of Big Fun Disc Jockeys) – were busy putting the finishing touches on the ceremony setup.
Under a gilded circular arch in front of palm trees and a waterfall, a friend of the couple’s officiated their wedding ceremony.
Here comes the bride:
“You may now kiss the bride!”
Just married!
While guests were treated to cocktails and delicious hors d’oeuvres, photographer Frank took official wedding photos …
… and bridal party photos…
… and then, he took the newlyweds around the property for many more photos. And how do you get around in a golf club? That’s the fun part – in a golf cart, of course!
Again, frantic activity was happening behind the scenes – the photo booth (by Night Owl Photo Booth) had to be set up in time and the dining room had to be prepared for dinner. The couple had chosen metallic gold accents (gold Chiavari chairs and chargers) and pink napkins to go with their pink and rust centerpieces.
Grand Entrance!!
After a delicious dinner (inhouse catering at the venue), the newlyweds shared their much-anticipated choreographed First Dance.
DJ Henry Kim had learned a Spanish-language script for bilingual announcements just for Andrea and Pedro!
He kept the party going with Father-Daughter Dance, Mother-Son Dance, the traditional Money Dance…
… and the wild “hora loca” with dance lights and glowsticks!
What a party!! The couple’s festive Send-off happened in the same spirit of joy and exuberance:
Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together, Andrea and Pedro!
After a more than seven-year courtship, Audrey and Niko decided to make their union official – and to do that in the presence of more than 300 guests. An epic party, in short! Their longtime friend, my assistant Quan at A Day Like No Other, had taken on the huge task of planning every detail of their Great Day.
The couple had chosen a venue with spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline: the Seminary at Strawberry in Mill Valley, just across the SF Bay, and last week it all came together on a beautiful sunny Spring day under blue skies and with a slight breeze. Absolutely perfect!
The view from the ceremony lawn – courtesy of The Seminary at Strawberry
Bride Audrey and her bridesmaids started very early in the day with hair and makeup services by Maya of Dreamcatcher Artistry.
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She and her bridesmaids definitely had a great time together!
Audrey received a gorgeous diamond necklace as a wedding gift from her groom…
… and it was the perfect complement to her low-cut, elegant lace wedding dress.
Next – high heels (gorgeous lacy ones) and the rings…
Photo: ADLNO
… and finally, her pretty bridal bouquet by Willow Floral Design (who also provided the ceremony florals). Photographer Kat Ma and videographer Jeremy Quans captured it all, all day long! (All photos by Kat Ma Photography, unless noted otherwise).
Niko and his groomsmen were also dressing up “to the nines…”
Ready for the traditional Tea Ceremony (for which Audrey wore a beautiful red lace dress)!
The bride traveled in style to her “First Look” location (her Dad chauffeured her in his fire-engine-red Corvette!)…
… and then it was time for many, many photos of the couple and the bridal party.
Very soon, the first ones of the couple’s 300 guests were arriving…
Now, how do 300 guests find their assigned tables? Here it was a whimsical display of pretty name lists on vintage shutters.
Time for the Great Entrance of the couple and their bridal party – BUT with a huge, unexpected twist: an authentic Lion Dance by Tenny Lee and his troupe!
The couple presided over it all from their Sweetheart Table.
The groom and his groomsmen had prepared a surprise performance for the bride:
More surprises were awaiting their guests: with reverence for the Star Wars movies (the couple’s all-time favorite), guests received “chop sabers” (light-up chopsticks) for their 10-course Chinese Banquet dinner!
Trulee Memorable provided their photo booth as additional guest entertainment – a HUGE hit!
In between, the newlyweds quietly “stole away” for Sunset photos…
And when they returned and had completed their traditional table visits, they went on to cut their cake (by Tony’s Cakes) …
… toss a bouquet…
… and a garter…
… and then the dance floor was opened to everyone. Oh – I nearly forgot – we had a traditional Money Dance as well…
It was an epic dance party to the tunes of Chemistry DJs!
Everyone had a great time… wishing you a lifetime filled with joy, happiness and many more epic parties, Audrey and Niko!
