The Wedding: Preparations

They're here!! The official wedding pictures are here and I'm so excited about them. Our photographer, Claire Lewis, did such an amazing job capturing the whole day. Now that I've been a bride, I know how quickly the day goes and how little of it you actually can take in. Claire captured everything I couldn't take enough time to enjoy and appreciate as it happened -- my friends, family, the venue, the food, and most importantly by husband!

We had our wedding in Sebastopol, California, in Sonoma, at a venue called Vine Hill House. We picked this venue for a few reasons, one of the main ones being the absolutely amazing view and property that the House sits on. It's not a tasting room like many other wedding venues in Sonoma and Napa -- but a vineyard and apple orchard only. That meant there were no people coming in and out tasting, we had it to ourselves all day. The property does grow Pinot Noir grapes and they make an absolutely amazing wine that we served at the wedding (O'Connell Vineyards Pinot Noir).

The weather was perfect which was a blessing because both the ceremony and reception were outside. Some thick fog stuck around while we got ready in the morning, but it lifted around noon, right before the boys showed up. But before the boys showed up, we all got ready in the house situated on the vineyards at the venue. I was more nervous and anxious than I ever thought I would be!

The pictures in this post capture all the fun stuff that happened before we walked down the aisle and said "I do." I had eight beautiful bridesmaids and we got pampered, drank mimosas and laughed all morning before I slipped into my beautiful Amy Kuschel dress. It was the first dress I tried on! That was my something new. So for my something old, I used a broche from my grandma who wasn't able to travel across the country to be with us. Something blue, well those were my blue sandals. And for something borrowed, my mom used some lace from her wedding dress to make a pillow for our wedding rings. 

The boys showed up and finished getting ready at the property, and Brian and I decided to do a first look rather than see each other for the first time walking down the aisle. More to come on that later this week when I share some more pictures to capture the rest of the day!

Wedding Vendors

CEREMONY & WEDDING VENUE: Vine Hill House || DRESS: Amy Kuschel 'Clover' || SHOES: Loeffler Randall || BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Amsale || SUITS: Indochino || PHOTOGRAPHY: Claire Lewis || FLOWERS: Main St. Floragardens || CATERING: Park Avenue Catering || BAND: Rat Pack Trio || DJ: AMS Entertainment || CAKE: Susie Cakes || HAIR & MAKEUP: Katie Donaghy, Whimsy Bridal || OFFICIANT: Rev. Michael LeBlanc