The Couple: Julie and John

The Wedding: 7.14.12 – Chalk Hill Estate, Sonoma, CA

What three adjectives best describe your wedding? Elegant, relaxed, outdoors

What was your wedding color palette? White, purple, green

What inspired your personal wedding style, and how did you incorporate your style and personalities into your big day? John proposed at Chalk Hill. We love going up to wine country and we wanted to share this special place with our closest friends and family. In particular we love the beautiful countryside, relaxed but elegant style, delicious food and wine. Our vision was Ralph Lauren meets wine country.

Looking back, what are the moments, decisions or memories that you love the most about your wedding? We loved touring several wineries with our families and the wedding party two days before the wedding. We rented two houses: one for the brides party and one for the grooms. Spending time relaxing and hanging out with our closest friends in a beautiful setting before the wedding was very special. The rehearsal dinner was a wonderful chance to say hello to most of our guests. The speeches at the rehearsal dinner and the wedding both brought tears to our eyes and left us gasping for air from laughing. The food at the rehearsal dinner and wedding was so delicious! The ceremony was lovely. We had a string quartet that did an excellent job and Julie walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon in D. The officiants remarks were inspiring and meaningful. The flowers and views at our wedding were breathtaking. We loved our first dance. We danced to Aint Nothing Bout You by Brooks and Dunn. And our cake was the best weve ever had! Julie loved handing off her bouquet to her brother’s fiancé.

What piece of advice would you give to a bride planning her wedding today? Three things: (1) Hire a great wedding planner. (2) Your dress should make you feel like a beautiful bride. If you have doubts, hold out until you find one that brings tears to your eyes. (I wasted time and money on a first dress before I found THE dress.) (3) Dont worry about everything else being absolutely perfect and learn to let things go at a certain point. Trust that awesome wedding planner! Too much pressure can make you anxious and ruin what will inevitably be a lovely day.

The Wedding Team:

Photographer: Cliff Brunk Photography
Event Planner: Jess Flood Event Design
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Chalk Hill Estate
Rehearsal Dinner: Barndiva
Videographer/Film Maker: BLR Life Photography and Cinema
Officiant: family friend
Invitation Designer: Bella Figura
Calligraphy: Barbara Callow Calligraphy
Catering: Componere Fine Catering
Florals & Furniture: Blueprint Studios
Cake: Perfect Endings
Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier
Bridal Accessories: Veil – Vera Wang, Shoes – JCrew and Valentino, Jewelry – Bloomingdales
Bridesmaids Apparel & Accessories: Alfred Sung via Bella Bridesmaid
Groom & Groomsmen Apparel & Accessories: Hugo Boss and Jos. A Bank
Hair & Make-up: Its A Date at the Powder Room
Live Music: Bill Hopkins Rockn Orchestra and Music to Go
Transportation: Sausalito Limosines
Dance Instruction: Metronome Dance Collective
Rentals: Wine Country Party
Lighting: Got Light?
Tenting: Zephyr Tents
Rings: Richard Dolgin

Thank you Julie and John for sharing your wonderful vineyard wedding with us!

Looking to plan a wine country wedding? Use our Wedding Planning Hotlist for Napa and Sonoma!