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An Impossibly Romantic Stonepine Estate Wedding in Carmel Valley

June 8, 2026 | justine

Bridget and Courtney’s love story started at a Lady Gaga-themed drag show at a queer bar in Austin, Texas. Their friend groups happened to overlap that night at Cheer Up Charlie’s, and Bridget asked Courtney on a date the very next day. They’ve been together ever since, building a relationship filled with laughter, great food, and memorable experiences.

The biggest challenge wasn’t deciding on colors or decor. It was finding a way to bring together the people they love most. With friends and family spread across the globe, they wanted more than a single evening celebration. They wanted a full weekend where everyone could slow down, spend time together, and actually get to know one another.

After a long search, they found that at Stonepine Estate in Carmel Valley. With its Tuscan-inspired villas, lush gardens, and sprawling grounds, everyone could stay in one place and enjoy the kind of wedding weekend Bridget and Courtney had imagined from the start.

What We Love About This Stonepine Estate Wedding:

  • The couple personally welcoming every guest as they arrived for the weekend
  • An Irish ring warming ceremony that included every loved one present
  • Florals designed to encourage conversation instead of blocking it
  • Signature cocktails named after their beloved pets
  • A chef-curated menu inspired by personal memories and favorite foods
  • A small guest list that made a 450-acre estate feel surprisingly intimate

Featured Vendor:
Apollo Fotografie

When A Single Day Doesn’t Feel Like Enough

“We wanted a small wedding that wouldn’t just last an evening. Our friends and family are spread across the globe, and this was our opportunity to get everyone in one place and let them truly get to know each other over a whole weekend.”

That idea guided nearly every planning decision. They wanted a venue where guests could stay together, spend time together, and create memories beyond the wedding day itself.

That’s what drew them to Stonepine Estate. The property could accommodate all of their guests while providing the kind of atmosphere they had imagined from the beginning. Pairing a small guest count with such a grand setting created something that felt surprisingly personal.

The celebration began the moment guests arrived. Bridget and Courtney greeted everyone with music, hugs, and help getting settled into their accommodations. Once guests had explored the grounds, everyone gathered for a welcome dinner at the Paddock House.

Their caterer, Carlo Espinas of Linger Longer, served Mexico City-style street tacos and light bites, while Craft Collective mixed pineapple margaritas that quickly set the tone for the weekend ahead.

Trusting The Venue To Speak For Itself

One of the reasons the couple chose Stonepine Estate was because it already felt beautiful without requiring extensive decor. “We wanted the wedding to feel timeless and like we didn’t need to add much to its natural beauty.” Inspired by the property’s Tuscan character, they embraced a design approach that highlighted the surroundings rather than competing with them.

Expressions Floral Designs created reception arrangements featuring locally grown calla lilies, spring green hydrangeas, and draping tulips. The couple wanted the reception to feel like the best dinner party imaginable, which meant avoiding towering centerpieces that would get in the way of conversation.

For the ceremony, they kept things equally restrained. The Reflection Pond provided a naturally peaceful backdrop, so they opted for just two floral ground arrangements framing the ceremony space. The design never competed with the setting. Instead, it highlighted what was already there.

Bringing Their Personal Style Into The Celebration

Fashion offered another opportunity for Bridget and Courtney to bring their personalities into the wedding weekend. Courtney found her dream gown in her hometown of Toronto. She chose Jenny Yoo’s Charlotte gown, pairing the drop-waist silhouette with lace gloves and a cathedral-length veil.

“On my hunt for wedding dresses, I gravitated towards the drop waist look, wanting to achieve an elongated appearance while maintaining the whimsy that comes with wearing a ball gown. As soon as I tried on the Charlotte, I knew I had to say yes to the dress!”

Bridget worked with designer James Ford to create a custom suit and shirt tailored specifically to her vision. “My custom suit and shirt were designed by James Ford, accessorized with a continental tie from Bode and Prada loafers.”

Building A Team That Understood The Assignment 

While Courtney spent plenty of time on Pinterest narrowing down color palettes, styling ideas, and design inspiration, the couple quickly realized they needed partners who could help bring everything together. After securing the venue, planner Andrina Lopes of Confetti & Cocktails became their next major decision.

“Our concept was a little untraditional, and Andrina was an incredible partner and advisor. From the beginning of the planning process through to the whole weekend, Andrina made everything feel easy, fun, and if anything went wrong, she handled it and we weren’t aware.”

The couple found both Andrina and photographer and Junebug vendor Liv Rhodes of Apollo Fotografie through Reddit. Their caterer was already a close friend. Most of the remaining vendors came through Andrina’s recommendations.

“We were looking for people we really got along with and really understood our vision of the weekend we wanted to host.” That approach helped create a vendor team that felt more like collaborators than service providers.

 

Deciding What Was Worth The Investment

Like many couples, Bridget and Courtney had to make choices about where to focus their budget. For them, the answer was simple: a venue that could accommodate guests for the entire weekend, photography and videography, and exceptional food.

Food, in particular, carried a lot of meaning. Their menu was created by Carlo Espinas, who Bridget had known for more than a decade after working together at a restaurant in Santa Cruz. Carlo designed a dining experience inspired by the couple’s favorite treats, personal stories, and seasonal ingredients from California’s Central Coast.

The personal touches continued at the bar. The Mr. Avocado, a cucumber gin gimlet, was named after their cat. The Lola, a pineapple margarita with a tajín rim, honored their late dog.

For dessert, they skipped tradition in favor of flavor, choosing a seasonal Devil’s Food cake with coffee diplomat and brown sugar buttercream from Good Luck Bakery, a queer and immigrant-owned Bay Area business.

Finding A Way To Include Everyone In The Ceremony

Courtney’s mom introduced an Irish tradition that ended up becoming one of the most memorable parts of the ceremony. To honor Bridget’s heritage, the couple incorporated a ring warming ceremony led by their close friend and officiant.

Because of their intimate guest count, every guest had the opportunity to hold the rings before they were exchanged, offering blessings, well wishes, and quiet moments of reflection. “We thought the idea was a wonderful way to slow down, stay present, and bring our wedding guests into the moment with us.” The tradition echoed the reason they planned a weekend wedding in the first place. They wanted guests to feel like active participants in the celebration, not simply observers.

Early in the planning process, Bridget and Courtney decided they weren’t interested in creating a wedding that lasted only a few hours. They wanted a weekend where the people they love could spend real time together. Between shared meals, late-night conversations, and several days under one roof, that’s exactly what unfolded at Stonepine Estate.

The Wedding Team:

Photography + Videography – Apollo Fotografie
Event Planning – Andrina Lopes
Venue – Stonepine Estate
Floral Design – Expressions Floral
Catering – Carlo Espinas
Cake – Good Luck Bakery
DJ – DNA Entertainment
Wedding Dress – James Ford
Rings – Identity Diamonds

 

Sponsors
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Heartwarming Spring Wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina

June 7, 2026 | justine

For Lindsey and Santi, the most important part of wedding planning wasn’t building a packed timeline or elaborate production. It was creating a space where everyone they loved could gather together and celebrate. After meeting on the first day of freshman year in college, their relationship grew steadily over the years before eventually bringing them to a spring wedding weekend in North Carolina.

“We met on the first day of class our freshman year of college and knew pretty quickly that I was who he wanted to be with,” Lindsey shared. “It took me a few years to realize this for myself, but when I did, I fell hard. Good thing though, because I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it.”

That history made their wedding at Henderson Acres feel especially personal. Surrounded by mountain views, fresh spring air, and 100 of their closest friends and family members, their Blue Ridge Mountain wedding focused less on creating a spectacle and more on making people feel cared for from the moment they arrived.

What We Love About This Blue Ridge Mountain Wedding:

  • Handwritten letters for every guest that doubled as seating assignments
  • An emotional first touch before the ceremony
  • Baby blue and ivory details inspired by a spring garden party
  • Sharing communion with all of their guests during the ceremony
  • A doe and her fawn appearing moments before the ceremony began

Making a 100-Guest Wedding Still Feel Intimate

As they started planning, Lindsey and Santi knew they wanted the atmosphere to feel relaxed and welcoming despite hosting a larger group. They described their vision in three words: warm, intimate, intentional. Instead of filling the day with nonstop activities or overly formal details, they focused on creating an environment where guests could comfortably spend time together.

Their venue played a huge role in helping that vision come together. “We talked about having a backyard wedding, and honestly this venue feels like we’re having it in our own backyard,” they shared. “We also fell in love in the Blue Ridge Mountains, so having them as the backdrop of our wedding day will be extra special.”

The setting already carried so much natural beauty that the design choices stayed fairly understated. Baby blue and ivory details softened the ceremony and reception spaces without distracting from the scenery around them. Everywhere guests looked, there were rolling mountain views, spring greenery, and fresh air moving through the property.

Junebug vendor Yaseli Olivera Photography, described the weather as warm but crisp, the kind of spring day people hope for but rarely get exactly right. Just minutes before the ceremony started, a doe and her fawn appeared near the mountainside, something guests and vendors alike couldn’t stop talking about for the rest of the evening.

Including Faith in a Way That Felt Natural to Them

Faith was always going to be part of Lindsey and Santi’s wedding day, but they wanted it woven naturally into the experience rather than separated from it.

“We are also both believers and we wouldn’t know true love without Christ, so we want our wedding day to sing of His goodness!” Lindsey shared while describing their hopes for the celebration.

That feeling carried most strongly through the ceremony itself. Guests participated together in communion while surrounded by the mountains, creating a moment that felt quiet, emotional, and deeply communal all at once. Yaseli later shared that watching Lindsey and Santi look out at everyone gathered around them became one of the most emotional parts of the day.

Featured Vendor:
Yaseli Olivera Photography

Saving the Emotional Reveal for the Ceremony

Lindsey and Santi also knew early on that they didn’t want their wedding photos to feel stiff or overly directed. After building trust with Yaseli during their engagement session, they felt comfortable leaning into a more documentary-style approach.

“We wanted our wedding photography to feel like the day actually felt, so we could look back and see the genuine smiles and unposed moments,” Lindsey shared. “While posed photos still mattered to us, we especially loved the documentary approach and all the in-between moments being captured too.”

Rather than doing a traditional first look, the couple chose to share a first touch before the ceremony. Standing close together without seeing one another, they privately read vows while holding onto the anticipation of the ceremony still ahead. Their photographer described the moment as deeply intimate because they were close enough to hear each other’s emotions in real time while still saving the visual reveal for later.

Later in the evening, Lindsey and Santi briefly stepped away during golden hour portraits before returning straight back to the dance floor and their guests.

Turning the Seating Chart Into Something More Personal

The detail guests remembered most from this Blue Ridge Mountain wedding wasn’t an oversized floral installation or dramatic decor setup. It was the letters.

Instead of using a traditional seating chart, Lindsey and Santi wrote personal handwritten notes to every guest attending the wedding. Each letter waited at the reception alongside their table assignment, giving everyone a private moment with the couple before dinner officially began.

The effect was immediate. Guests stood reading quietly to themselves, hugging one another, and talking about memories they shared with the couple. Cocktail hour naturally stretched into longer conversations because people wanted time to fully take everything in.

Yaseli described the gesture as one of the most memorable parts of the entire day. “Such a simple gesture turned their wedding day into something very special and connected,” they shared.

By the end of the night, this Blue Ridge Mountain wedding stood out not because of one dramatic detail, but because every part of the celebration reflected the kind of relationship Lindsey and Santi have built together over the years. The mountain setting was beautiful, of course, but what guests seemed to carry home with them most was the feeling of being personally welcomed into something honest, thoughtful, and deeply cared for.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Yaseli Olivera
Event Planning – Florence Event Co.
Venue – Henderson Acres
Catering – Sage & Spice Catering
Coffee Cart – JavaCart Espresso Catering
DJ – Snapdragon Entertainment
Wedding Dress – Essence of Australia + The Dress Bridal Boutique

 

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings

A Sleek Emerald, Black, and Gold Wedding at Wedgewood Weddings at The Headquarters

June 5, 2026 | justine

For Omani and Noel, the vision was always clear: a wedding that felt elegant, welcoming, and effortlessly put together. Black, emerald green, and gold set the tone for the day, bringing a rich, classic look to every part of the celebration. Their wedding at Wedgewood Weddings at The Headquarters balanced sleek design with family-centered moments, creating a day that looked polished without losing its warmth.

The couple met on Tinder and quickly realized how easily they fit into each other’s lives. “We knew right away that spending time with one another was something we wanted to prioritize,” they shared. “We felt like home to one another.”  You could see that comfort between them throughout the entire celebration. Instead of filling the day with nonstop activities or extra production, they focused on good food and making sure guests had space to relax and enjoy being together.

What We Love About This Wedgewood Weddings at The Headquarters Wedding:

  • Emerald, black, and gold details that brought richness to the entire space
  • An emotional first look with the bride’s dad and brothers
  • Their son completely stealing the show during the ceremony
  • A memorial chair honoring loved ones who had passed
  • A venue that already looked like the vision they had in mind

Featured Vendor:
Sophie Denise Photos

Starting With the Big Decisions Before Anything Else

Because Omani works as an event planner, she already knew that the early decisions would inform everything that followed. Before worrying about florals or small styling details, she focused on the venue, the budget, and the overall look they wanted the day to have. Finding Wedgewood Weddings at The Headquarters made many of those decisions easier. “I loved that I didn’t have to over-create my vision. The venue matched it perfectly.” Omani shared

The space already had the clean, modern feel they were looking for, so the decor never needed to compete with the venue itself. Instead, the couple focused on details that would tie everything together visually. Black linens, emerald accents, gold touches, and carefully selected table settings helped create the polished look Omani had imagined from the beginning. “The decor was really important to me. From the charger plates to the color of the napkins, I needed everything to feel chic.”

Realizing Guests Will Remember the Energy More Than the Details

As planning continued, Omani and Noel became more selective about where they wanted their budget and attention to go. What mattered most to them was being surrounded by people they loved and creating a celebration everyone could enjoy together. They cared more about creating a celebration where guests felt included, comfortable, and excited to be there.

“Our guests having fun and feeling loved,” they shared when talking about their biggest priorities. They were also intentional about keeping the guest list filled with people who truly mattered to them, which helped the wedding feel warm and connected throughout the day.

That mindset also helped them avoid getting stuck on details that ultimately wouldn’t matter years later. Their advice to other couples reflects that perspective perfectly: “Enjoy each other and enjoy being in love. No one is going to remember the linen you used or the glassware, but they’ll remember how happy you and your spouse were.”

Letting Family Moments Take Center Stage

While the design details helped set the tone visually, the most memorable parts of the wedding came from the moments centered around family. One of the most emotional parts of the day for Omani was her first look with her dad and brothers. “Not a dry eye,” she shared.

Their ceremony also included several deeply meaningful personal touches. The couple’s son was part of the wedding and completely stole the show, bringing a playful energy to the ceremony that guests loved. They also honored loved ones who had passed away with a memorial chair draped during the ceremony, creating space for remembrance in a simple but meaningful way.

Omani and Noel’s wedding at Wedgewood Weddings at The Headquarters came together in a way that felt both polished and personal. Between the family-centered moments, the classic black-and-gold styling, and a packed room full of people they genuinely loved having around them, the celebration stayed focused on what mattered most to them from the very beginning.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Sophie Denise Photos
Event Planning – Weddings by Janae
Venue – Wedgewood Weddings
Cake – Violet Cake
Videography + Content Creator – Rooted in the West Events
Invitation Design – Zazzle
Makeup Artist – Nicquel Artistry
Hair Styling – Emerald Beauty
Bridal Accessories – Bridal and Veil
Groom’s Apparel – Friar Tux
Rentals – Bright Rentals

 

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings
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