Olive Branches + Modern Touches

My clients looked all over the globe for their wedding location before ultimately realizing there was no place more perfect for them than Napa Valley. They chose my newest exclusive property Z Modern Estate in St. Helena for its sweeping views and clean modern lines.

The bride loved a look that was simple and elegant, so we selected Napa's second most popular plant, the olive tree, to carry as a theme throughout the wedding. Upon a fresh palette of white, Kathleen Deery Design incorporated delicate olive branches and green succulents into the arrangements. I brainstormed with Kathleen and Illusions Lighting to devise a unique lighting fixture for their dinner under the stars. Illusions erected long white poles and draped beautiful string lights wrapped in garlands of olive branches. As the sun went down, the glow from the dinner area was simply magical.

Guests danced the night away to the Durell Coleman Band before moving into a late night after party tent where DJ Dojah spun the groom's favorite music. 

Photography by Meg Smith. Catering by Paula LeDuc Fine Catering. Cake by Perfect Endings. Tabletop and tenting by Classic Party Rentals.

As Seen In: San Francisco Brides

I'm excited and honored to be included in the beautiful new edition of San Francisco Brides magazine - such a fun start to the new year.

San Francisco Brides features one of my favorite couples Noelle and Ken, and their elegant winter wedding at City Hall. Creating their creamy white and silver wonderland look was such a pleasure, and I'm excited to get to share it with readers.

The magazine also interviewed celebrity chef Tyler Florence about our wedding partnership. Tyler shares some wonderful insights about his philosophies for a spectacular wedding meal, not to mention a mouth-watering sample menu for a Spring affair.

Be sure to pick it up on newsstands, or flip through the online version as well.

Laurie + Barry: A Look Back at My Wedding Day

This past weekend, my husband and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary (we've been celebrating all month actually, but this weekend marked the official anniversary). The beautiful weekend of weather we just had is the exact same weather we had five years ago. A perfect October day in the Napa Valley. I couldn't have asked for anything better. 

We had such an amazing weekend surrounded by lots of family and friends. My husband Barry and I decided to have a big wedding to include all the special people from different parts of our lives. We just couldn't imagine not having them all with us to celebrate. It was especially fun for me to share my work life with my family and friends, many of whom had only seen pictures of my weddings but never experienced one in person. 

Our venue was a beautiful estate called Oak Knoll Ranch, modeled after a famous New Orleans manor. It is so pretty in pale pink, with white wrap-around porches and old wisteria vines. I designed the style of the wedding after the surroundings - we built upon the southern feel and the color palette to create an elegant yet relaxed affair with pale pink throughout. 

The whole day was a bit surreal, but being the bride and not the planner was an easier transition than I thought. In fact, everyone kept remarking how calm I was - I owe that to my amazing staff, who took care of every detail so I could enjoy the day.

It was so special to me to have an incredible team of vendors, people I have known and worked with for years, help make the wedding so beautiful, so simple and so me. Additionally, Barry and I both treasure our parents dearly, and that we both got to walk into our wedding ceremony on their arms is a priceless moment we'll cherish all our lives. And I must mention another special guest of honor, Roscoe. Roscoe was my dog before Barry and I met, but Barry fell quickly in love with the little guy and insisted he be part of our big day too. 

I want to take this opportunity to thank the incredible vendors who made the day so special:

Elaine Bell Catering  ~ all of the delicious southern food, the raw oyster bar at cocktails, all of the passed hors d'oeuvres, the mint juleps in pewter cups and especially the mouth-watering fried chicken dinner

Stanlee Gatti Designs ~ the gardenia chuppah that people still talk about - the smell carried throughout the garden, the largest most beautiful lily of the valley bridal bouquet ever and the pale pink delicate reception flowers

Zephyr Tents ~ the sail cloth dining tent and kids tent

Illusions Lighting ~ spectacular lighting in the tents and on the property to highlight the beautiful trees and architecture

Innovative Entertainment ~ romantic music by the Tim Hockenberry Band

KLC Music ~ elegant string music by her talented string quintet for the ceremony

Johnson Edwards Entertainment ~ a packed dance floor, courtesy of Durell Coleman Band

Perfect Endings ~ the sweetest of endings to the evening - my wedding cake, dessert buffet and mini boxed southern pecan pie favors

A Day in May ~ lovely letterpress custom designed printed materials

Barbara Callow ~ the beautiful calligraphy on my save the dates, invitations and day of materials

Jim Avila and Wallet Luburich ~ flawless wedding day hair and makeup

Joan Gilbert ~ for my wedding gown I felt so wonderful in

Thread ~ for the adorable flower girls dresses

Robert Talbott ~ for the dapper men's and boy's ties

Photography by Thayer Gowdy, Eliot Holtzman and Miguel Fairbanks ~ I still can't believe I was so lucky to have three amazing photographers cover my day. Truly a dream come true!

{photography by Eliot Holtzman}

Opulent Indian Wedding: Priyanka + Chaitanya

Priyanka and Chaitanya are a young and modern couple to whom family and tradition are very important. This stunning bride and her handsome groom dreamed of a colorful, elaborate affair surrounded by their loved ones ~ with all the ornate details that make Indian weddings so special and fun. We enlisted design genius Stanlee Gatti to create a spectacular setting for this 600-person event.

Wedding day festivities began with the Baraat - the traditional procession where the groom arrives at the wedding accompanied by music, dancing and celebrating by his family members. A white horse carried Chaitanya to the venue doors, where Priyanka's family greeted the procession with flower garlands. The bride walked down a lush and dramatic petal aisle to the ceremonial mandap, covered in thousands of flowers.

Guests then moved to a poolside cocktail reception, sipping refreshing Caipiroskas {a cocktail of lime, vodka, soda and mint} and nibbling traditional Indian fare and sweets passed by the bride and groom's mothers.

Jewel-like tones of rich purple, royal blue and vibrant green filled the ballroom for dinner, where guests enjoyed a sumptuous meal catered by Amber India. Chaitanya and Priyanka, dressed in a couture gold ballgown for the reception, were toasted with good wishes as they sat in a custom swing. The celebrations continued into the late-night hours, with dancing to Indian and American music woven together by DJ Salim.

Photography by Alisha + Brook Photography. Venue Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. Catering by Amber India. Event Design by Stanlee R. Gatti Designs. Cake by Perfect Endings. Baraat Horse by Hackney Horse + Carriage. Reception music by DJ Salim. Bride's hair and make-up by Nellie Muganda. Wedding day printed materials from PS Paper. Videography by Bliss Video Productions.

Napa Valley Wedding: Joanne + Daniel

Joanne and Daniel wanted their wedding to reflect their sophisticated, yet fun style and to share their passion for great food and wine with friends and family across the globe. The couple, two Brits who met and fell in love in Houston, chose the Napa Valley for their destination wedding.

Joanne and Daniel exchanged "I-dos" amongst enormous Weeping Willow trees on the grounds of a gorgeous private estate in Calistoga. After cocktails on the lake, guests were led up to dinner and dancing by a bagpiper. Joanne's family kicked off the evening with two hilarious toasts, including one from Joanne's sister that was an all-out Fresh Prince of Bel Air style rap about the couple. (A first!) Guests spent the evening laughing, dancing, and indulging in special treats like a cigar bar and bananas foster station from Paula LeDuc Fine Catering.

Photography by Meg Smith. Catering by Paula LeDuc Fine Catering. Florals by Kathleen Deery Design. Cake from Perfect Endings. Dance music from Pop Fiction and Ceremony music from Golden Gate Strings through Innovative Entertainment. Bride's hair and make-up by Jim Avila. Antique convertible from Antique Tours Limousine and Teal Rolls Royce from Mosaic Transportation. Invitations and menu cards from Union Street Papery. Escorts  from PS Paper. Linens from LaTavola. Videography by Lola Video. Calligraphy from Barbara Callow.