Napa Valley Engagement Shoot: Kathryn + Ryan

Kathryn and Ryan are really just the sweetest couple. When they are together, they both exude happiness and love and are really so much fun to be around. For their engagement shoot, we head up to a private estate in St. Helena with Elizabeth Messina for a picnic lunch and photos amongst the vines. Kathryn wore two stunning dresses - one of which happened to go perfectly with the yellow cabanas on property. (How cute is that?) In between shots, the couple nibbled on a simple picnic lunch that we sourced straight from the San Francisco Farmer's Market that morning - check out the menu below. I think Elizabeth Messina did such an amazing job of capturing all the sweet little moments between Kathryn and Ryan. You can see more photos on Kathryn's blog, Snippet + Ink, and on Elizabeth Messina's blog, Kiss the Groom.

Kathryn + Ryan's Picnic Menu

* Frog Hollow Farms fresh peach salad with shaved Cowgirl Creamery Parmigiano-Reggiano and a touch of local organic olive oil

* Yellow and green bean salad with a lemon vinaigrette and chives

* Mini sandwiches on toasted asiago baguettes with Savannah Bee acacia honey, cream cheese and sopressata

* Fresh figs drizzled with local honey

* Perfect Endings mini wedding cake

*Jackson's Ice-cycle lemon- gingersnap ice cream sandwiches

* San Pellegrino Limonata 

Coming Soon: Kathryn + Ryan's Engagement Shoot

I'm working with the sweet and lovely, Kathryn, of Snippet & Ink on her upcoming wedding. A couple weeks ago, we spent the day in the Napa Valley for a picnic lunch engagement shoot with her adorable fiance Ryan and the oh-so talented, Elizabeth Messina. I'll be posting pics from the shoot on Monday, so check back then! xo Miniature cake by Perfect Endings. Photo by Elizabeth Messina.

Weekly Inspiration: Considering Your Guests

Even though it's your big day, it's still important to make sure your guests are comfortable. For a wedding in Hana, we placed a basket full of sandals for guests to switch into during the recessional down a muddy hillside. Guests (especially those clad in stiletto heels!) really appreciated the gesture. At the end of the trek, they were greeted with warm towels to wipe their feet before putting on their dancing shoes.  Another one of my favorite ideas is providing shawls for chilly evening celebrations. You can get great quality pashminas in a multitude of colors to coordinate with your wedding colors or (my favorite) a simple, creamy ivory, which is beautiful with almost any outfit.

Calistoga Rehearsal Dinner: Dabney + Rob

Dabney and Rob hosted a simply elegant rehearsal dinner at Calistoga Ranch the evening before they said "I do" in the Napa Valley. Calistoga Ranch is one of my favorite venues - it's luxurious and lush and each part of the property blends seamlessly with the breathtaking surroundings. (I also love to escape for a weekend for a little R&R at their spa!) For Dabney and Rob's rehearsal dinner, we played off the resort's amazing scenery with a fun moss and stone escort table and lots of wood details. The whole look was stunning!

Photography by Meg Smith. Venue and Catering Calistoga Ranch. Floral design by Kathleen Deery Design. Printed materials by PS Paper.

Coming Soon: Calistoga Rehearsal Dinner

I'm working on a stunning rehearsal dinner at the Calistoga Ranch to show you next week! Check back soon. xo Photo by Meg Smith

Love This: Jackson's Ice-Cycle

Meet Jackson. He's a fifteen year old entrepreneur from San Anselmo and together with his old-fashioned ice cream trike, he's taking the dessert world by storm. Jackson creates some of the most delicious ice cream treats using ingredients from local artisans like Miette Patisserie and Three Twins Ice Cream. Think ginger lemon ice cream sandwiches... yum! I think Jackson's Ice-Cycle would make the perfect addition to almost any party. Don't you agree? Follow his route here and fan him on Facebook!

Perfect in Pink: Kate + Brandon

Kate and Brandon recently relocated to Seattle and wanted to get married somewhere fun that would create a relaxed atmosphere for their friends and family. After considering Hawaii, they finally decided upon the Napa Valley for their nuptials. Napa is a fantastic destination wedding location - it's easily accessible, has amazing food & wine, and is the perfect place to relax and kick back. Kate and Brandon selected the stunning Beaulieu Garden property for their ceremony and reception. Kate really wanted pale pink peonies for the wedding flowers and fortunately, her wedding date fell at the height of their season. We incorporated the flowers everywhere from their invitations to her bouquet to the cake. I loved how the peonies were just the perfect shade of pink - so subtle and elegant and not overly feminine. Just perfect! 

My favorite detail? I still can't stop looking at the dessert buffet by Paula LeDuc Fine Catering. I love the cake stands and how everything on it tasted as amazing as it looked! The stunning centerpiece cake is (of course) Perfect Endings. Oh wait, the strawberry shortcake station made fresh before your eyes? It's a close second. Be still my heart!

Photography by Angie Silvy. Ceremony and Reception Location at Beaulieu Garden. Floral design by Kathleen Deery Design. Catering by Paula LeDuc Fine Catering. Escort card display and menu cards by PS Paper. Cake by Perfect Endings. Reception music by DJ Solomon. Ceremony music by KLC String Trio. Bride's gown Vera Wang.