Lindsey Relyea 5/1/20 Lindsey Relyea 5/1/20

Allison + Alex | Beltane Ranch

Last summer we had the pleasure of working with Allison + Alex on their whimsical wedding at Beltane Ranch. From the start, Allison knew that she would not have a lot of time to commit to planning her wedding. After being referred to us through a friend, we began working with Allison and Alex on achieving their dream wedding day while making the process efficient and effortless for them!

Like most modern brides, designs and inspiration were first gathered via a Pinterest board which soon became filled with soft neutral tones, whimsical draping, and beautifully displayed champagne flutes. With the help of our amazing creative partners and the beautiful backdrop of Beltane Ranch, Allison + Alex’s day went off without a hitch and was absolutely unforgettable!

Beneath the shade of ancient oak trees, Allison and Alex said “I do” in a beautiful ceremony that was officiated by Allison’s stepfather. Flowing white linens and strands of white poofs were delicately draped around the trunk of the tree that served at the backdrop to the ceremony site, setting the tone for the whimsical atmosphere that Allison had dreamed of. During the ceremony, the wedding party was seated with guests, allowing all eyes to be on the bride and groom as the two became husband and wife.

Following the ceremony, guests were treated to a beautiful cocktail hour on the lawn where comfortable vignettes, tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, and a fresh oyster bar by Hog Island Oyster Co awaited them. Guests then found their reception seating by way of champagne flutes displayed on Encore Events Rentals’ a-frame Drake Shelf, each glass accompanied by a name and table number. The reception that awaited was a truly stunning alfresco setting with a color palette of soft blush and creamy white, all set beneath the oak trees and strands of lights hung overhead.

Effortlessly elegant was the overall feel we were going for which was achieved through gorgeous florals designed by Hawthorn Flower Studio and tons of soft textures on the tabletops. Guest seating was a combination of wood farm tables with loose linen runners down the center and round tables draped in pale blush linens; all paired with wood bistro chairs with white cushions. Printed menus and a knotted linen napkin completed each setting in addition to gold flatware and crisp white china.

As the night wore on and the sun went down, the candles and lighting strung overhead began to glow and created the most romantic ambiance for the evening celebration. Heartfelt toasts were made, and Allison and Alex shared a memorable first dance as Lucky Devils Band played in the background. We feel so fortunate to have played a part in their happily ever after! Special thank you to Gretchen Gause for capturing every last detail of the day!

Lindsey Relyea 8/16/17 Lindsey Relyea 8/16/17

Janelle + Javon | Jacuzzi Family Vineyards

Its a special time to be included in your best friends wedding, but its extra special to get to help her plan her wedding! And, on a beautiful September day, Janelle and Javon exchanged vows that were 10 years in the making and it was so rewarding standing by their side as they did. Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. was the perfect setting for these two to say, “I do”.

Janelle walked down the aisle in a stunning white gown with gold details and her ladies accented her with gold art deco floor length dresses. Javon wore a suit with a white jacket and black details to compliment the bride beautifully. Standing in front of their closest family and friends, Janelle and Javon shared what was truly a special moment as they became husband and wife.

With the classic tuscan winery feel and a blend of Gatsby Glam we turned it into an elegant reception black and gold elements throughout. Classic candelabras donned each table wrapped with delicate ivy leaves lit up the room with a romantic glow. Table number doubled as Janelle and Javon’s favorite Italian destinations.

The dance party with Verducci Entertainment and everyone took advantage of the photo booth provided by JoySquad for the remainder of the night.

Thank you Lindsey Tatum for capturing every special moment between the beautiful bride and groom.

Lindsey Relyea 7/12/17 Lindsey Relyea 7/12/17

Caitie + Alex | Geyserville Inn

In the Heart of Alexander Valley, nestled between mountains and vineyards, you’ll discover Geyserville Inn. With spacious grounds and a serene ambiance, it was the perfect destination for our bride and groom’s laid and gorgeous wedding. Caitie and Alex desired these elements so we were elated to plan and design their spirited summer nuptials at this stunning venue!

Flanked by bridesmaids in sapphire gowns and groomsmen in black suits, our bride and groom exchanged vows in a beautiful ceremony under a intimately decorated pergola. With the rolling hills and lush vineyards spreading out into the distance behind them, it truly was a special moment.

For cocktail hour, we wanted to make the most of the space the property allowed. We placed lounge furniture for guests to grab drinks, enjoy appetizers, mingle and explore the beauty of the property.

We wanted to preserve the stunning beauty and natural surroundings the venue offered, so neutral tones with gold accents were utilised for the reception. The bridal party, including Caitie and Alex sat at a long family style table, while guests dined at round tables of 8. Gorgeous stunning flora centerpieces by Fleuressence were in hues of cream, soft pink, deep magenta and lush greenery.

Guests danced the night away to tunes played by AMS. An elegant four layered cake for guests to enjoy completed the evening's festivities while Sarah Marcella beautifully captured all of our favorite moments. We are so happy we were able to be part of Caitie and Alex's special day. Thank you to the entire team for making this possible!

Lindsey Relyea 8/19/15 Lindsey Relyea 8/19/15

Wedding Planning Tips & Tricks

TIMELINE: The wedding day timeline is so valuable to your team of vendors creating all of your wedding day magic. We like to streamline the process for our couples and give them a snapshot of what to expect for the wedding day, should they be communicating directly with their vendors. Common questions such as, "what time should our photographer arrive?" will be dictated based on the number of hours your hired your photographer for. More often than not, we find that our couples will hire their photographer 3-4 hours prior to the ceremony {to capture special moments of you getting ready before you walk down the aisle} and 4-5 hours following the ceremony {to capture portraits, candids, toasts, and dances}.

PHOTOGRAPHY: So much of your wedding day revolves around your flow of photography. We often hear that our couples don't want to miss out on key elements of their wedding because they are off taking photos {and we don't blame you!}. The way we look at it, you are investing a lot of time & effort (and money) into this momentous event, and you should be able to enjoy it! We have a few tricks with timing that we find balance the timing perfectly to capture the images you want, while still enjoying the festivities. We always work with our couples to prioritize a "shot list" with your photographer prior to your wedding day, this should ensure a quick and fluid procession of photos. Another helpful tip is having someone there who is not involved in the majority of photos but wants to be involved (a siblings significant other or a cousin, for example) can be an efficient way to manage the order of the photos and find Uncle Henry if he's 'M.I.A.' for the family portraits. We also suggest minimizing your list of staged photos as much as possible {you know, the photos you fell in love with on Pinterest and have re-create on your wedding day}.This will give your professional photographer the creativity to play. This is, after all, why you hired a professional wedding photographer - trust them, they are masterful behind the lens!

FIRST LOOK: A "first look" refers to a private moment you and your partner share before the ceremony vs. the more traditional route of seeing one another for the first time on your wedding date at the alter. It is no secret that wedding day jitters can be extremely overwhelming, and we have found the trick to nearly curing this anxiety: simply seeing your loved one in private prior to the ceremony. This allows for you both to have some (rare) alone time on your wedding day and exchange some sweet words & possibly tears and/or laughs in private. Most couples say that once they saw their soon-to-be-mister-or-misses, all of their fear and anxiety diminished. It also makes for some incredible photography if you so choose to invite your photographer to capture this moment. By doing a first look, you are able to tackle almost all of your family and bridal party portraits before the ceremony begins, which means you will not miss any of the fun you have spent so much time and energy planning! It also means that you can transport together with your entire wedding party to the venue, where you can jam out to some music, sip on some champagne, and share in the excitement together. If you opt for the traditional route, fear not, we have a few tips for you too! We suggest having a place to retreat directly following your ceremony to have a moment with your new husband/wife relish in the matrimony. Also, if you have a large family and you are nervous about missing your cocktail hour, extend it 30 minutes so you can enjoy the festivities and not feel rushed.

GUEST ARRIVAL: While we like to believe that an event as monumental and ceremonial as a wedding would be one of few occasions that our closest friends and family would go out of their way to be on time, one thing leads to another and next thing you know you have missed the shuttle and you are risking missing the wedding all together. Things happen, and people run late for one reason or another. With that in mind, we always recommend to our clients is to buffer 30 minutes from guest arrival before you actually start your ceremony. Knowing this, we suggest that your ceremony start time listed on your invitation be the time that you wish your guests to arrive, and prepare to begin the ceremony 30 minutes out from there. In other words, if you wedding invitation states a 4pm start time, you will be walking down the aisle at 4:30pm. Giving your guests that time to enjoy the surroundings, have a refreshing beverage, sets the right tone for the wedding you worked so hard to plan. As your wedding coordinator, we will do routine head counts throughout guest arrival and once we are at 90% of your total guest count, we will begin the procession the aisle.

FAVORS: Guest favors are always such a sweet & creative way to thank your guests for sharing in your love, however, the unfortunate reality that we often find, is that these lovely items get left behind. However, as your wedding mentor, we recommend you find other ways to treat your guests without spending a large chunk of money that will in the end go unreceived by their prospective owner. Some things to keep in mind while considering favors: 'can my guests fly home with this favor?', ' is this something that I would use?' Some ideas for this might be a fun and interactive Photo Booth or a candy and dessert bar. These are sure to go to use! Edibles are another great option- consider a local confectionery shop where you live or where you are holding your nuptials.

FAMILY & FRIENDS: We often find that family and friends have many, many varying opinions about how things should look or feel for YOUR wedding. While we understand that everyones intentions are good, we also understand that, as your wedding advocate, many opinions can mean much confusion and frustration. Consider finding creative ways to ask your friends and family to help by giving them a specific project or task that they are in charge of for the wedding. This could be planning the bridal shower or bachelorette, party favor assembly, registry shopping, to name a few. The bigger a task you give them, the more involved they will feel in your special day, which means some space for you to focus on your own desires and wishes for your big day. Ultimately, they mean well and are excited to support you, but may not know how.

WEDDING PLANNING: Okay, okay. I know this is going to sound ridiculous coming from us, but trust us, we have your very best interest at heart! We have no doubt in our minds that many of you can handle wedding planning on your own. What we find, is that even the most organized and resourceful of people need assistance when it comes to planning a wedding: something that realistically is foreign territory for most. A typical rule of thumb is if you don't have 15 hours a week to fully dedicate to planning your wedding, seek help, it's a full time job in itself {we know!}. So enjoy this time and let us help guide you. Almost every couple we have had the pleasure of working with comes back to us and says "I was so stressed out and overwhelmed before we brought you on to handle the coordinating of our wedding. We could not have survived this process without you!". We understand how incredibly time consuming each element of your wedding requires, and we want to ensure that you fully enjoy and look forward to the end result. If you can take a deep breath and relinquish your planning to us, we promise you will not be disappointed. Every bride and groom deserves a break, and at the end of the day you should not be running around worrying about anything that we have listed above! Instead, you should be drinking refreshing cocktails, laughing with your friends and family, having an engagement party, and enjoying this milestone in your life.