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Elegant Red Barn Wedding
Ella & Jon
VENDORS
- Wedding Styling/Staging and rental décor: Simple Country Weddings
- Wedding planner: Maryssa Stovall with Hannah Smith Events
- DJ/Band: The Rolling Heads
- Caterer: Elle’s Catering
- Bakery/desserts: Elle’s Catering
- Bartender: Elle’s Catering
- Photographer: Sandra Mikalauskas with White Ivory Photography
- Videographer: Ian Powell with Ian Powell Films
- Venue: Red Barn Ranch in Hopland, California
- Shuttle/transportation: BusBank
- Florist: Dragonfly Floral
- Photo Booth: Ready, Steady, Pose
- Rabbi: Barry Tuchman
How did you meet? The first time I met Ella, I was still living in the UK and was in Sacramento for work, visiting another company. This happened to be Ella’s first day of her new job. The CEO and I walked into a conference room to meet and Ella was already in there filling out her new employee paperwork. My company in the UK was working closely with Ella’s company here in the US, so we ended up working closely together for a year, even though I was away. When I was offered a job at Ella’s company in the US, I decided to leave rainy England for sunny California and ended up being Ella’s boss. We continued to work together for several months as friends, but when Ella decided to leave for medical school, our relationship blossomed.
Where was your first date? Our first date was a wine tasting trip to Sonoma.
Where did you get engaged? Jon told me I had to get up at 4 A.M. because we were going to go on a trip out of town. I was curious as to why he would make me get up at such an ungodly hour knowing how much I appreciate sleep (and how scary I can be without it). He told me to wear comfortable clothes, so I assumed we were going on some sort of early morning hike. We arrived in Santa Rosa just as the sun was rising and got on a bus with a group of people, and that is when he told me we were going to go on a hot air balloon ride (something I had always wanted to try). I was a bit surprised he had chosen to do this considering his fear of heights, but I was excited. When we got to the field, the hot air balloons were being prepped and filled and I noticed there was one big balloon for the group and a smaller one for just the two of us. We got into the hot air balloon and took off. The views of the valley were breathtaking. And then Jon, out of nowhere, got down on one knee and asked me if I would marry him. Of course I said yes.
What was you first impression of each other? Ella: I thought Jon was going to be a smooth-talking player because of his English accent (I was picturing the Hugh Grant type), but he was not like that at all! My first impression of Jon was that he was extremely intelligent and hardworking. Jon: I thought Ella was friendly, funny, and a thoughtful person.
When did you start planning your special event? We started really planning our event in Spring 2017.
What was the most fun detail in planning your wedding? We really enjoyed creating blind taste tests of all of the wine for each other and deciding on just the right wines.
How did you choose your style/theme? Since we were getting married in wine country, we decided to go for a more rustic look. We were shooting wine barrel country, as opposed to wheel barrel country.
What was the most difficult detail to agree on? We surprisingly agreed on everything (or Jon just didn’t care, so I got to choose).
What was the most unique detail about your ceremony? Reception? We had a semi-Jewish wedding with the most hilarious rabbi you could imagine. Both sets of our parents were up with us under the canopy; it was a very intimate and special moment. We hired a live band for our wedding reception and they entertained our guests with amazing music.
What personal touches did you include in your ceremony? Reception? We made our own canopy for the ceremony and bought and stained the wood ourselves. For the reception, we bought all of our own linens from a special company because we wanted a more textured and rustic look.
What was the inspiration behind your flowers? A lot of perusing through Pinterest! We loved the more muted tones and thought they would pair well with the tan colors we had chosen.
How did you choose your wedding colors? We are both into more neutral, earthy tones, so we thought tan would be a perfect base color and decided to dress it up with small pops of color, like blush pink, butter yellow, and green. Everything kind of came together from there.
Did your pet play a role in your wedding? Unfortunately, we don’t have any pets, but we’re planning on getting a puppy soon!
What was the inspiration for the dress you chose? Who is the designer of your gown? My dress was designed by Casablanca and was style 1975. I wanted something that looked somewhat vintage. I wanted something more champagne than white, with lace, and buttons.
In one paragraph, please describe your wedding day. Our wedding day was very spontaneous and full of surprises. We were thankful for the day of sunshine we got on our wedding day, after having had two previous days of rain. We had great family and friends present. The band and music was amazing. The flowers looked beautiful and all of the details and furniture from Simple Country Weddings really set our wedding apart.
How did your wedding reflect the dream wedding you had as a child? Jon and I were never really the types of people who had even dreamed of getting married or really thought about it before, so our wedding ideas sort of just came together organically as we went along.
If you could go back and change one thing about your wedding day, what would that be? We would have hired a different caterer.
How did you pick your first dance song? What song was it? Our first dance song was “Magnet and Steel” by Walter Egan and Stevie Nicks. We had a lot of throwback music from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, and we both thought this song was really cute and light-spirited.
What was the funniest OOPS moment of your wedding day? Jon’s mother passed out during our ceremony and ambulances, a firetruck, and a helicopter were called in. It took about 45 minutes for her to come to, but everything was okay in the end and she rejoined us for the ceremony.
A Wedding To Remember
Amy & Mike
Easily one of our favorite weddings. And just look at this couple!!! Adorable is an understatement. Amy and Mike planned their dream wedding at Mikes family orchard farm. Everything from this wedding reflects how lovely this couple is. Every detail, spot on. From the stunning grounds to the balloon arch over the bar, everything was very well thought out. Major congrats to this amazing couple!!!
THE CEREMONY
COCKTAIL HOUR
VENDORS
- Wedding planner: Simple Country Weddings Simple Country Weddings
- DJ/Band: DJ Joe DeBorba, Deborba Events and Sound
- Caterer: Angelina’s
- Bakery/desserts: Fizz Bakery
- Bartender: Angelina’s
- Photographer: Liz Zimbelman liz@lizzimbelman.com
- Videographer: Peek Media (510) 290-0625
- Venue: Caffese Farms (Private Family Home)
- Shuttle/transportation: (Private Limo Driver courtesy of the Haggerty Family)
- Linens: CC Linens (209) 329 0398
RECEPTION
ALL THE PRETTY DETAILS
SUNSET
THE WEDDING PARTY
GETTING READY
THE DETAILS
How did you meet? We met online through a dating application.
Where was your first date? Mike took me on muni to the Ferry Building where we tried the free samples at all of the different shops, walked up the embarcadero and out to dinner at Firenze by Night in North Beach.
Where did you get engaged? Mike proposed to me in the Kaohsiung Taiwan at the Kaohsiung Lighthouse in front of my family.
What was you first impression of each other? The first time we met, I asked Michael to parallel park my car.
Mike’s first impression: She doesn’t know how to drive but she had the prettiest smile and beautiful hair
Amy’s first impression: He was very handsome with kind eyes and he knows how to parallel park!
When did you start planning your special event? We started planning our wedding a few weeks after our engagement.
What was the most fun detail in planning your wedding? I think there were so many details and ideas that I would find on social media and share with my friends and wedding planners. It was so exciting to find something darling and figure out ways to execute.
How did you choose your style/theme? We knew we were going to get married at the family home which is out in the country but wanted a sleek classic feel to the entire event. Both of us had a strong sense of not wanting something over the top but an event that really spoke to who we are as a couple.
What was the most difficult detail to agree on? Mike and I didn’t have any disagreements in re: wedding details. I think the most difficult part was figuring out our guest lists and gathering addresses for the guest list.
What was the most unique detail about your ceremony? There are so many details of our ceremony that touched our hearts. To start, we were married in front of the tree that Mike and his brothers used to play baseball. We had Mike’s godmother/aunt Lala Terri marry us who has always been a huge supportive force in our lives. It was incredible how in-sync we all were with one another. Prior to our wedding, none of us had shared our vows or what was going to be said during the ceremony with one another, yet somehow there were pieces of my vows, Mike’s vows and her speech that all flowed together. The wreath that hung on the tree where we were married was placed at our sweetheart table during the reception and laid at Mike’s grandfather’s grave the next day.
Reception? We had the reception in the front of the family home. Our head table was under the redwoods that Mike’s parents had planted. Each tree was planted for each child in the family. Towards the end of the night, Mike’s oldest brother Angelo surprised us with a fireworks display that was just over the top!
What personal touches did you include in your ceremony? Our Aunt Laura read a poem during our ceremony that was from the “book of lucy” (Lucy is our pet beagle). Reception? Our tables were named after trees that were native to Lodi. When Mike was a little kid, his parents would play a game in the car asking each of the kids to name the trees and crops in the area.
What was the inspiration behind your flowers? Classic glam. I love tight beautiful bouquets and flower arrangements. I knew the venue was already beautiful and wanted something to showcase the natural beauty and not be too overwhelming.
How did you choose your wedding colors? I was in a blush kind of mood in 2016-2017 and loved how dreamy it looks. My wedding planner Ramona gave me the idea of having navy suits when I met her for the first time and could not get the idea out of my head.
Did your pet play a role in your wedding? She was not present for the nuptials but Mike’s Aunt read a poem from “The book of Lucy” called “ Falling in Love is like Owning a Dog”
What was the inspiration for the dress you chose? My dress was by Allure. I always knew I wanted a lace gown with a sweetheart neckline and would accessorize with a glittery belt.
In one paragraph, please describe your wedding day.
Our wedding day was simply put, the best day of our lives spent with our family and loved ones. Months of planning, conversations, pre-celebrations all culminated into the wedding of our dreams. There was something so special about being married at the home where Michael grew up at and bringing our family and friends all back “home”. Planning a wedding at a private venue is a huge effort and we are so happy to say that with the help of our planners and our family; there was not one detail that was overlooked. We could not have been more thrilled with how beautiful everything was. It’s been months since our nuptials and we still have so many of our guests complimenting us on how beautiful everything was.
How did your wedding reflect the dream wedding you had as a child? They both have the same ending: I married prince charming and my best friend.
If you could go back and change one thing about your wedding day, what would that be? MORE TIME!!!! Our day flew by so quickly.
How did you pick your first dance song? What song was it? We picked a classic song by Elton John called “Your Song”. Mike likes analyzing the lyrics where I love a beautiful melody. Together, we were able to find something that we both enjoyed and felt would be memorable.
What was the funniest OOPS moment of your wedding day? I almost tripped down the stairs while we were being announced.
Any other details/comments you would like to share? There is no way, our wedding would have been possible without the help of our amazing planners and vendors. Everyone involved seemed genuinely invested in our happiness which really helped bring everything together.
Fun Fall Wedding
Stephanie + Dennis
THE CEREMONY
The Vendors
- Wedding planner: Simple Country Wedding – Ramona Arnold
- DJ/Band: DJ Joe: sjsdiscjockey@yahoo.com
- Caterer: Big Joe: wedobbq@aol.com
- Hair & Makeup: Michele DeeAnn Makeup Artistry Micheledeeann@gmail.com
- Bakery/desserts: Christie Lancaster: clancaster418@yahoo.com
- Bartender: Primo Bar: primobar@att.net
- Photographer: Jillian Gorman Photography: jillian@jilliangormanphotography.com
- Videographer: Will Cavada: will cavadawm@earthlink.net
- Venue: Lotus View Ranch: rwolfe@resero.com
- Shuttle/transportation: API Global Transportation: service@apiglobal.net
- Pig Races: All Alaskan Pig Races: aarpigs@gmail.com
- Floral: Morningside Florist
COCKTAIL HOUR
SUNSET IMAGES
DETAILS
How did you meet? We had a chance meeting at a lounge after Dennis’ softball league game. We went to the same high school years prior, however only met in our mid twenties.
Where was your first date? We spontaneously met for lunch at a well-known hot dog venue near a college campus.
Where did you get engaged? Dennis planned a surprise trip to New York City. He proposed at the top of the Empire State Building, in the darkest corner, where no one would notice.
What was your first impression of each other? Dennis thought I was beautiful. I was immediately attracted to his fun and outgoing nature.
When did you start planning your special event? Immediately after our trip to New York City
What was the most fun detail in planning your wedding? We planned a semi-destination wedding since we live in San Jose, Folsom was 2 and a half hours away. It was fun to meet with our vendors and listen to their ideas.
How did you choose your style/theme? We based our style/theme on my love for the county fair and a pig race we loved to watch every year.
What was the most difficult detail to agree on? It was difficult to agree on the venue since Dennis wanted a more all-inclusive place and I wanted to challenge myself with a completely clean slate.
What was the most unique detail about your ceremony? Reception? We hired the mini pig races that we loved from the fair. They traveled from Oregon to be with us that day. It was adorable and fun to watch. Our guests were also surprised by it.
What personal touches did you include in your ceremony? Reception? We also had piñatas in our likeness and a balloon twister for the children in our wedding.
What was the inspiration behind your flowers? I love dahlias, so I asked my florist to incorporate them in.
How did you choose your wedding colors? I’ve always loved pink and gold. Since it’s been a popular color in weddings, it was easy to find everything I wanted.
Did your pet play a role in your wedding? We don’t have pets, but we did indulge in the pigs. We enjoyed seeing our guests take pictures with the mini pigs. Who doesn’t love cute mini teacup pigs?
What was the inspiration for the dress you chose? Who is the designer of your gown? I love lace, beading, and sweetheart lines, so it was pretty easy to choose. I purchased it from a store named Trudy’s in Campbell, CA
In one paragraph, please describe your wedding day. We had an amazing wedding day. From sharing it with our friends and family to watching the hardest working people in the wedding industry provide the most beautiful day of our lives to date. I couldn’t have asked for anything more and can’t express the gratitude I have for Ramona and for all the vendors who came out and made it happen. We were extremely humbled by the love we felt from every person in attendance.
How did your wedding reflect the dream wedding you had as a child? Neither of us had a dream wedding in mind as children, however if you ask Dennis, he never would have thought pigs would be involved. Neither of us thought we would be outdoors but everything turned out spectacular anyway.
If you could go back and change one thing about your wedding day, what would that be? We would have hired more staff to help set up and break down. We also would have managed our time better with the photography.
How did you pick your first dance song? What song was it?
We picked “From the Ground Up” by Dan+Shay. We listened to many, MANY, many songs on each trip to Folsom. We settled on this one because it was sweet and resonated.
What was the funniest OOPS moment of your wedding day? I had bought balloons that spelled out L-O-V-E for the cake area. When I saw the batch of balloons, I noticed the L was missing and inquired about it. I didn’t think about it again until I entered the barn later for our grand entrance. I asked Dennis about the missing balloons since he was in charge and he let me know he would share what happened later. His sister in law accidentally let one float away and the rest of the night we kept laughing about how much “ove” we had for each other.
Any other details/comments you would like to share? Despite the terrible experience we had with our first venue and having to re-locate 4 months before the wedding, a gorgeous day was pulled off by all the hard work put in by our vendors. It was stressful, upsetting, and difficult to navigate but we received a lot of help from everyone we chose to work with. Special thanks to Lotus View Ranch and Simple Country Weddings for working together to help us bring our vision to life.
THE RECEPTION
Boho & Wildflowers
Josh & Brynn’s stunning Boho Wedding
The Vendors
Wedding planner : Ramona Arnold, Simple Country Weddings
DJ/Band friend
Bakery/desserts: Dunk’n Run Donuts (ma and pop shop in auburn)
Photographer : Inspiremefilmandphoto
Videographer Inspiremefilmandphoto
Venue: Blue Goose Event Center
Custom Signage/Lettering and chalkboards- Bride, Brynn Lawson
The Details
How did you meet? Joshua and I met in High School, our sophomore year we had a mutual friend introduce us.
Where was your first date? Our first date was actually a church formal dance he asked me to. He asked me in the most elaborate scavenger hunt across campus and the whole town! I remember thing man he must have put days and days into this planning! Every clue was so detailed. He have one of the clues be a song with my name in it I had to play off a CD in my car!
Where did you get engaged? Joshua proposed to me four years later in Loomis California, making yet another elaborate scavenger hunt across Auburn and Loomis (to remember my first scavenger hunt) which led me to an out door stage that he decorate with hanging lights.
What was you first impression of each other? Brynn –When I first met Joshua, I knew he would be my best friend, he made me laugh so hard I would cry. His imagination was huge and he loved being quarky and different. Joshua -When I first met Brynn, all I could remember was her smile. It was gorgeous. I quickly realized how comfortable and happy she made me. She was so attractive and thoughtful.
When did you start planning your special event? I started planning my wedding in high school! Not specifically to who I would marry, just how it would be, what I liked. I officially started planning my wedding with Joshua probably senior year of high school…but my whole style and idea changed after he had spent two years in Africa.
What was the most fun detail in planning your wedding? One of the most fun details was incorporating tie-dye! Also having my wedding dress made by a family friend.
How did you choose your style/theme? I’ve always had a particular artsy colorful style… I don’t have a favorite color, everyone is beautiful…so I had to have them all in my wedding! I love boho and I for sure wanted to display the tinest of details.
What was the most difficult detail to agree on? The most difficult detail to agree on was the reception location. Joshua’s always loved the Blue Goose because he grew up next to it… and I wanted an open space outside.. But it worked out for the better!
What was the most unique detail about your ceremony? Reception? I think the most unique thing was that everything there was made by someone I loved. So many people’s talents were on display on my special day. Everything was original and unique, just for us.
What personal touches did you include in your ceremony? Reception? I did all of my own lettering and chalkboards (because that’s what I do for a lot of weddings) every sign with writing showed off my artwork (: I also helped tie-dye my table cloths!
What was the inspiration behind your flowers? My inspiration was ‘boho’ with every color and every flower. I wanted a very ‘wild’ boquet.
How did you choose your wedding colors? Easy. All of them
What was the inspiration for the dress you chose? Who is the designer of your gown? I just wanted different laces and details and a boho feel. Julia LeSueur made my dress and she is hands down a the BEST.
In one paragraph, please describe your wedding day. My wedding day was a dream. I married the man of my dreams. All I saw the whole day was him. My reception was stunning and beautiful, but it was hard for me to focus on anything but him. What I did notice was how happy everyone was and how everyone was stunned with how the reception looked. So many people where there!
How did your wedding reflect the dream wedding you had as a child? When I was little I wanted to have a Cinderella dress and a fancy ball! Haha!! SO far from what I actually wanted when I was planning.
If you could go back and change one thing about your wedding day, what would that be? If I could change anything I would have had a reception line so I could have greeted all personally who came.
How did you pick your first dance song? What song was it? Our first dance song was “first day of my life” by Bright Eyes. It’s always been one of my favorites and it reflected perfectly how we felt. It was the first day of our life!
What was the funniest OOPS moment of your wedding day? We bought wayyyyyyy too much Pizza! I think we ended up having 12 boxes extra that we gave to the homeless shelter!