Attention all Pinterest lovers, today’s Real Wedding is perfectly pin-worthy! This is an amazing wine country wedding, with the most stunning photography, gorgeous setting and a beautiful Claire Pettibone wedding gown, called Chantilly. I’m in love! It is so apparent how much meaningful thought went into Leigh + Joey’s special day…Joey took charge of arranging and writing the entire wedding ceremony, and Leigh made sure to take her time finding the perfect gown for the wedding (8 boutiques and 80 dresses later!). And of course, it’s a safe bet that you’ve found ‘the dress’ when Claire Pettibone herself is there to assist with the process. Swoon!!!
Leigh + Joey | May 31, 2014 | Hopland, California | Dress Listing: Claire Pettibone, Chantilly
The Ceremony
We were married May 31, 2014 at Campovida in Hopland, CA. Campovida is an organic farm and vineyard located just north of Sonoma along the Russian River and is the perfect setting for a wine country wedding. The ceremony was held under a canopy of grape vines known as the Learning Arbor, named for the fact that each row highlights a different varietal. My husband took the lead and wrote the entire ceremony – he worked with the officiant, a good friend of ours, to create a unique and personal celebration that included numerous readings, a wine ceremony, and vows that we each wrote privately and read aloud in front of all our loved ones.
The Reception
Following the ceremony, guests continued into the property’s organic garden for cocktail hour where they sipped on our signature cocktails (Moscow Mule and Blackberry Old Fashioned) while snacking on appetizers and listening to a jazz duo. After making their way through the fruit and vegetable garden, guests entered the Tuscan Garden, enjoying dinner at long Calistoga tables under a wisteria and vine covered trellis. We were adamant that the food had to be fantastic and were not disappointed with the brilliance of our caterer and pastry chef, both of whom created custom menus highlighting our favorite foods. Guests were treated to perfectly cooked filet, miso-glazed black cod and multiple desserts including brown butter almond cake with salted caramel butter cream. The band and photo booth got everyone on their feet as we celebrated and danced under the stars.
Leigh’s Dress Search
Choosing the dress was definitely the most difficult decision for me. I knew exactly what I didn’t want but not so much what I did want. I probably went to 8 different places and tried on 10 at each – everyone told me that was too much but I just wasn’t ready to make a decision and I’m so glad I didn’t rush into anything. I had my eye on Claire Pettibone gowns from the beginning and absolutely loved Chantilly when I first tried it on but had another dress on my mind, too. I got the opinion of anyone who would listen: my family, my husband (yes, he saw the dress ahead of time!), friends, coworkers, friendly strangers! Chantilly was the clear winner and when I went back to the salon in Beverly Hills to try it on one more time, Claire herself was there assisting me and it just felt right.
How Leigh Felt in Her Wedding Dress
Elegant, Sexy, Romantic
Why Leigh Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
I originally looked to buy used but I am 5’8″ and struggled to find a dress that hadn’t been hemmed. I ended up buying new and absolutely loved my dress and how I felt in it. If I can help make someone else’s wedding the day they always dreamed of, I would be honored to do so. Also, I’m in graduate school – there are better uses for my money than keeping a dress for decades that will never be worn again.
