Lily and Blake were married in a quintessential California vineyard wedding at Holman Ranch. The touches of warm hospitality provided by this couple are seen all over the wedding, from the refreshment station and shady umbrellas at the ceremony to the delicious, seasonal food served at long tables at the reception. These elegant wedding photos will have you longing for those special days of late summer when the dinners and stories are long, and the dancing goes all night at the wedding receptions.
Lily + Blake | September 9, 2012 | Carmel Valley, California | Dress Listing: Lazaro, 3100
The Ceremony
As so many girls often do, I dreamt of my perfect wedding as long as I can remember. As a California girl through and through, never did I think I would be planning my wedding from afar, and in Texas nonetheless. It was important to both of us that our wedding reflect the life we had in California. While Blake is originally from Oklahoma (a southern gentleman) we share the same fondness for California: summer nights spent outside with friends and family, sharing stories and laughs. Gourmet meals of seasonal food from the local farmer’s market and of course, great California wine. For us, California represents where our relationship first began to flourish and holds precious memories of falling in love.
I created and designed all the wedding collateral and stationery including the monogram, save the dates, invitations, menus, programs and signage. I was careful to use appropriate printing methods for each and chose a midnight blue and ivory color scheme to keep the event elegant while maintaining an edge. Once I had an overall look and feel I was able to create a style guide and provided it to all our vendors.
The Reception
We spent our first anniversary in Carmel-by-the-sea, California. I was smitten with Carmel – it’s dog-friendly policies, the trees, the crisp weather, the proximity to Big Sur, but first and foremost it’s French influence. On our first date I told Blake about my love of Paris and the French way of life, so it seemed fitting to get married in a place that blended the things I love most – a place that would allow me to create an environment of elegance that comes with attention to the finest of details, from the wardrobe choices down to the type of tea-light. We were going for the casual (yet elegant) summer California night with rustic farm tables and lush floral treatments. Holman Ranch was the perfect setting to bring my design to life.
Our wedding truly was a girl’s dream come true: everything I could have ever imagined and more. My event design was flawlessly executed. Everyone danced and my bridesmaids accompanied the band for a beautiful version of Aretha Franklin’s, “Baby, I Love You”. We successfully created an environment that allowed people to step back from their everyday lives and enter a world of elegance that took them back to those fond memories of childhood: eating seasonal food, drinking California wine and relaxing underneath a pergola on a warm summer night.
Lily’s Dress Search
I tried on over 20 dresses. I had always been told that you “just know” when you put on THE dress. I had a particular kind of dress in mind: a sheath, simple, very California dress but when I slipped this Lazaro on and looked in the mirror I felt like a bride for the first time. I cried from joy & excitement. It was perfect.
How Lily Felt in Her Wedding Dress
Confident, Ethereal, Magical
Why Lily Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
The feeling the dress gave me was something that I can never fully put into words. It was the most special feeling in the world. I want nothing more than to give another bride that wonderful feeling.
