I’m so charmed by this pretty summer wedding. A beautiful winery served as the backdrop for the event and the theme was cleverly weaved into the ceremony and reception decor. Romantic, rustic and classic. Check. Check. Check.
Nathalie & Brendan | July 31, 2010 | Byington Vineyard and Winery, Los Gatos, California
How they met
I was introduced to Brendan through a co-worker at my former company. A group of us decided to meet up for dinner; I chatted with Brendan and instantly became attracted to his outgoing, easy-going, and down-to-earth personality. Brendan told my friend and I that he would love to teach us how to surf. Apparently it was a ploy to obtain my number because ‘till this day, my friend and I joke that we still haven’t received our much anticipated “surfing lessons.”
The ceremony
Brendan and I began developing our love for wine and wineries around the time we started dating so we knew we had to get married at a winery.
We wanted a wedding that was romantic, rustic, classic, and slightly nostalgic. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful ceremony. It was on a hill overlooking rolling hills of redwood trees and vineyards. Baskets of green and purple grapes lined an aisle of white and purple rose petals. At the start of the ceremony, the ring bearer carried a pillow of moss, followed by Brendan’s nephew who pulled a bright red wagon filled with rose petals.
I’ll never forget walking down the aisle with my father to meet Brendan on the other side. We were both so happy, we couldn’t stop smiling the entire time.
We also performed a wine ceremony, in which we poured both red wine to represent richness and robust energy and white wine to represent strength. This created a Rose which symbolized our marriage. The rose was shared during our reception. After the ceremony, we walked hand in hand down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. Gummerson while our guests showered us with bubbles.
The reception
The details of our wedding centered on a winery theme – barrels, escort cards on corks, vines and grapes. To create a romantic ambiance, we sprinkled candles and splashes of light throughout the venue. We used a palette of subtle greens, purples, and ivory to create a warm, rustic, classic vibe. The evening went by so fast but we took moments to take it all in and relish the time we had with our family and friends.
The moment Nathalie will never forget
It’s hard to pick the most memorable moment because everything was so amazing but if I had to pick, it would be the first moment I saw Brendan. We decided to meet before the ceremony so that it would be more intimate and away from the crowd. It was an emotional experience to see his reaction when he first saw me and one I will never forget. And it’s astonishing how my nervousness just disappeared after I saw him.
What made her wedding dress “The One”
I was very picky about finding “the one” and must have tried on a thousand dresses before falling in love with the Watters and Watters dress. I wanted a “wow” dress that would turn heads, but also the romance, classic, and softness of lace. I couldn’t find a lace dress that didn’t look bland. Finally, I tried on the Watters and Watters dress and fell absolutely in love with it. The combination of lace and duchess silk satin gave the dress amazing texture and the beading on the flower appliqués gave it that slight sparkle, perfect to go from day to night. I felt like a million dollars when I put it on.
Why she is selling her wedding dress
I’m disappointed to sell my dress, but when I fell in love with it, it was of course way above my budget so I made a deal with myself that I could purchase the dress only if I sell it after the wedding. Now the time has come to sell the dress and to make another bride just as happy with the dress as I was.
Nathalie’s Wedding Dress: Watters 4041B
Photography: IQ Photo
