True Love & Tacos at David Girard Vineyards Placerville, Ca

Joanna and Matt

Married: June 11, 2011

The scene was picturesque; the bride and groom stood beneath a massive oak tree on the property of David Girard Vineyards in Placerville, Ca. Yellow rose and freesia petals decorated the aisle and the bouquets of the bridal party, a gentle breeze moved their scent around while friends and family watched Joanna and Matt exchange their vows.

After the ceremony the guests enjoyed some of David Girard’s finest selections and appetizers in the shade with a breathtaking view of rolling hills and grapevines. Friends and family were then taken to the tented reception area that had been beautifully decorated with blue gingham linens and stunning freesia centerpieces by Cheryl Hamilton Porter. The hard working staff from Bocca Catering served the guests a colorful and delectable dinner. A mouth-watering dessert table was provided by Christina Aguiar (who also doubled as a bridesmaid).

First Class Entertainment provided just that, and kept the party going. There to capture the day on film was Carrie Richards Photography and they were both a pleasure to work with.

After dancing the night away Joanna and Matt had one last treat for their guests, a special snack before everyone went on their way…Jimboy’s Tacos. Platter, upon platter of the couples favorite late night snack arrived just before the reception ended. Shortly after, everyone (including the bride and groom) loaded up on shuttles provided by Delta Charter and headed off to the after party.

All together it was a flawless day; beautiful weather, and a beautiful couple. Thank you Joanna and Matt for sharing your story and your special day with us. All the best to the both of you!

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Garden Wedding at Young’s Vineyard {Sneak Peek}

A sneak peek of Stephanie and Raul’s wedding at Young’s Vineyard in Plymouth, with a beautiful outdoor reception beneath a canopy of lights, a super fun photo booth with props, and lots of delicious desserts.  We’ll have more on this beautiful evening soon!

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An Elegant Affair at David Girard Vineyards

Morgan and Brandon (who are sweet and shy and absolutely lovely together) had a gorgeous day surrounded by the sweeping views of David Girard Vineyards in Placerville.  The ceremony was absolutely incredible!  Millington Strings classical ensemble played as Morgan was driven up to the ceremony site by her father in a rare red and white vintage car. All Seasons All Reasons catered the event, providing delicious food and top-notch service, while DJ TJ of the Entertainment Team was great as the evening’s MC.  The white reception tent at David Girard was personalized with eggplant and ivory satin draping by CMC Events, florist Debbie put together knock-out centerpieces and bouquets, and Cake and Candy Specialties created the cake.  Mark Lydell Photography captured the day on film, including lots of kisses between our bride and groom!  Congratulations Morgan and Brandon, you two are the sweetest!

Beautiful shot of the David Girard tasting room and pond.The stunning Bride – we love the expression on her face!Gotta love groomsmen and their sunglasses!  Of course, yours truly had to snatch them before the wedding and try to fit all 9 pairs of them into one teeny-tiny apron pocket.  We seriously need to consider bringing a “Groomsmen’s Sunglasses” basket with us to every wedding…Love love love this shot of the Mother of the Bride displaying her locket pictures of herself and her lovely newborn daughter.  How can you look at this and not tear up?!It is such a meaningful moment when the Father of the Bride sees his daughter for the first time on the wedding day.  There are few things more touching.

We love these last few pics of the Bride and Groom!  What a beautiful couple, don’t you think?

Thank you again to Mark Lydell Photography for all these stunning images, and to Morgan and Brandon and their families for allowing us to play a part in their day!

CMC Draping, Mark Lydell Photography, All Seasons All Reasons Catering, TJ (Entertainment Team), Millington Strings, Cake and Candy Specialists, Florist Debbie

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A Wine Country Wedding at Sonoma’s Nicholson Ranch

We just got pictures in from Shannon and Alex’s wedding at Nicholson Ranch Winery and, boy, are they gorgeous!  Allison Stahl caught plenty of pictures of this glowing couple and their simple, elegant affair.  Shannon and Alex got married next to the pond at Nicholson Ranch, with sprays of flowers by Julie Stevens Design and live guitar strumming in the background.  They then led their guests down to the wine caves for an oh-so-classy cocktail hour.  Back up at the reception site, Shannon and Alex kept decorations simple and natural to avoid competing with the beauty of the surrounding countryside.  Shimmering green and eggplant linens from Wine Country Party & Events set the scene, while a delicious array of Latin foods from Wine Valley Catering was set out in stations.  Everyone enjoyed the stunning cake by Patisserie Angelica and danced late into the night to the music of Latin band Latido and a local DJ.  Shannon and Alex couldn’t have been happier at the end of the night, and all three of us at Catrina Maria Designs were so glad to be there!  Thank you Shannon and Alex for sharing your big day with us, and congratulations!

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Charles Krug {A Tour of Napa Valley}

Our next (and very different) site is Charles Krug Winery, owned and operated by the Peter Mondavi Family.  The winery has several acres of park-like grounds, so you have tons of options for ceremony and reception locations.  And since the grounds include a large, covered barbecue pit, couples who prefer something casual can grill up ribs or hamburgers for a homey, laid back rehearsal or reception.

The grounds aren’t the only exciting thing about this venue; the part we’ve really fallen in love with is the Carriage House.  The Carriage House is a two-story event space with a capacity of over two hundred.  Guests would enter past the fountain on the first floor, where a cocktail hour could be held amongst stacks of wine barrels.  The reception would then be held on the stunning second floor, where high vaulted wood ceilings and clerestory windows make this space light, airy, and dramatic.  With pristine wood floors and huge chandeliers, this space exudes a sort of earthy elegance and would make for an absolutely unforgettable reception. 

For more information on Charles Krug Winery, contact Patty Grantham at pgrantham@pmondavi.com or go visit them a do a bit of wine tasting!  Next time, we’ll visit one of the most romantic reception sites we’ve ever seen…

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