Our wedding 11 years ago was a very simple one. We just ran off to the courthouse, made an appointment, and showed up. I was 20 and he was 27. We didn’t care for a lavish event nor were we in a position to throw a wedding. Back then weddings weren’t anything like they are today and I am actually very thankful that we waited this long because Park Winters was worth it!

In my mind, I always wondered what it would be like to have a wedding. It wasn’t until I started to photograph weddings myself that I realized there was something special we missed out on. We started playing with the idea of having a vow renewal someday but it never really came to life. On our 9th anniversary, we sat down and talk about how fast time flies and how 9 years didn’t seem that long ago. That’s when we decided that 10 years was worth celebrating. 

Initially, I only wanted 45 guests at our vow renewal. I wanted something intimate and small. However, it quickly turned into something a little bigger with close friends and family. My favorite part of our wedding day was being able to include our two amazing children Jenna (10) and Kyle (7) Seeing my daughter smile during our vows and my son dance the night away, I knew in my heart that this was how our life was meant to unfold. 

Park Winters as Inspiration

I’ve been planning our wedding/vow renewal for 10 years. Over the years my inspiration kept shifting from blush and mauve to something more timeless and elegant. We wanted a venue that could provide beautiful lush gardens with minimal distractions. Park Winters, located in the small town of Winters Ca. was the first and only venue we visited because it had everything we were looking for. 

The inspiration for the details from the tablescape to the dining chairs was intentional. I wanted to give our guests an elevated experience. Florals were one of the most important aspects of the design. April Baytan has this unique style of putting together delicate blooms with beautiful lush texture and greenery. She created that lush garden atmosphere we were looking for. Our ceremony backdrop was a beautiful hand-drawn calligraphy quote by our sweet friend Shelby Libretch. “ I’d chose you in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds”. It was framed with dreamy spray and garden roses, with Italian Ruscus greenery. Definitely one of my favorite pieces that pulled everything together.

Getting Creative

My husband is from Brooklyn, NY and I grew up in Southern and Northern California. We knew that we wanted to incorporate a little bit of our past. When I found Ink Press & Co. her city skyline of Brooklyn, I knew that I had to commission her for two more beautiful city skyline sketches of San Francisco and Los Angeles. That’s where our escort display came to life. Shimmer and Stain and I, worked very closely to create what I had envisioned. Something I hadn’t yet seen done in the industry. Giving me pointers as we created the beautiful base canvas to display the hand-drawn sketches that we hold near and dear to our hearts. 

I talked to several stationary designers but at the end of the day, I ended up designing and printing all of the paper items such as invitations suite, menus, and place cards as well as designing the bar menus that were engraved in white leather. I am a very visual person so seeing and touching all of the materials and sourcing locally as much as possible was a very fulfilling experience. 

Being in the wedding industry has its advantages. You get to see all the trends first hand, but it can also be conflicting when it comes down to making a decision. One take away from this experience is that if you hire the right team, letting go of all of your hard work isn’t hard. First, because you know your team sees the same vision you do.  My Team was hands down amazing, and I knew that our wedding would not have happened without them.

Photography Honey Gem Creative | Planning Alluring Events | Florals April Baytan | Officiant Tan Weddings and Events |Hair Sara Gutierrez | Caligraphy backdrop Shelby Libbretch | Rentals and decor Celebrations party rentals, Shimmer and stain, La Tavola Linen, Criate rentals | Made With Love |

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