wedding of alivia and johnny:  wine country charm by the lake in May

This amazing couple is so much in love, it was present the entire day up until the cake smash! But they had fun and the day was grand.

wedding of Alexis and Arthur ~ a sophisticated wine county soiree

Today I'm showcasing one of our events from August 2012. The celebration of Alexis and Arthur took place at a beautiful winery in the fabulous wine country, Paso Robles. Their wedding was a celebration of their style and their love for one another.

All images of their day were wonderfully captured by A. Blake Photography.

5 Tips to Pairing Champagne and Weddings

The special highlight on their momentous occasion is the toast to the happy couple. This fabulous tradition requires an official toasting beverage. Champagne! So that everyone will enjoy this tradition here are 5 tips to selecting the bubbly.

1.  1.    Champagne Tasting and Research.

When selecting the champagne for your wedding reception, make sure to do proper research. You can do a bit of research on the brand and champagne by attending tasting events or you can visit a favorite winery and get suggestions from them. This allows you to be able to compare the different flavors or tang of the champagne. Another most important item to consider is the sweetness of the champagne. Sweetness is usually reserved for the dessert.

2.             Level Your Expenses.

When deciding on the type of champagne you will serve, the cost is something to consider as well. As weddings can tend to get rather expensive, make sure the cost of your beverages are controlled and within your budget. This way whatever you save in expenses can be allocated to other items needed for your wedding. Maximize your budget.

3.             Design and Theme.

Ensure that the choice of beverage can be incorporated into your theme and design. If you have a classic wedding and reception then champagne should certainly be considered. But if your wedding is Hawaiian for example, then opt for a signature beverage, if you’re a champagne enthusiast, consider incorporating a champagne mixed beverage

4.             Guaranteed Service.

Inform your catering staff of the champagne you want served and when. Making sure that this is completely clear so that changes won’t be made without your acknowledgment.

5.             Mix and Match.

If you will be serving champagne with the main meal, you may opt to order dry champagne. If sweets will be served, then you will want to go with sweeter champagne as a selection for your dessert.

Hope these 5 tips have helped pairing champagne with your wedding. But if you prefer to relax and be stress-free before, during and after your big day, delegate the planning and preparation of a little or every detail including your champagne to a wedding planner.

How to Choose Your Wedding Colors

Your color scheme has the power to set the vibe, so choose wisely. Here are the top determining factors for selecting your hues – the foundation for your wedding flowers, details, and décor.

The Setting

Setting should be your first consideration. Look at the colors used in your venue’s carpeting, drapery, and decorations. If the site has strong colors, you’ll need to select a color scheme that complements. If you already have your heart set on a certain color, you may need to select a more neutrally decorated site.

Fave Shade

You’ve been in love with pink since the first grade, so go with what you love. You can tastefully incorporate any color into your wedding decorations by selecting the right hue and combining it with the right accents. 

Fave Bloom

If roses are your thing, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t make it into your décor scheme. Incorporate the flower color – either making it the dominant shade or using it as an accent – and it will all come together. 

Season

Decorating is simple when Mother Nature is your guide, so let the natural colors of the season be your inspiration. That doesn’t mean that you’re stuck with prissy pastel decorations during spring or brown and orange during fall. Just make sure that the wedding colors you choose complement the blooms and foliage that are naturally available during that time of year. This wedding flowers by seasons guide will help you get started.

Bridesmaids’ Dresses

If you want your ‘maids decked head to toe in your color, you’ll need to make sure it’s an appealing and flattering shade to wear. If a buttery yellow plays the lead role in your color story, then consider dressing your ‘maids in your accent color. Everything goes with black and in the right style, it can be a flattering, simple, and easy choice.

Research

Don’t slack on your research just because you’ve dreamed of a green spring-themed wedding since you were a little girl. Research the top color choices for the current year, study photographs from other weddings you love, browse your favorite blogs, and keep a scrapbook. Don’t get stuck on a color scheme because you saw it used once and liked it. Be sure to consider all of your wedding décor and how each detail will be affected by your chosen color scheme. 

New Years Eve Party

An incredible New Year's Eve Party at Robert Hall Winery this year. 

Our fabulous event professionals rose to the occasion...Beautiful centerpieces created by Panacea, Photography by Mike Larson Photography, Inc. Catering by Epic Catering, The PhotoBooth Experience was a big hit with the guests, amazing wine from Robert Hall Winery and Coordination by Brenda Boorman with A Heart to Heart Wedding Consultant.  

From Bridezilla to Savvy Sophisticate: Tips for Managing Wedding Details

Let’s face it. Planning a wedding is a lot of work. In fact, most weddings today take over 250 hours just to plan – that’s more than six 40-hour work-weeks! Throw merging families and the emotional aspects that accompany a major life change into the mix and it is easy to see why most brides are frazzled and end up alienating most of their friends and family at a time when they should be celebrating those very elements. The good news is that planning your wedding doesn’t have to be overwhelming – in fact it can be a surprisingly fun process. Here are some tips to keep in mind as the big day quickly approaches.

Hire quality vendors.

Six little words sum it all up: You get what you pay for. The wedding market is saturated with people who claim they can sing, design fabulous cakes, and alter your gown all for a fraction of the going rate. Unfortunately, what is delivered is often a far cry from what was promised. Quality vendors needn’t be expensive, but be aware of the difference between a good value and too cheap. Reputable vendors will not accept kickbacks or payments from other vendors for referring their services. Set up preliminary tastings with your top caterer and cake designer choices before you commit to their services. Listen to demos of your musicians, and if at all possible, see them perform live. Make sure the vendors handling presentation elements such as floral and cake decor can match your taste and style. In the end, it will be the vendors you hire who will make or break your event. Choose wisely.

Prioritize your Budget.

No matter if your budget is $10,000 or $100,000, deciding where your wedding dollars are going to be spent is an important task. As a couple, make a list of the wedding planning aspects you value most. For some, it’s photography and being able to share their memories with their grandchildren. For others, it’s about throwing a killer party that their guests will talk about for years. After choosing what you want to prioritize, do some research into what those vendors actually cost. Don’t forget to use your resources – budget development and assistance should be a part of your wedding consultant’s services.

Set-up “deal with it days”.

We’ve all heard of, and perhaps have known, the crazy bride who calls her florist, caterer, dress designer, and photographer upwards of twelve times a day – and usually all about the same thing. Avoid bridezilla status and maintain your sanity by setting up a day with your vendors when you will deal with everything. Write down your questions, concerns, and ideas as they come to you and then let them be. On your “deal with it days”, you and your vendors will be able to review all your updates in a focused and uninterrupted manner. This stress-management method will help you better organize your thoughts and leave you time to prioritize other areas in your life, not the least of which being enjoying your engagement.

Don’t dump unwanted responsibility on your guests.

You invited your guests to enjoy a celebration, not to work as free labor. Tending the gift table and the guestbook prior to the ceremony are roles that honored guests are typically eager to fill. By the time the reception rolls around, however, those guests are ready to kick up their heels, drink some champagne, and mingle with friends and relatives that they have not seen in years. They do not want to be obligated to track down the catering director to make sure he receives the final payment. Wedding details always end up multiplying to be more than the couple initially bargained for and guests get resentful when their wedding day tasks seem to never end. If you don’t have a wedding coordinator for the entire process, make sure to hire one for the day of the event. A quality-wedding consultant will meet with you about a month before the wedding and obtain all copies of your vendor contracts and go over all the details so that your day will go off without a hitch. Ensuring you have a flawless day and happy guests is priceless.

Develop a thick skin and sense of humor.

Planning a wedding means being able to roll with the punches with the style and grace of Jackie O. Well-meaning friends and family will bluntly shoot down your ideas, turn their noses at your color choices, and insist that Aunt Martha’s next-door neighbor’s veterinarian’s accountant be on the invite list. Learning how to laugh at yourself and the planning process, while standing your ground, is a must for keeping your cool during your engagement.

Don’t give up your day job.

Most brides get so caught up in wedding details that it consumes every aspect of their lives, leaving them little time for anything else. Continue to be involved with the organizations and commitments you had before a pretty ring was placed on your finger. Go on dates with your fiancé . . . and don’t talk about the wedding! Maintaining a sense of normalcy during the engagement process is important and will help you stay balanced.

Weddings are meant to be a time to celebrate love and commitment. Make sure you give yourself the opportunity to enjoy the process.

Megan & Chad - Robert Hall Winery

In the beautiful Central Coast of California a day at Robert Hall Winery, red and bold represents our happy couple with a hint of gold.  

Flowers by Denise created and designed the gorgeous florals. Chef Jeffrey Scott prepared an incredible gourmet menu.

Our music for the evening was provided by In the Mix. The show stopping cake was prepared by The Cakery. 

Larspur String Quartet lulled us for the ceremony and Jessica Lewis Photography capturing the memories.