Handmade Wedding at the Barn at Second Wind

Christine and Mike wanted their wedding to be "low-key and simple" and called on their friends and family to help bring their vision to life. What guests found when they arrived at the The Barn at Second Wind, a beautiful little spot on the Sacramento River Delta, was anything but plain.

The warm spring day allowed them to fully utilize the grounds: lawn games, a fire pit, ceremony under a gigantic oak tree, and an outdoor dance floor under the bistro lights. Christine and Mike's families contributed to the favors: Tiger Sauce from Mike's native Louisiana, handmade magnets, and an assortment of beautifully decorated cookies from Christine's family and brought over from the Philippines. Wood fire pizzas paired with local craft beer on tap. You can't really go wrong with that combo, can you? Christine even threw an apron over her dress to top her own pizza with her husband!

Venue: Barn at Second Wind, Sacramento  |  Caterer: Flour Dust Pizza  |  Dessert: Cakes by Chivon  | Bride's Dress: BHLDN  |  Hair + Makeup: Dorothy Tatad   |   Day-of Coordinator: Caitlin Peetree

Intimate Summer Solstice Wedding in Carmel Valley

Since early in their relationship, Cristina and Tim have had a tradition of spending the summer solstice together doing fun things from sunrise to sunset. When the pair got engaged, Tim's sister had just accepted a job that required her to be on stage every Saturday... for a year. Her only consistent day off was Tuesday. 

This year, Cristina and Tim soon realized, the solstice fell on a Tuesday. 

And so it was settled. 

They gathered their parents, siblings, and a few close friends for a hillside ceremony on the day when the sun seems to stand still. When it finally set, they were married, and enjoying an intimate dinner under the stars.  

Florist: Seascape Flowers | Hair & Makeup: Hair & Makeup Co | Caterer: Tarpy's Roadhose  | Dessert (Cakes): Tartine Bakery | Dessert (Pies): Gizdich Ranch |  Music:   Ed Johnson  | Hair & Makeup - The Hair & MakeUp Co | Invitation Suite/ Paper Products: DYI   | Dress: Monique Lhuillier  | Bride's shoes: Badgley Mischka | Groom's suit - Spoon Tailor | Groom's shoes - Allen Edmonds | Wedding Rings: Brilliant Earth |  Engagement Ring: family heirloom | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Wood Signs, Cake Topper, Vow Books: BHLDN | Linens: Williams-Sonoma |  Chargers:  West Elm |  Lanterns - Anthropologie 

Elegant Texas Grandeur on the California Coast

When it came to their wedding, this stylish pair wanted to combine their Texas and California roots for an intimate "backyard" celebration in the location where they fell in love and became engaged. 

Megan and Michaela chose  late spring, because the area is bursting with flowers and greenery and enhance the ceremony and reception locations with colorful wind-blown ribbons and bursting spring floral arrangements. 

They poured their creativity, style, and love into every unique, personal detail, collecting plates for 2 years to create an eclectic table of mismatched white and gold place-settings and painting plate chargers and candle-holders by hand. They even gave each guest a small wooden pot filled with small personal notes. 

Ceremony: Lover’s Point | Reception: Private Home, Pebble Beach | Styling: Hanni Liliedahl | Florals: Lilify | Makeup: Jasmine Loren Salon | Paper Suite: Alissa Bell Press | Band: Ben Herod Jazz Trio | DJ: DNAEntertainment | Megan’s Dress: Zac Posen from David’s Bridal; Jacket – BCBG; Custom Design by Amra Alihodzic | Michaela’s Dress: HoughtonNYC, LOHO Bride | Catering: Tricycle Pizza | Cake: Branching Out Cakes | Bar: Pour Girl Cocktails