1. Real Weddings

A Romantic Destination Wedding at a Private Estate in Napa, California

Tracey Wheeler (27 and a customer service manager) and Adam Hellmers (27 and an electrical engineer) met at a trivia night through mutual friends in N

Tracey Wheeler (27 and a customer service manager) and Adam Hellmers (27 and an electrical engineer) met at a trivia night through mutual friends in New Orleans. Six months later, they were positive this was the big one and Adam proposed. The couple had a destination wedding at a private estate in Napa, California under a pergola overlooking a vineyard. "I had been to Napa before and loved the experience," says Tracey. "The weather and landscape of Napa are so beautiful, and the environment seemed like the perfect place to have our wedding." Following the ceremony, the couple enjoyed wine and cheese with their guests and prepared an intimate dinner, the highlight being  a salted caramel, peanut butter and bacon doberge cake from New Orleans. After dinner, guests sat around a fireplace drinking wine, listen to music, talking and laughing late into the night.

"When discussing flowers with my sister, we thought it would be really great to have Louisiana Blue Irises," says Tracey. "These were some of my mom's favorite flowers and she grew them."
Trumpet Style Wedding Gown with Layered Bodice
Adam suggested purple as the wedding color, since it was Tracey's late mother's favorite color.
Tracey wore a trumpet style wedding gown with a tulle veil. "When I walked out of the dressing room, we all had that 'ah ha' moment," says Tracey.
The bridesmaids chose their own purple dresses from David's Bridal. Adam and his Best Man wore slacks, a button down shirt, vest and tie to be casual and comfortable outdoors.
Vineyard Wedding Ceremony Under Pergola at Napa Private Estate
"I think the comforting ease of the whole wedding reflected our relationship," says the bride. "The entire day felt so warm and perfect.
The style of Tracey and Adam's wedding was casual with a stunning backdrop of the vineyard and trees. "We mostly let nature be our decorations," says the bride.
The first time Adam tried the peanut butter, salted caramel and bacon flavored doberge cake from Toups' Meatery and Debbie does Doberge in New Orleans, he said that he wanted to marry the woman that made the cake. Tracey thought that it was only fitting that he should indulge in that cake for their wedding to have a little piece of New Orleans at their wedding so far away.