A Rustic Glam Wedding at Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, California
Ashley Moulton (26 and works in clinical development) and Andrew Hanks (31 and works in medical device sales) planned an elegant vineyard affair with a rustic glam twist for their late September wedding in Sonoma, Calif. Personalization was the driving force behind many of the day’s elements to create a celebration that was not not only reflective of Ashley and Andrew, but honored and celebrated the family and friends who had supported them from day one. With Ashley being a wine country native and Andrew hailing from Utah, a venue characterized by natural beauty was a must. The Buena Vista Winery more than delivered with its scenic property and historic stone buildings that provided a romantic and dramatic backdrop for the couple’s outdoor soiree.
The day kicked off with an outdoor ceremony officiated by the couple’s close friend. “Our ceremony was short and sweet — an 'I do, I do...yay!'” says Ashley. “A good friend married us and he did a wonderful job of creating an intimate, personalize ceremony, something I will always cherish. He spent many hours prepping and I am forever grateful for his thoughtful approach.”
A reception in the Fountain Courtyard followed, where the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed an evening of al fresco dinner and dancing under the stars. With the help of the pros at True Emerald Styling, the couple transformed the intimate outdoor space, bringing their vision for a rustic chic fete to life with bunches of fresh white and green blooms arranged in galvanized vases, champagne linens, wine bottle table numbers and a special escort card display featuring family wedding photos, fun facts about Ashley and Andrew and gold-dipped feather escort cards. Strings of bistro lights and silvery lanterns were incorporated throughout to cast warm, romantic light over the evening, while details like a hand-painted wood boards bearing heartwarming quotes played up the sentiment of the celebration.
The evening was filled with surprises, much to guests’ delight, including a performance by the UC Berkeley Acapella Group during Ashley and Andrew’s first dance and a swanky “Bubble Room” in Buena Vista’s wine caves where guests could sip champagne in style. “Our first dance was a version of Elvis’s classic ‘Only Fools Rush In’ and halfway through the music stopped,” says Ashley. “I was horrified. Little did I know, my sister and maid of honor had coordinated for an acapella group to finish the song. It was the best surprise of the day and a memory I will never forget!”