1. Real Weddings

A Vibrant Homespun Wedding at Annadel Estate Winery in Santa Rosa, California

Caitlin Carpenter, 31, a registered nurse and Brooke Goodman, 32, a resident physician met through mutual friends in San Francisco. "Caitlin decided t

Caitlin Carpenter, 31, a registered nurse and Brooke Goodman, 32, a resident physician met through mutual friends in San Francisco. "Caitlin decided to host a small house-warming party and our mutual friend invited me. When Caitlin opened the door that night, it was love at first sight. I reached out for an innocent hand-shake introduction but she overwhelmed me with a giant hugging embrace. Our first date was on Valentine's Day that year," says Brooke. After a surprise proposal in the canyons of Tucson, Arizona the pair decided to plan their wedding in Napa Valley -- a special spot, since the two spent their first year anniversary there. After touring Annadel Estate Winery in Santa Rosa, they immediately booked it for it's beautiful ruins and aged trees. "We wanted to get married beneath a large tree and Annadel was the perfect setting," says Brooke. "We wanted to make our wedding represent us -- we are hardworking, edgy, tough San Franciscan professionals, but we also have a softer feminine side," says Caitlin. "We wanted our decor to be a mix of hard and soft elements together and contrast modern and vintage aesthetics in the space." They achieved that affect with a soft color palette of white and cream hues balanced against the leafy greenery of the vineyard space and adding accents of bold turquoise and fuchsia tones.

Brides in Hot Pink and Turquoise Glasses
San Francisco Welcome Bag
The wedding ceremony was held on a large lawn beneath an aged magnolia tree. Brooke and Caitlin exchanged vows below a handmand huppah accented with hydrangeas and natural greenery with the vineyard vines and mountain scenery in the background.
Caitlin's bouquet was smaller in size, but packed a punch with vibrant pops of fuchsia and textured, white astilbe flowers.
"We had a modern Reform Jewish ceremony, which included traditional Jewish blessings in both Hebrew and English. Prior to the ceremony, we had a Ketubah signing gathering in Annadel’s barn in the presence of a small group of our family and closest friends," says Brooke.
Jewish Ketubah
Caitlin wore a Rivini silk organza gown with a medium-length cage-style veil worn at the crown of her head.
"Annadel's property is gorgeous. It has a large lawn with a huge tree and a beautiful ruin covered in vines and flowers," says Brooke. "The vineyard is actually one of the largest flower producers for the San Francisco Flower Mart, so the grounds are blooming with various florals."
Hand-Passed Cocktail Hour Appetizers
Since Brooke is a huge fan of trees, tree motifs graced most of the paper goods, including the escort cards in a silhouette style.
"Our guests dined at two long rows of rectangular Tuscan farmhouse tables arranged end-to-end, which were set up inside the Annadel ruins," says Brooke. Adding bistro lighting to the top of the stone structure created a ceiling of light as the sun set over the reception dinner.
Bistro-Lit Wedding Reception Area
Ivory and Fuchsia Centerpieces
Reception tables were decorated with white hemstitch table runners and floral arrangements of ranunculus and astilbe in mixed vintage glass vessels created a lush, wildflower look.
Succulent Monogram Designs
The wedding cake -- a three-tiered structure sitting on a vintage glass pedestal -- was simply decorated with a smooth, buttercream ring design and a cascade of white garden roses and chocolate cosmos flowers and placed on an antique wine barrel.