Ponte Winery & Vineyard Inn

Saturday Pre Wedding Fun

Pre Game Time

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

We met 6 years ago on New Years Eve 2018. It all started with a swipe on an app. Obviously, it was a good swipe. A swipe that has led to fun weekend getaways, romantic dinners, movies, concerts, international travel, disagreements (Yes, that's a given, but not too many) family time, love and lots and lots of laughs along the way.Now we are starting another adventure. One in which we can't wait to share the beginning of with our family and friends.

Our Story

Photos

Power Warrior, with non-stop creativity and energy. Stay out of her way because she's a one woman construction crew. She taught Connor when he was in kindergarten and a fast friendship formed between the two of us. Jessica is my sister-from-another-mister. She is creative, kind, loving, and makes friends wherever she goes.  Love her to the moon and back.

Jessica Gale Hoeschen

Kellie is my charming and funny friend. We met doing standup and have been laughing ever since. Mostly at each other, but we knew instantly we were meant for lifelong friendship. She has always offered a shoulder to cry on followed by encouraging words of wisdom. Sometimes it's followed by a bitch slap back to reality. Thanks for keeping me sane Kels!!!
Kellie's kind soul and the way she connects and cares about people is beyond a blessing.

Kellie Baker

You can never be in a bad mood around April because even if you were she would have you smiling and feeling great in seconds. Her amazing spirit and calming manner is like a drug and always makes me feel grateful to have her in my life and let's me feel like everything can be okay. She has a, "It's just the way you decide to look at things" way of viewing the world and I am forever grateful for the perspectives she offers.  I say her and Connor are my good little students. Coming Soon Dr. April!

April Mercedes Garcia-Cope

We met in kindergarten, okay...our kids met in kindergarten as well. Maybe we act like we are in kindergarten. But, I feel like I have known Kiersten all my life. She's one of those people you meet and know you will be friends forever, and then, that friendship turns you into family. Her kindness and light hearted demeanor is infectious and makes the world a better place. Her heart and soul is to big for her body, I swear she has angel wings. Get ready, she will have you singing poetry before the night ends.

Kiersten Warren/Acevedo

Best man Mark was one of my very first friends in California.  We met when he booked my band on a show he was putting together at the Troubadour and immediately started hanging out. (He is an incredibly talented musician) Mark helped me get entrenched in the LA music scene by generously giving me advice and making introductions whenever he could.  Over the years, we’ve laughed our way through many triumphs and many mistakes and when it came time to propose to Stacy he was right there to help with the plan. He’s an incredibly talented musician and an even better friend. He is my best man.

Mark Anthony Castrillon

From his very cool hair to his very cool attitude, Connor makes the perfect groomsmen and future stepson.  When Stacy and I first started dating, Connor welcomed me like I was a stray puppy (which might not have been that far from the truth). He was a great kid then and I was pretty sure he’d make an even better adult, and I was right. Connor is at school getting a mechanical engineering degree and we couldn’t be happier for him. We’ve gone to New Orleans, Hawaii, England, Scotland, Ireland and New York without even a frustrated word between us. Why? Because he’s awesome and I am very proud that we’ll soon be family.

Connor Baldwin

Soon after I moved to LA, I got a second job working at Vitello’s restaurant.  There I met a truly amazing group of friends and we all spent wonderfully hilarious times together.  Among these friends was groomsman Josh.  He was freakishly decent, trustworthy and fun and I liked him immediately.  We’ve spent many late nights and even more early morning hikes talking about everything and anything.  These conversations have helped me to stay grounded when I wanted to spin out and inspired when I felt bored. What more can you ask for in a groomsman?

Josh Gressel

You’ll recognize groomsman Jared by his tall stature and his dry sense of humor. In fact, he manages to catch me off guard with a deep belly laugh at least 3 or 4 times in every conversation.  This is probably why he’s done so well as a voice-over and commercial actor. Always calm in a crisis and generous of spirit, he’s someone I try and get together with as often as I can, which these days means prying him away from his beautiful family and 357 jobs. 

Jarred Kjack

Scott is truly a rare find in a very good way. He’s the kind of friend that can make you laugh so hard that being able to take your next breath is not necessarily a guarantee and yet can dive deep into rich conversations backed by intelligence, strong personal convictions and ethics that are unwavering. Among many good times between us probably the most profound was the time we spent on zoom during the pandemic with Usher Adam (who’ll you meet in a moment) toiling away on a writing project of which I am very proud.

Scott Javore

Adam and I met at one of my gigs (back when I played gigs) through our mutual friend Ziggy and immediately hit it off.  Soon after I was invited to a party, he organized in the hills of Burbank he called “Mountaintop”. (Very sure it was not legal, but no harm was done) Now, there’s unshakeable and then there’s Adam, believe me Scott and I have tried. The guy just stays grounded and measured no matter what is being said or is happening around him.  Maybe it’s meditation or his Minnesota upbringing, but either way, I am very grateful for his friendship.

Adam Lesar

Officiant Adam is not only a very good friend, but he’s also been educating me on the power and complexity of good highland scotch… and I’ll never forgive him for it.  The scotch thing makes sense to me, as Adam himself is a bit complex.  Here’s what I mean.  Over the years I’ve come to realize he is somewhat of a renaissance man.  He’s a martial artist, a mechanic, a very talented singer and actor, a podcaster, a post supervising coordinator and a screenwriter. We’ve written together on a few projects and it’s always way less painful than writing by myself. When I asked him to officiate at the wedding, he was much braver than I would’ve been and said yes immediately.

Adam Slemon

Wedding Party

Q + A

If you will be staying at the Inn at Ponte please use code: PFEWedding to get 15% off your room rate.

Ponte Winery

South Coast is another winery literally, right next door, to Ponte. They offer an amazing spa and pool area for relaxing. We know, we are wine members there.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Embassy Suites by Hilton Temecula Valley Wine Country

Hampton Inn & Suites Temecula

Holiday Inn Express Temecula, an IHG Hotel

Another friend has booked a room here. Great rates and right down the street from Ponte.

Churon Winery

Travel

For anyone who is in Temecula on Saturday. Starting at 10:30am, we will be meeting at Ponte to start a wine tour. The bus will leave at 11:00am.Even if you are not a fan of wine and don't intend to drink, we invite you to join us for laughs and fun. We will return to Ponte by 4pm where we will continue the pre-wedding festivities.

Wine Tasting & Tour

Temecula Scavenger Hunt

Check out the Trip Advisor top picks. From wine tours to Hot Air Balloon trips, mud springs in Murietta, Alpaca Hacienda, Pechanga Casino, or visit Old Town Temecula. There's more than wine.

15 Things TO DO

Things to Do

Being of a certain age, we are well supplied with life's basic necessities. But, we did start a Honey Fund for the honeymoon we would like to take. So, should you wish to buy us a cocktail, treat us to a message or a city tour in Italy, we will be forever grateful. And we promise to send you pictures of us enjoying your gift!Here is the link to our Honey Fund:<a href="https://www.honeyfund.com/site/halbach-giangrande-06-01-2025?no_gdpr=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.honeyfund.com/site/halbach-giangrande-06-01-2025</a>

Our Registry

Registry

BEEF Choice: Grilled Sirloin of Angus Beef with Garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus with a Ponte Cabernet demi-glace CHICKEN Choice: Roasted Chicken Roulade.Chicken stuffed with spinach and goat cheese, topped with a creamy tomato sauce. Served with Yukon potatoes VEGETARIAN: Lasagna stuffed with spinach, vegetables, ricotta, mozzarella, and herbs with a red and white sauce.

WHAT'S ON THE MENU?

Think summer cocktail hour fun! See the photo for an idea of what we mean.

Stacy & Phil

Stacy & Phil

Q + A

When can we RSVP or see a registry?