A classic Sonoma Valley winery wedding at Kunde Estate Winery

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This bride and groom met after the bride moved to the Chicago area in 2016. They both found themselves working for Ulta Beauty: The groom worked in finance while the bride worked in buying. After their first meeting-- the groom kept finding reasons to stop by the bride-to-be's desk, and she pretended to like basketball so she could join his March Madness league. In 2019, they planned a trip together to San Francisco, and ultimately the Napa Valley where the groom has numerous family memories. On the drive there, the groom got down on one knee at one of his parents' favorite lookout spots - Battery Spencer - overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Keep scrolling to see the outcome of their Kunde Estate Winery wedding, all captured by photographer Melissa Atle.

classic lace wedding dress

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black bridesmaid dresses

A classic look for both the bride and groom

The bride's goal was to be all-around classic. She wanted to feel like herself and to look back on pictures and recognize herself. Thanks to The Powder Room, she kept her makeup classic and understated, while opting for soft curls for her hair. She donned simple diamond studs and her grandmother's pearl bracelet. The groom wore a perfectly tailored, classic back tux paired with a velvet bow tie.

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Planners make destination weddings a breeze

The planning process was so easy thanks to the couple's wedding planner, L’Relyea Events. Hiring a wedding planner was a priority in the couple's budget-planning process as they were planning a destination wedding and definitely needed the help! While the bride is a self-proclaimed decisive person, everything came to a halt when COVID began and California became a highly restrictive state for any size of gathering. L’Relyea Events and the venue, Kunde Estate Winery, were so communicative and helpful as the couple walked through every possible outcome.

casual outdoor cocktail hour

Dramatic venue views informed the decor

While the original wedding date shifted back, this meant that the couple was able to have the wedding of their dreams. Boot Hill at Kunde Estate Winery is the most magical place with dramatic views that the bride highlighted in the color palette and decor. Their colors centered around green and soft white with pops of grey and some sparkle in unexpected places - it was classic with a twist!

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classic black tuxedo

A few of the bride's favorite things

One of the bride's favorite memories was driving up Boot Hill to the ceremony in a vintage car. It was a special time with just her dad and herself before they walked down the aisle - not to mention that the car was a show-stopper for the bride's entrance! The bride also loved their 'run of show' because every detail of their wedding was exactly what they wanted, including the wording of their service, combining they dances with their parents, and having their bridal party sit during the ceremony so just the bride and groom were standing. The couple removed the tossing of the bouquet and garter traditions in lieu of just getting to have a blast with their friends and family!

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