Magical woodland wedding that blurs the line nature and indoors
The perfect example of bringing the outside in, this lovely couple tied the knot at one of the coolest woodland venues we've ever seen! That's seriously saying something because we've seen a lot of venues. And while this was very much a Cali wedding, we love the way planner, Always Allegra pulled in some playful nods to the groom's Southern roots. From the waterfall ceremony backdrop to the beautifully understated rustic reception, this wedding is #perfection!
Photographers Miki & Sonja went the extra mile to frame all of these beautiful photos just so–you truly can't tell where this breathtaking venue, Calamigos Ranch, ends and nature begins. And the voluminous arrangements by Wisteria Lane Flowers made the surroundings all the more magical, especially the crawling vine installation on the custom seating chart. Always Allegra worked with the couple to decide the details but read on to hear a pro tip from her on how to get the best work out of your wedding pros.
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love at first sight and first look
Kendall and Pierce were such an amazing, easy-going couple. Pierce is from Louisiana and Kendall is from Southern California, but she loves her southern gentleman and his roots. Kendall and Pierce met at Moonshines, a country line dancing bar. While Kendall sought out Pierce at first glance, Kendall’s friend walked on over and tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention for her friend. She initiated the connection by telling Pierce to dance with Kendall, the rest was history!
the dress
Kendall was breathtaking in a fitted mermaid lace gown with a plunging neckline and low back. She wore her hair up in a lovely braid crown with a sweeping veil for the ceremony. And now, let's all take a moment to admire that train...
details and design
Calamigos Ranch’s stunning landscape and romantic details, were an obvious choice when they did the venue search (or lack thereof, one tour / one venue!) In the Oak Room, where they had their reception, with its dark wood paneling, it was seamless to build out a rustic, yet chic aesthetic for the big day.
The welcome sign was a favorite – we wanted to add a modern touch with the paneling, while still growing off the romantic feel. With the help of Beau Paperie, I think we nailed a design that was completely custom and unique.
an intimate woodland ceremony
Kendall had one of her closest friends there to officiate her nuptials which was very meaningful to her. Pierce’s only nephews, were able to hobble and crawl down the aisle which was something for the family to remember forever. Kendall and Pierce had such lovely, and beautiful vows which visibly had the guests collectively in tears.
a cocktail hour to remember
When was the last time you were in the woods, sipping your favorite cocktail, enjoying a lovely gourmet slider? For these guests, not too long ago, and we're getting some serious FOMO from these photos! Elevated comfort food and personalized elements came together to create this beautiful transition from ceremony to reception.
a sentimental reception
The Reception was beautiful – the magic of having Kendall and Pierce as clients, was that she gave me her color palette, and I took our planning time to get to know them both and their families quite well. With that time and connection that we were able to create together, Kendall let me take it from there and simply surprise her on the rest (dream client right there). Their specialty cocktails included the Sazerac, an old cocktail that those Southerners truly appreciate, adding a bit of Pierce in that choice was special. There were coasters that said “Live Life, Make More Stories” which made zero sense to any guest at the time of seeing it, but later correlated directly to the Father of the Bride’s speech. The last words of his amazingly curated speech were that coaster saying of his, which has been a family motto for years. The band kept everyone on their feet until the last song, there was no shortage of dancing or love for this amazing pair.
the secret ingredient = trust
Let go and trust the professionals. Hired Professionals are here for YOU, and to make the process, and specifically your special day, that much more enjoyable and relaxing, that’s what we are paid to do for you.
We partnered with Be Inspired PR to bring you this gorgeous woodland wedding. As always, thanks for supporting our sponsors!
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- Design & Coordination: Always Allegra
- Venues: Calamigos Ranch
- Flowers: Wisteria Lane Flowers
- Wedding Photographers: Miki & Sonja
- Rentals: MTB Event Rentals
- Hair, Makeup & Beauty: Veil of Grace
- Music & Entertainment: American Events Network
- Lighting: Stage Labs
- Cake: Trisha Giordano
- Specialty Desserts: Jennifer Tee
- Day of Signage: Beau Paperie
- Invitations: Paper Plum