Weddings are always lovely. A beautiful bride, a happy groom, food, music and celebrations.
But a wedding to the backdrop of breathtaking wine country?
It doesn’t get more beautiful than this intimate celebration in Napa Valley that I am sharing here on Ladyhattan.
I recently had the honor of attending a childhood friend’s dreamy wedding hosted in Calistoga, California. Throughout the weekend festivities I snapped photographs of my favorite details and delights to share with readers, wedding planners and bridezillas seeking some serious inspiration. Exuding natural beauty, romance and luxury in modestly played elements, I will forever remember this weekend as one of the most magical destination weddings to date. A big thank you to the family of the bride for including this lucky lady in such a memorable life event. So with a healthy glass of buttery California chardonnay, I toast to the newlyweds and the art of planning the perfect wedding. Here are my personal glimpses from inside this awesome wedding weekend through the eyes of Ladyhattan – enjoy!
Wedding Welcome Basket
There is nothing sweeter than checking into your hotel for a wedding weekend to find a gift basket waiting for you in reception. This extra special detail in the grand scheme of planning truly makes guests feel appreciated for their efforts, time and money spent on making the long journey to simply be there. Here, we received an adorable Calistoga lunch box with a customized name-tag card and personalized welcome note. Inside the box contained a few local specialties for us to enjoy, including a delicious bottle of Rutherfood wine, a block of cheese and box of crackers. Wasting no time at all to get the party started, we uncorked the gifted bottle of vino and enjoyed a few sips on the private patio of our Cottage Suite.
Rehearsal Dinner at Redd
The bride and groom’s family hosted all guests of the wedding to an intimate dinner the eve before vows at Redd located in nearby Yountville, California. I have previously shared travel tips and reviews on my love for the charming town of Yountville. While I have had several brunches at Redd, this was my first dining experience for supper and lets just say that I was not disappointed. The simple yet elegant party decor was a hit and flowed seamlessly with the restaurant ambiance.
Wedding Reception at the Solage
Just when I didn’t think it could get any better, I stepped out to the private event space located at the Solage Resort, and realized that my jaw actually dropped. As storm clouds loomed in the backdrop, Napa sunshine glistened all evening long and kept rain away. The weather was magnificent – dark purple clouds with rays of sunshine reflecting light off nearby mountain ranges created a surreal picturesque setting.
Following the exchange of vows at the Holy Family Mission Chapel, guests were greeted with a plentiful bar, hors-d’oeuvres and lively games of Cornhole for cocktail hour. From there, we entered the nearby barn where candlelight and florals were oozing across dining tables. What really caught my Ladyhattan eye with regard to the decor, was the escort card display. I doubt even Martha Stewart could be capable of producing something so beautiful and unique. It was magnificent. Instead of a standard table filled with pretty white cards, the couple used a large vine with lemons and greenery to cleverly showcase the calligraphy name cards of each guest in true Napa fashion… Wow…
But that bride though. What a beauty she was, beaming in a classic strapless gown purchased at a local bridal boutique in her hometown of Darien, CT called A Little Something White. All wedding festivities and details you see in this featured post were planned by the acclaimed Laurie Arons, a full service destination event planner and designer. Kudos to Laurie and her team for putting on a wedding like none other! It’s no surprise that VOGUE just named Laurie one of the best planners in the world.
To learn more about how to make your wedding dreams come true in Napa, contact the Solage Resort and Spa directly for additional details on private events. Thanks for reading this Ladyhattan feature, and be sure to stay tuned for more inside features on my personalized travels, luxury events and city living experiences all through the eyes of a Lady.
From Manhattan to the world, this lady is on a simple mission to live life to the fullest.