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Glamorous Christmas Wedding Under a Massive Sailcloth Tent

Glamorous Christmas Wedding Under a Massive Sailcloth Tent

massive sailcloth tent with a hanging floral installation over the dance floor

Tis the season for some holiday cheer and this glamorous winter wedding planned by Ribbon & Leaf Events just kicked it up a notch. The massive sailcloth tent wedding reception was decked out with natural wood and velvet decor with the perfect amount of red and greens to bring the Christmas cheer. The bride and groom made for one epic dynamic duo since the bride is a baker, and the groom a wizard with wood and together made a gorgeous hanging cake display! So don’t mind us as we sing fa la la while scrolling through all the beauty caught by Simply Smith.

holiday wedding stationery
Christmas Wedding Simplysmith006
bride walking with her groom through a green field

From the wedding planner, Ribbon & Leaf EventsMorgan and Anthony met when they were thirteen years old and the rest is history. They are the perfect compliment to each other; She bakes the cakes and he eats them. Morgan and Anthony got married in their home church and had the reception at Morgan’s family ranch in the town where they both grew up, Tulare, CA. It was a wet December day, the week prior had brought rain and cold temperatures, but that didn’t damper this couple. Their love for each other and happiness literally radiates to anyone they meet.

beautiful church ceremony venue
traditional church wedding ceremony with the bride and groom
vintage black car for the couple

The bride wore a Grace Loves Lace gown, Valentino shoes and she and all her bridesmaids wore mismatched fur coats (it was December after all!) The groom and his groomsmen were dressed in suits and a bow tie, a complete 180 from their usual jeans, t-shirt and work boots.

Glamorous Holiday Wedding Cake Swing 09

For the reception, guests walked down a walkway that was custom built two days before the wedding by the groom and his dad. Anthony wanted to be sure guests wouldn’t be walking in wet grass or mud. As guests approached the entrance to the massive sailcloth tent, they stopped at the seating chart to find their names written in gold ink on three large black pieces of glass and a custom built metal “V” that served as the guestbook to sign. Once inside, they were greeted with a feeling of holiday glamour and cozy elegance. With a mixture of natural wood, velvet, black and gold accents and just enough red, white a green, you had the feeling of the holidays without it feeling overwhelming.

Massive sailcloth tent at the wedding reception
glamorous black and gold seating chart
massive sailcloth tent with a hanging floral installation over the dance floor
massive sailcloth tent with a hanging floral installation over the dance floor

The first thing guests saw when they entered the reception tent was a hanging 3 tiered wedding cake. The cake was made by the bride, who is a local baker and it sat on a hanging platform that the groom made as a showpiece for his new wife. The hanging metal chandelier adorned with dripping flowers was borrowed and brought over from the neighbor’s home, the favors at each place setting were candied walnuts that were jarred and hand tied by the bride, her mom and her mom’s friends.

groom walking and laughing with his groomsmen

From the bride: The reception was actually on my parents ranch where my dad had taken out a portion of his field for my sisters wedding several years ago. It was right next to their old rustic red barn where we placed a beautiful white tent right next to. We knew having our reception at their home would be a lot of work but it was also that much more special to us and we didn’t want it anywhere else! The groom’s only request when we got engaged was that all of our family and friends be there to celebrate with us!

massive sailcloth tent with a hanging floral installation over the dance floor
hanging floral installation with greenery and pops of red and white florals

Since it was a winter wedding I of course envisioned a palette of deep reds combined with black, white, and greenery. A very romantic feel! I also knew I wanted the place decked with florals, lots and lots of florals.

bride and groom share a dance during their holiday wedding in a massive sailcloth tent
circular floral installation behind the bride and groom

Another top priority on my list was the cake, because I’m a baker and yes I was going to make my own wedding cake! I had dreamed of a cake hanging from the ceiling, draped in greenery. I wanted it to be major focal point for our reception and my groom made that dream come true. It was absolutely perfect! I also decided a week before the wedding to make cinnamon sugar walnuts as a thank you for our guests, being that my dad is a walnut farmer.

bride and groom cut into their cake made by the bride

This glamorous holiday wedding is getting us in the cherry spirit that comes with the holiday season, but we know how crazy busy this time of year can get too. So here are a few tips to help keep you sane while planning your wedding during this wonderful yet busy time.

Wedding Vendors:
Photographer: Simply Smith
Wedding Planner: Ribbon & Leaf Events
Florist: Beard & Bloom
Furniture Rentals: Found Rentals
Tables, Chairs & Tabletop Rentals: Signature Party Rentals
Candlesticks: Stockroom Picks
Menus, Signage + Invitations: Willemina Typography
Videographer: Toasts N Bells
Real Bride: Morgan Verissimo
Draping: The Linen Shoppe
Caterer: Fugazzis
Napkins: La Tavola Fine Linen
DJ + Photobooth: Kramer Events
Restrooms: The Oval Office Mobile Luxury Restrooms
Exterior Lighting: Setting the Stage
Cake: Bebe Cakes
Dance Floor Rentals: Walker Lewis Rents
Stir Sticks + Cocktail Napkins: Sip Sip Hooray
Tent: Zephyr Tents
Dress: Grace Loves Lace
Shoes: Valentino
Ring Box: The Mrs Box

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