Romantic Rainy Day Wedding in Napa Valley
This gorgeous wedding is the proof in the pudding of why it’s always best to hire wedding professionals. There are a million little things all happening at once and when the weather is not as expected, your team of wedding vendors can swoop in and make the day more magical than you can imagine, and save the day! Shannon Leahy Events did just that on Brittany & Ryan’s wedding day and deserves a trophy for the coziest candlelit wedding ceremony in Napa Valley that we’ve ever seen. These California wedding vendors worked their magic and we have fallen in love with all the beautiful details captured by Larissa Cleveland Photography. With a gorgeous palette of dusty blues, grays and whites “plan B” just became “plan A” as we swoon over this rainy day wedding in Napa Valley!
From the photographer, Larissa Cleveland Photography: This was one of the prettiest and well executed “Plan B’s” I’ve ever worked on. On this wedding day it down-poured. Not a light sprinkling of rain, but full on torrential rain, ALL DAY LONG. This team of vendors whipped up the most romantic and cozy backup plan overnight and it resulted in an amazing day for this couple. It wasn’t what they’d imagined their day would be like, but it was so perfect! Everyone embraced the day and it as definitely a party to remember.
From the planner, Shannon Leahy: For Brittany and Ryan, Meadowood was a particularly special choice for the location of their wedding. The two met when Brittany was a sommelier at the famed Napa Valley resort and Ryan was on a tour with his family on vacation. Sparks flew and soon enough the two were dating long distance. Brittany moved to be closer to Ryan in Pennsylvania where he was in graduate school at Wharton and they chose Meadowood as the spot for their winter wedding.
As a sommelier, of course, the pressure was on to have an incredible menu and wines and Brittany absolutely delivered. One of my favorite details was that Brittany requested all champagne be served in large format wine glasses which helped guests to enjoy the aroma better than a traditional champagne flute. Instead of a stuffy wedding menu, the pair opted for the most delicious family style meal you’ve ever experienced, platters of buttermilk fried chicken, ora king salmon with patatas bravas, garden beets, and crispy gnocci.
Getting married in February in Napa Valley is always a risky endeavor when it comes to the weather ( Winter is the rainy season in wine country! ) but we were hoping for an outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour on the lawn. Unfortunately the forecast was not in our favor, but the resulting indoor candlelit ceremony was incredibly warm, intimate and romantic. It was ultimately the perfect location and while the guests stayed dry, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
For the decor, Brittany chose a palette of dusty blues, grays and whites. Elegant and perfect for a winter wedding. We were so excited to be able to use beautiful anenomes in the bouquets and centerpieces which provided a beautiful contrast for the mostly white flowers. For the centerpieces we incorporated wood boxes so that guests had a place to set down the family style platters without getting in the way of the flowers. The sailcloth tent was stunningly draped in fabric and the chandeliers and twinkle lights glowed into the night as the band rocked the party.
Don’t you just love the soft and romantic feel of this rainy day wedding in Napa Valley? We sure do! You’ll be wishing for rain after you see this gorgeous wedding in Maine.
Wedding Vendors:
Wedding Planner: Shannon Leahy Events
Venue: Meadowood
Florist: Bows and Arrows
Photographer: Larissa Cleveland Photography
Band: Ground Control
Lighting: Got Light
Hair and Makeup: Marisa Perel
Stylist: Jaime Cole
Officiant: Matty Glazer
Invites: Bourne Paper Co.
Rentals: Encore, Theoni and La Tavola
Tent: Zephyr Tents