Wintery Vineyard Wedding Beneath a California Oak
When you have a couple as adorable as Lauren + Nick, you’re bound to be stricken with their boho style and innate charm. Their golden hour vineyard wedding is all of that and more with “I do’s” beneath a towering California oak. Totally idyllic on its own, the scene was enhanced further by a wild + unruly floral installation from Best Day Ever Floral Design. We’re starry-eyed over their reception styled by Two Roads Event Co., with mustard cloth napkins, color-blocked utensils, and gorgeous rattan thrones. Game over for any hopes of remaining chill when you see their drippy cakes as well! So without further ado, Lauren + Nick’s fab bohemian luxe nuptials.
From the bride, Lauren: We’re both native Los Angelenos, currently living in Seattle. We would have LOVED to get married up here in the Pacific Northwest, but it was easier for our family and friends to host the event in LA, and it was important to us that our wedding be as accessible for our guests as possible, while still staying true to ourselves. The compromise? We found an indoor/outdoor venue surrounded by hills and other natural beauty, so we could be married outdoors in nature [super important to us!!] but our guests could stay comfortable. Also, we shot our engagement photos at lake crescent [in Washington state], and used them to create a guest book for everyone to sign—we were able to bring a little bit of our new home, the Pacific Northwest, to our wedding with us.
Triunfo has a really amazing bridal suite with a vanity. I was able to sit and ground myself before the ceremony with a few crystals, a smudge stick and incense, and an old photo of me and my brother who died when I was 17. that, along with the presence of several of his friends, meant everything to me. His two very best friends, Andrew and David, were our witnesses!
Our seven parents surrounded us during the ceremony to recite special vows. Our rescue pup, River, was at our wedding but not in it—he’s too shy and anxious for that, but it meant so much to us to have him there! He was also included on our wedding invite illustration!
We were married on our rug that we love and have had since we lived in LA, and of course, intend to keep forever! We can’t wait to tell our kids one day that they’re standing on the very same rug their parents were married on. The officiant was a lifelong family friend. We had lots of blankets for our guests to stay warm. And of course, we wrote our own vows!
Nick’s brother, Ezra, acted as ring bearer and read the following:
“This commitment is made now, for the future, and unto Infinity, that you will live for each other, not just with each other, and live with the complete focus that together you shall both attain your highest destiny. Know that your every act and projection has its effect upon the future. Live consciously. Never utter a harsh word, it cannot be unspoken. Never act in a way that you will regret. Live in kindness. Set an example in your home of harmonious communication, mutual respect, and love of God.”
While taking golden hour portraits on a hill overlooking our wedding, we watched a black horse run loose around the venue! It definitely looked as though he was going to run right through cocktail hour. While he was ultimately caught and taken home, it was especially strange and magical given Katie’s performance of Wild Horses during the ceremony!
The subtle adventure theme portrayed in our guest book was also the inspiration for our national park table names. We used only the national parks we’ve visited together—camping, hiking, exploring, and any other kind of outdoor adventuring with our dog, river, is super important to us! We had camping/enamel mug party favors that said “Nick & Lo 12.16.2017” on one side and “written in the stars” on the other, as well as campfire cocktails at the bar!
Because it was a winter wedding, we gravitated toward moody colors, jewel tones, and anything that would evoke an overall feeling of warmth—we wanted to create an inviting ambiance for our guests to feel welcome! We had an abundant harvest/grazing table during cocktail hour, served dinner family style on long tables while each of our four [biological] parents took turns giving toasts, and had lots of candles and blankets for our guests to share!
Also because it was a winter wedding, and because we knew we’d have several older guests [like my adorable grandparents!] we wanted to create a comfortable indoor area for our guests to stay warm. We put framed photos from our adventures around the farmhouse, a cozy lounge by the fireplace, and added touches of macrame and lots of candles to create the vibe. The hot cocoa bar, mini pies, and flatbread pizzas served later in the evening helped as well!
I’m not totally sure about the wedding flower specifics, but Annie of Best Day Ever is honestly the most amazing human ever and can definitely tell you all about the flowers she used! my bouquet and the ceremony backdrop she created [and later re-purposed behind our peacock chairs/sweetheart table during the reception] were especially amazing!!
Do you have any advice for couples currently planning their wedding?
Do what you gotta do to get it all done, but when the day finally arrives, try to let it all go and enjoy! be present! we felt pretty stressed planning an out of state wedding while I was in grad school, but once we arrived in California we adopted a que sera sera attitude and just enjoyed each other and our guests and our celebration of LOVE! Also, get married on a rug that you own. Or don’t, but do include something in your ceremony that you can keep forever! Nick and I lovveeee seeing/standing/walking on our rug every day and remembering our perfect, special, magical wedding.
What songs did you play during your ceremony + reception?
We really wanted a personal, intimate, meaningful ceremony—my dream would have involved shamans and palo santo and smudge sticks, for sure—but we also wanted to make sure our guests felt comfortable [especially our seven parents and grandparents] so we tried to create a mix of familiar and traditional, while also meaningful to us and aligned with our values.
Django Foxtrot played during our ceremony; the following were instrumental in their gypsy jazz style:
Processional: Sleep Walk, Santo & Johnny
Recessional: Me and Julio, Paul Simon
My cousin, Katie Gavin of Muna, performed Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones during the ceremony.
A DJ from dart collective hosted our reception [and exclusively used vinyl!]:
First dance [bride+groom]: Harvest Moon, Neil Young
First dance [father/bride+mother/groom]: Across the Universe, The Beatles
If your heart is still a-flutter, check out their adorable video by Wade from Shark Pig below!
Wedding Vendors:
Photography: Gina & Ryan
Videography: Shark Pig
Event Coordination: Two Roads Event Co.
Floral Design: Best Day Ever Floral Design
Venue: Triunfo Creek Vineyards
Wedding Dress: Bo & Luca
Hairpiece: Untamed Petals
Bridal Boutique: The Dress Theory
Shoes – Vintage Boots (Bride’s own)
Hair and Makeup Artist: Janet of Benyla
Catering: Contemporary Catering
Bar: Cocktail Concierge
Dessert: Sweet Lady Jane
Ceremony Music: Django Foxtrot
Reception Music: Dart Collective
Mug Favors: PNW Enamel Co.
Photo Booth: Classic Photo Booth
Rentals: Archive Rentals, Premiere Party Rents, and Found Vintage Rentals
Tabletop Rentals: Borrowed Blu
Linens: La Tavola
Stationery, Save the Dates, Invitations, Thank You Notes: Wide Eyes Paper Co.
Day Of Stationery: Lynn + Lou Paper Co.