Today we have something REALLY special.  Jennifer and Darrell’s wedding was over the top gorgeous, and so ridiculously detailed and well thought out, it will bowl you over.  The pretty-factor should come as no surprise, given Jennifer’s food industry background and the couple’s true love of entertaining.  Additionally, as a special treat, they are also sharing the photos of their casual picnic event, and holiday cookie baking party in the Cavallo Point Cooking School. Lovely floral design by Kate’s Blossoms, photography by Kelly Puleio, and in the spirit of treating you, dear readers, here is a description of the day, in the beautiful bride’s own words:
It was a complete surprise when my boyfriend, Darrell Rodriguez, brought me to Cavallo Point on December 30, 2012. We had visited the Lodge a couple of times for drinks and brunch.  It had been a dream of mine to stay at the resort. As we pulled up to the lodge that beautiful day, my only hope was to sip champagne, enjoy the view and toast the new year with the love of my life. 

As New Years fast approached, Darrell told me to dress up.  We were heading to Murray circle for dinner and then to the water front to watch the fire works at the stroke of midnight. Dinner was a beautiful seven course meal with wines paired with each course. At 11:45, Darrell asked me to walk to the water front. I gently requested that we drive. Thinking of saving my beautiful high heels from the “long” walk in the dark. The car was quickly brought from valet.  We pulled up just as the fireworks began. 

Darrell proposed, in the car, as the fire works began, and not exactly as planned! A water side proposal was much more romantic than the one inside the car, he said.  But I was surprised and thrilled nonetheless. New Year’s Day, as we enjoyed breakfast on the restaurant patio, we began to discuss where we wanted to get married. Coming back to Cavallo point, exactly one year to the day to mimic the proposal seemed like the most amazing of options.

By March, we were booked.  It would be a small wedding for forty special family and friends. An event centered around food, wine and the fireworks of New Year’s Eve. It was the fireworks that provided the theme for the wedding. The sparks of the fireworks. The sparks we felt when we met.  The sparks that would fly when we got married. “Come See Sparks Fly”. And so it began.

We lived in a home of similar style to the lodge. All of the planning, flowers, colors and theme centered around honoring the integrity of the property. We entertain all of the time. Serving multiple coursed dinners paired with wine. That part was easy. The first piece was to ensure that everyone saved the date and booked a room. It was New Year’s Eve after all.  We didn’t want to risk anyone making other plans. The Save the Date notices went out by May.  A simple menu card. With a matchbook saying ” Save the Date-December 31, 2013-Come See Sparks Fly” It was threaded with three silver sparklers. All hand written, including the fireworks on the top.

Join me on June 2^nd at Piatti Risorante & Bar in Mill Valley from 12-3pm for the Piatti Wedding Expo.

 I am so excited to spend time at this gorgeous venue alongside many top party and event specialists. Enjoy sparkling drinks and delicious bites from the Piatti kitchen and interact with all the top vendors who create unforgettable events including florists, photographers, design and staging professionals, and so much more.

Attend this one-stop event for all the essentials in planning the perfect birthday parties, sweet sixteens, graduation parties and whatever celebration you have in mind!

 Plus, there will be thousands of dollars worth of amazing raffle prizes given away!

 No entrance fee, but you must RSVP to be entered into the raffle.

 RSVP to Kristin Lehmkuhl: 415.306.1514 | klehmkuhl@piatti.com

 For more information visit: http://bit.ly/16xXFRT

It’s a simple story of a set-up by a friend.  This friend knew two people from Michigan and figured- how could they not be a match?  Turns out, this silly logic was absolutely right- cut to 5 years later, Jen and Jeff’s wedding at Cavallo Point.  These two have some seriously adorable chemistry, and I feel so lucky to have been a part of their special day, along with two of my favorite vendors- Sarah Peet behind the camera and Kate’s Blossoms on gorgeous flower detail. Bright spring green prints and natural flowers in beautiful blue bubble glass showcased the season.  To honor Jeff’s career as a bar manager the couple gave adorable mini bottles of St. Germaine with a specialty drink recipe attached as favors.  Jen and Jeff, I miss you already- congratulations!!

Jean and Tim hosted their destination wedding at Cavallo Point, as an homage to their past life as San Franciscans.  During wedding planning they lived in Georgia, and had busy professional lives.  As such, they kept the wedding planning simple, bringing together many close family friends to offer their talents from florals to photography.  One example of this was their delightful photographer, Hardy Wilson.  Hardy is a newspaper photographer, and his photojournalistic approach yielded possibly my favorite wedding photo of all time (Very last photo posted here).  I hope you love these sweet images of their special day as much as I do!

This next wedding, was not actually one that I was in charge of, as it happened in our lovely restaurant’s semi-private rooms.  However, the bride is a dear friend and colleague whose company Kate’s Blossoms  has made dozens of Cavallo Point weddings beautiful.  As such, I could not be more honored that she chose the Lodge to marry her soulmate, and host an intimate family gathering in February.  Her team put together the gorgeous flowers (but, of course!), and ours did our best to show her how much she means to us with a lovely meal.  Another favorite of mine, Sabine Scherer, captured all of the pretty.  I could not be happier to send my fondest thoughts to Kate and Raymond- I just know that they will find so much happiness in this next phase of their lives together.

Mike and Tracy met in the nursing field, and as such, they work CRAZY hours.  This is my only regret as it pertains to their wedding, as i would have loved to spend more time with them during the planning process.  Even with the limited time that they had, they put together a beautiful wedding with the help of Lisa McNichol of And Something Blue.  I love the soft array of pastels represented in the bridesmaids dresses, the beautiful wild driftwood and succulent floral display on the escort card table, and little white lanterns each guest took to walk down from the ceremony to the reception together, let by a vibrant trumpet and the bride and groom.  Looking back on the gorgeous photos by Greg Slick Photography, I am reminded of how Tracy absolutely glowed when she saw Mike, and it brings a smile to my face to be part of a day filled with so much love!

Lisa and Jeff are Canadian, so when they decided to elope in late Fall, they promised their family a warm destination.  Cut to Thanksgiving weekend in San Francisco, which was not exactly what they had initially thought their wedding would look like, but turned out beautiful just the same.  It was such a pleasure to put together details of this intimate family celebration, and to see how much love this couple and their families shared.  Many thanks to their amazing florist Annabelle from Mill Valley Flowers, and the always fabulous Sabine Scherer from behind the camera.

See us on the Here Comes the Guide listing of local bridal shows and snag a deal on tickets to our fab event!

Hello! We are pleased to announce that our amazing upcoming bridal show is featured on Style Me Pretty California this morning.  We hope you are planning to attend- it is just around the corner, and we are excited to help you meet your wedding vendors!!

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