MAY 7TH
Kaitlyn and Michael's wedding, held in the lush beauty of Ellas Vineyard, was such a joyful and fun celebration of a love story between two high school sweethearts. Their relationship was built on ten years of being best friends, and their wedding day reflected the joyful nature of their relationship!
The night they got engaged, Kaitlyn and Michael went to his family's farm for a Christmas party with his side of the family. That evening, they walked outside past the lights of a tree (that Kaitlyn has watched Michael put up earlier that day) and Michael stopped and proposed to her. When she said yes, Michael's dad set off fireworks, and all their friends and family came out from where they had been hiding the whole time! Looking back, they said it was "an incredible night full of loved ones."
GETTING READY & FIRST LOOK
WEDDING CEREMONY
After the newlyweds met for a private first look and exchange of vows on the front porch, the ceremony was held outdoors, in the shade of an oak tree beside the vineyards. White floral bouquets on the wine barrels at the head of the aisle, accentuated with natural greenery, added simple elegance. The welcome table featured a hand-painted watercolor of Ellas Vineyard, and the hexagonal ceremony backdrop was built by the father of the bride!
RECEPTION
Seating cards were displayed on an ornate gold mirror, inviting guests to find their seat after cocktail hour was finished. The farm-style tables were decorated simply and tastefully, with white floral arrangements and tapered candlesticks, arrayed beneath the draping bistro lights strung overhead.
After photos were finished, the bride and groom arrived in style, riding in the backseat of their uncle's old-fashioned car. After dinner and toasts, the wedding guests danced the night away, and the newlyweds celebrated their cake-cutting with their favorite dessert: a giant cinnamon roll cake created by Old West Cinnamon Rolls. For favors, sachets of home-grown almonds and walnuts were provided by Michael's parent's farm, as a personal thank-you to all the guests who attended their special day.
LOVE LETTER FROM THE NEWLYWEDS
"Hiring Sam and the Zest it Up team was the best decision we made when planning our wedding! My husband and I were living in Boston when planning our central coast wedding, and Sam was with us every step of the way! She was responsive, supportive, professional, and genuine. She kept our vendors (and us) organized and considered all the small details to make our wedding run smoothly and beautifully. Most importantly, Sam made us feel cared for and listened to. She always took the time to listen to our wants and concerns and was dedicated to bringing our vision to life. I never thought I would say planning a wedding from across the country would be fun, but Sam made it happen! When it came to the wedding day, Sam and her team allowed our families to relax and enjoy the day. I still have family and friends telling me how impressed they were with Sam and her team. The day ran so smoothly and exceeded all of our expectations. Sam allowed my husband and I to slow down and appreciate every moment of our wedding day. We are incredibly thankful we found Zest it Up and couldn't have imagined our wedding day without them!"
THE DREAM TEAM
A huge thank-you to this dream team of vendors who helped me bring the newlywed's vision to life. If you can't get enough of Kaitlyn and Michael's beautiful golden hour wedding, check out their wedding video by Cobblestone Productions!
VENUE: @ellasvineyard
COORDINATION: @zestitup
PHOTO + VIDEO: @cobblestoneproductions
FLORAL: @_mdlevents_
HAIR: @bellizzimobeauty
MAKE UP: @desiraemichellemakeup
RENTALS: @slopartyrentals
CATERING: Blair Harlan Catering
BAR: @bottles.and.ice
ICE CREAM: @rosabrothers
DESSERT: @oldwestcinnamonrolls.pb
MUSIC: @luckydevilsband
xo,
Sam
Blog Post by Olivia Cook