• Real Weddings

Amanda and Mark's wedding was truly a work of art. After seeing an issue of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine that featured a set of wedding cakes based on Wayne Thiebaud's famous Cakes painting this self proclaimed art-junkie of a bride decided a fine art theme for her wedding day would go perfectly with the rustic charm of Napa's Brix Restaurant and Garden. Thanks to the expertise of coordinator/event designer Sharon Burns of Napa Valley Custom Events, Amanda and Mark had the artistic wedding they had been dreaming of.
Make sure you don't miss any of the details from this art inspired wedding by viewing the full gallery here, all artfully captured by Julie Kay Kelly Photography.

California natives currently living in Maryland, Amanda and Mark knew they wanted to get married in California and fell in love with Brix Restaurant and Garden immediately. The venue also worked well for the feeling Amanda and Mark wanted to create.
From the Bride:We both love and miss California so much, so we wanted to take the opportunity for ourselves to enjoy the beautiful fall weather — my favorite time of year at home. I loved the outdoor location, the gardens, the vineyards and mountains in the background — it just looked perfect. The most important thing for me was to create an informal atmosphere. We are not formal people, and we wanted our guests to have fun.

The tables at the reception were named after Amanda's favorite artists, with each featuring a centerpiece showcasing one of his or her paintings. Amanda's mother, a former professional artist, hand painted the borders of the table seating placards, and the decor was filled with bright colors that matched the fragrant farm-to-table gardens all around. For favors, Amanda and Mark gave guests jars of homemade jam from the nearby Hurley Farms.

There isn't anything major I would have changed. If we could have afforded to do it, it would have been better to have an evening wedding because the day got very, very hot after the ceremony and I know a fair number of guests were uncomfortably hot, and I got really sunburned! But there was a significant price difference between morning and evening weddings, and the evening one was unfortunately not an option for us. In terms of things I could've changed, taking the few seconds to put on sunblock would've been a good idea. :-)With the help of wedding coordinator Sharon Burns, Amanda found cake designer Penelope Jane Orsini, from Penelope Jane Designer Cakes and Truffles, who perfectly recreated Thiebaud's cakes, and made them as delicious as they were beautiful.

• Cake: Penelope Jane Designer Cakes and Truffles
• Coordinator & Event Designer: Napa Valley Custom Events
• DJ: Jammin' Jo Productions
• Flowers: Flower Designs by Karen Brown
• Groom & His Men: J. Crew
• Hair: La Rouge Studio
• Homemade Jam Favors: Hurley Farms
• Makeup: Make-up Artistry by Alan
• Officiants: A Beautiful Ceremony
• Photographers: Julie Kay Kelly Photography
• Venue & Caterer: Brix Restaurant and Garden