I Do Venues: Lyford House Picture Perfect and Locally Grown
Photography by: Aurora Meneghello
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Inspired by the natural world and the period details of the setting, the Locally Grown Weddings team designed a special photo shoot at Lyford House in Tiburon. Perched on the edge of Richardson Bay, Lyford House shares its surroundings with a bird sanctuary and stunning views of San Francisco. The site was a natural fit for us since the venue not only hosts weddings, but also educates the public about the area and its inhabitants. We also appreciated that they had a shared focus on the environment that is aligned with the business values and practices of the Locally Grown Weddings team. We first learned about Lyford House through Chef Stephanie, who is a preferred caterer at this venue. With her Green Business Certification and focus on local and sustainable cuisine, Lyford House is one of her favorite venues in the Bay Area because it enables her to showcase her talents in a gorgeous setting.
Each of the team members brought their own unique twist to the overall vision of this photo shoot. Whether it was Angela channeling a bygone era of romance and haunting beauty in the hair and makeup styling for our bride, Cacey, Madeline and Sadie integrating gorgeous avian details with the sumptuous linens and place settings, the subtle artistry and references to the natural environment in Pei-Yee’s wedding cake design, Chef Stephanie’s elegant plates of delicious and seasonal food, or Aurora’s ability to capture the “perfect” moment in time.
Weddings aren’t just about the location, beautiful as they may be! For the Locally Grown Weddings team, one of our key goals is to help tell the story of the couple and bring their personalities and vision to life. And while this was a faux wedding, weaving together the story of an actual couple was a critical element for our photographer, Aurora. Having studied film and directing in school, she knew that one of the hardest things to fake is the chemistry between a couple; having Cacey and Paulo as our models was a true delight!
What sets Locally Grown Weddings apart in the wedding industry is that we are a cohesive team, each with a rich knowledge base in our area of expertise. Since we all know each other so well and trust each other’s instincts, we were able to work together seamlessly with plenty of smiles and laughter throughout the day. We also loved the opportunity to work with our network of partners, including: D & H Sustainable Jewelers, who shared some stunning vintage earrings and graceful rings from their well-curated collection, while Hartmann Studios provided us with the beautiful linens, tableware, and chairs that tied the whole vision together, and videographer Deepa Pathak of FilmTwist, who crafted a film interpreting the day’s shoot as a bride dreaming of her perfect day. Adele Wechsler provided a gown from her eco-couture collection where couture bridal fashion and a green perspective merge.
The end result of our collective team efforts? A modern take on Victorian era romance that was inspired by the local wildlife and surroundings and celebrates the timelessness of the Lyford House.
I Do Venues wants to recognize the talented team of wedding professionals who helped put this gorgeous event together: Photographer - Aurora Meneghello, Planner - One Big Fish Green Events, Flowers and Design - Madeline Trait, Desserts - Pei-Yee Woo, Catering - Chef Stephanie, Rentals - Hartmann Studios, Jewelry - D&H Sustainable Jewelers, Videography - Deepa Pathak for Film Twist Productions, Invitations - Cherish, Dress - from Adele Wechsler's Eco Couture Collection.