An al-fresco California wedding with the perfect Aperol escort wall

California desert wedding venue

Remi and Kayla's love story began in the couple's current state of Nevada, spurred by mutual friends and all the same college courses. Who would have known that a simple college party would lead to these two on a travel-filled adventure that would later reflect itself in their wedding day design. Together, they've visited 12 countries, built out a camper van, and have a golden pup named Winston (who made it onto the cocktail napkins at the bar!). Keep scrolling to hear all about how the day at Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Sitting Bull came together with the help of Vine + Branch Events Co., and with each and every detail captured by Rachel Artime Photography.

desert wedding dress wildflower bridal bouquet

classic black suit with bow tie

mix and match champagne bridesmaid dresses

Tuscan design inspiration in California

The design inspiration for the entire wedding day was spurred by the bride and groom's romantic engagement story. Remi asked Kayla to marry him in Florence, Italy, and the couple wanted to get married in the same spot where she said 'yes,' but also wanted their friends and family to all be able to come and celebrate. The moment Remi and Kayla walked into the incredible venue at Hummingbird Nest Ranch, they felt like they were back in Tuscany. Together with their planner Vine + Branch Events Co., they wanted a fresh and simple design, because the venue's old brick surroundings and cobblestones were so beautiful by themselves, and the florals and tables only needed to accent the venue's already incredible beauty.

outdoor California wedding ceremony

mini wildflower bridesmaid bouquets natural tree floral installations

white rose petal ceremony exit

Personalized maps of favorite spots

Kayla and Remi wanted their wedding day to feel personalized with touches of things they love the most, including homemade Mexican food (their favorite!), a personalized map in their invites with all their favorite stops along the California coast, the Aperol spritz escort wall because that’s their favorite Italian drink, fresh simple bud vases and florals, and twinkle lights to really create that al fresco feel.

baskets of citrus fruit

Overflowing baskets of lemons and blooms

From the get-go, Kayla and Remi expressed their deep love for all things Italy and Vine + Branch Events Co. just knew they had to bring that same relaxed essence to their big day. Throughout the curated design process, the planning team wove in traditional and romantic elements along with whimsical touches to brighten the reception and ceremony spaces, while letting the beauty of the venue shine through. Sitting Bull was the perfect backdrop for the day. From the Aperol escort wall, to the overflowing baskets of lemons and blooms (thanks to Solstice Bloom), and even to the carefully picked floral plates, every design decision was crafted to exude Kayla and Remi’s style.

Aperol escort wall

audio guest book Aperol Spritz wedding wall

An Aperol Spritz escort wall

They couple wanted to keep the design as clean and timeless as possible while including fun details to really personalize their day. Since Kayla and Remi adore their travels abroad to Italy, we incorporated one of their favorite drinks (the Aperol Spritz) into their custom escort wall design. Italian marble was also woven into the custom table numbers by Wildhouse Ink. Even though their wedding décor was heavily European inspired, Vine + Branch Events Co. did want to throw guests for a fun loop by serving the couple’s other favorite cuisine (Mexican!) for dinner, with Sabor Catering hand-making and rolling tortillas for all guests at the buffet.

custom lyrics neon sign

Favorite lyrics became a neon sign

The couple and their team loved incorporating fun aspects into their reception party, including making their favorite lyrics into a neon sign and having light-up cowboy hats for the dance party. As a humorous tribute to Remi’s favorite sunglasses, Kayla ordered custom Pit Vipers for all the guests on the dance floor. Since their favorite dessert is also gelato, incorporating a gelato cart not only fit the theme, but also wove even more of their personality into the day!

al fresco wedding reception

wildflower reception centerpieces

marble table numbers natural wood wedding chairs

floral place settings

After-the-fact advice

Hire a planner who not only works with you from the very beginning to bring your vision to life, but who also keeps you on track throughout the entire wedding planning process! Being able to enjoy the exciting aspects of the planning without having to learn an entire industry and its intricacies was invaluable. Also make a list of your top 3 must haves for your wedding day, and adjust your budget accordingly to compensate for the things you love. Perhaps most importantly, remember that the wedding is one day, but your marriage is a lifetime. Investing in dating your partner and making wedding planning nights into fun dates will continue to set you up for absolute success even after the bubbles pop and confetti settles on wedding midnight.

al fresco wedding string lights