Sonoma Backyard Wedding
As artsy and sophisticated people, Melissa and Brent knew they wanted a beautiful wedding that highlighted the things they loved most in life -glamour and good food. Melissa, a make-up artist went with lush florals, sophisticated bridesmaids in mint dresses, and we have to mention her silver Jimmy Choo's. Talk about glamour!
Brent, a professional chef set his sights on creating a farm-to-table style Mexican banquet. Complete with custom Cholula hot sauce bottles as wedding favors. As always there is so much more to see from this Sonoma backyard wedding in the full gallery here. All captured by Whittaker Portraits.
From Whittaker Portraits:Before the ceremony, Melissa’s mother presented her with her bouquet. It was an emotional moment for everyone in the room when Melissa turned it around to see a charm including a photo of her late grandfather.
From the Bride:I think the only thing Brent and I would've changed about our wedding day is hiring a day of coordinator. I'm a make-up artist and Brent is a chef. We both have had a tremendous amount of experience in working behind the scenes at weddings. Although our wedding day turned out beautiful I think a coordinator would have helped keep us on a schedule and make sure the small things were done without our family having to worry about them.
From Whittaker Portraits:I absolutely loved the wedding favors, which also doubled as seating cards! During their engagement session, Melissa and Brent dressed up as the Tapatio man and the Cholula lady and took a quick photo. Then, they created a hot sauce label with the photo and offered a bottle to each guest!
Ummm .... best wedding favors ever. Customized Cholula hot sauce bottles that also doubled as a their guests table assignments.
The flowers were my favorite visual aspect of the wedding. The centerpieces were adorned with figs and baby peaches. The boutonnieres included baby pomegranates. Such a beautiful way to display fruit, and a great way for Brent, a chef, to be included in the floral arrangements!
Read on to see how much this colorful culture inspired wedding cost. Please note that costs change as the years go by, and prices are subject to change. This is just one couple’s breakdown to give you a rough estimate on how much a wedding like this may cost you.
Our final breakdown of the wedding went a little like this:
Photographer: $3,700
Caterers: $4,200
DJ: $1,050
Flowers: $1,900
Event Rentals: $1,700
Venue: gifted to us Cake: gifted by my sister and mother of Lulina's Cakes Portable Restrooms: $700
Invitations: $250
- Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo
- Cake: LuLina’s Cakes
- DJ: All Occasions Entertainment
- Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero
- Flowers: Dragonfly Floral
- Groom’s Attire: Duchess Clothier
- Jewelry: Ritz Jewelers
- Rentals: Encore Events Rentals
- Veil or Hair Accessories: Lucy's Alteration & Dressmaking