Private Estate Wedding in Napa from Laurie Arons :: Lexi & Al

Today’s wedding in Napa is really making us crave some warm, sunny weather… Lexi and Al chose a private estate where they spent all their summers growing up. With the deep connection to the venue and all the memories they shared there, it made for the perfect location to celebrate their wedding with family and friends. From the brides amazing lace Monique Lhuillier gown, a delicious dinner and poolside cocktails, this wedding is sure to inspire any bride-to-be!

Photography by Weddings by Sasha.

What advice do you have for other couples in the midst of planning a wedding? Enjoy it, it goes by quickly. Try not to get in fights or stress, because in the end, no one will notice what you think. It’s the feeling and the love people will walk away with.

Did you include any other traditions in your wedding? Something borrowed—a ring from my mom. Something old—my baby bracelet. It still fit! Something blue—my toes. Something new—my dress

Dress by Monique Lhuillier.  

Is there anything else that helps tell the story of your wedding? We grew up in the same city and went to the same grade school and neighboring high schools. We never met until later in life. You just never know.

If you had it to do over again, is there anything you would do differently? Nothing—except I wish it lasted a little longer!

The Ceremony

“We married in the home Lexi spent the summers of her life in. The setting was beautiful and the house exuded feelings of nostalgia for both our family and friends. We couldn’t imagine any other venue with a deeper connection. Most of our guests had spent as much time and shared as many memories as we had there.”

Your ceremony in three words.  Elegant, touching, intimate

How did you go about planning your ceremony?  We set our wedding date six months from the day we got engaged. We are both super busy and knew we needed help, so we hired wedding planner, Laurie Arons. She is brilliant at what she does. She made it seamless and stress-free. Lexi also provided many of her small touches that made it extra special and personal.

What was your ceremony music?  We hired a quartet that played instrumental alternative rock and classical songs.

Ceremony Music by Synchronicity Strings.

Who officiated your ceremony? Lexi’s best friend’s father married us, who just so happens to be a San Francisco Superior Court Judge.

Did you include any traditions in your ceremony? We had family members recite a couple of readings, followed by our vows. We had a California civil ceremony.

What were your ceremony readings? “Love” by Roy Croft and “Touched by an Angel” by Maya Angelou.

What were your vows like?  We didn’t write our own. We wanted our ceremony to be short and very sweet.

What was the best advice you received as a bride? Have a special place to retreat to as soon as the ceremony ends, so you and your partner can toast each other in private and soak in the very first few moments of what you just did. Have a good friend or family member provide a nice cocktail or glass of bubbles waiting for you and kiss your partner—then enter the party!

The Reception

“Our reception was a blast—dancing, cutting a rug with family, and letting loose!”

Did you have a signature cocktail? Aviation—gin, maraschino liquor, crème de violette, lemon juice. Tequila sour—tequila, lemon, agave, egg white, orange peel.

What inspired you when you were planning your wedding? The private estate and backyard weddings.

Do you have any budget tips for other brides?  You don’t need every person you ever knew at your wedding. Keep it to the people you call and care about.

What was your wedding menu? Phenomenal, we basically hired the best caterer in town. The tasting dinner was a lot fun. Appetizers: Beggar’s Purses with Caviar and Crème Fraîche / Tuna Tartar / Fried Chicken Sliders / Soup shots // First Course: Fish Crudo // Main Course: Lamb Chops and Seasonal Vegetables. All served Family Style—so much more relaxed.

What was your favorite moment or part of the reception? The after party of course, but the speeches also stood out the most for me. The speeches were touching, heartfelt and tear-jerking. Oh and the food! Paula LeDuc Fine Catering is the best!

What type of cake or dessert did you serve? Dark Chocolate Cake with Salted Caramel and Coconut Frosting, decorated with olive branches.

What was your first dance song? Father/daughter dance?
First dance: “Baby, Come to Me” by James Ingram
Father/daughter: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What A Wonderful World” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole