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A Captivating Vineyard Wedding in California

A Captivating Vineyard Wedding in California

Rolling hills and vibrant blooms with cultural accents

Vineyard Wedding in California | Real Wedding: Michelle & Max

Every aspect of the enchanting weekend celebration of Michelle and Max's union at Greengate Ranch and Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, California, exuded an air of romance and sophistication. Surrounded by vineyards and picturesque rolling hills, the ranch served as a stunning canvas for their love story. The serene ceremony by the tranquil pond and the rustic yet elegant reception in the barn set the stage for this special event. Creating an enchanting ambience, a stunning floral arrangement with a delightful interplay of textures and vibrant hues have come together in the perfect balance of style and brightness. Adding a touch of distinctive allure to the setting, the juxtaposition of traditional barn aesthetics with red lanterns elegantly honoured the bride's Chinese heritage. Enjoy the bride's first-hand account of the details of the wedding planning and immerse yourself in the captivating visuals captured through the talented lens of Krista K.

Vineyard Wedding in California | Real Wedding: Michelle & Max

Tell us a little about yourselves. How did you meet? What do you do for a living? What are your hobbies?

Max and I have known each other since we went to college together in Seattle but didn't date until we reconnected in San Francisco a handful of years afterwards. We had a long-distance relationship for a few years until I finished graduate school and moved to Los Angeles, where Max is from. Max is an entrepreneur who runs a beverage company. I work in health care as a neuro-optometrist. Outside of work, I spend a lot of my time in an art studio, where I make ceramic pieces. We take pleasure in eating and drinking well, traveling, and enjoying the company of our friends, family, and dog. We feel fortunate to live a few blocks from the beach and try to enjoy the southern California sunshine as much as possible.

Can you share your engagement story?

We had planned a weekend of wine tasting in Paso Robles long before I ever thought Max might propose. He told me that his uncle had a connection and got us a special room at a boutique bed and breakfast called Kindred Oak Farm. Little did I know, it was all a guise and Max had secretly been planning a proposal. He suggested we go on a walk the morning after we arrived, and I was shocked when he got down on one knee to ask me to marry him. Albeit surprised, I didn't hesitate to say yes. Our closest friends, including a few who had flown in from across the country, had been watching in hiding the whole time. Seemingly everyone except me knew that we were getting engaged! It was extra special to spend the rest of the weekend celebrating in good company.

Did you have any pre-wedding events, like a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower?

My in-laws threw a gorgeous bridal party for me and the women in my life. My best friends planned a three-day bachelorette trip to Austin, Texas, complete with horseback riding and a boat day on Lake Travis. Max celebrated his bachelor party in Las Vegas and was smart enough not to tell me how much money he lost at the blackjack table. The night before the ceremony, we hosted a rehearsal dinner for our wedding party and immediate family. Everyone sat at one big, long table, sharing heartfelt toasts and drinking our favorite wine. All these events reminded us how fortunate we are to be surrounded by a community of people who are inspiring, thoughtful and generous.

Where was your wedding? Why did you choose this venue?

We spent our wedding weekend at Greengate Ranch and Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, California. The central coast of California has always been a special place for us. We've spent a lot of time just north in Paso Robles, which was where Max proposed. It felt right to be married nearby. Greengate itself is a stunning working farm surrounded by grape vines and rolling hills. When we saw it for the first time, we knew it had to be the place. We loved the exclusivity of having the venue to ourselves for the weekend and that our entire wedding party of nearly thirty people could stay on the property with us. Being able to embrace the natural ambiance of the venue and host all our weekend events onsite, but in different spaces, was an added bonus. We had our rehearsal dinner on the terrace lawn, got married at the pond, held reception at the barn, moved the afterparty to the Ranch house, and then spent the day after the wedding at the pool.

What was the concept behind your wedding and how did you find your inspiration?

I didn’t grow up imagining what my wedding would look like, so planning began less with a "vision" and more with a feeling. Words that we wanted to use to describe our wedding were intentional, inclusive, vibrant, unfussy, and creative. It was not until after we had chosen the venue and I had found a wedding dress that I really began to develop the vision in my mind. I wanted our wedding to be romantic, playful, and most of all, colorful. It evolved organically to become a sort of elevated, summer garden party. Our bespoke invitations and day-of stationary were all hand-drawn. Our floral design emphasized unexpected textures and punchy colors which were perfect against the green backdrop of the Ranch. We incorporated layered prints into the table linens. Each member of the bridal party wore a floor-length gown with a different color and floral pattern. Guests were similarly encouraged to wear fun suits and dresses.

In contrast to the whimsy of the rest of the day, the barn used for reception was designed to feel dark and moody – like an old-fashioned, dimly lit piano bar or supper club. We used dark tones with pops of bright red to accomplish this. My favorite décor element, the red flocked lanterns that were hung above the checkered dance floor, were also an homage to my Chinese heritage. I have always been imaginative. I found inspiration from bits and pieces of our own lives, things and themes we love, and of course from other weddings. We deeply considered how various elements of the day would make our guests feel, rather than striving to design a wedding that fit a specific design aesthetic.

How long did it take to plan your wedding? Did you encounter any challenges during the planning process?

Max asked me to marry him in October of 2022. We started looking for venues in January of the following year. In total, we spent about a year and a half wedding planning. Beyond the typical time and cost demands of organizing a wedding, we were fortunate not to face any significant unexpected challenges.

How many guests did you have? And what was the seating arrangement at the wedding like?

We had just shy of 150 guests at our wedding. The ceremony took place on a sort of peninsula, with water surrounding us on either side. The seating arrangement was amphitheater style, such that rather than straight rows, the chairs leaned inward towards us. This created better sightlines and a sense of intimacy even among a larger guest count. In the spirit of inclusivity, we opted for a handful of long king’s tables rather than more small ones at reception. Dinner was served family style to encourage interaction and conversation.

Tell us about your outfits. How many different styles have you tried?

I looked for wedding dresses at 6 stores, between both San Francisco and Los Angeles. As I started trying on dresses, I realized I wanted something dramatic that felt unequivocally bridal. I gravitated towards gowns with intricate details and surprising textures. I never envisioned myself getting married in a lace strapless dress, but sometimes the universe has other ideas… In the end, I chose a beaded lace dress with detachable flare sleeves, a low sheer back, and a long train by Israeli designer Netta Benshabu. It felt somewhat kismet that the dress was adorned with small pearls, the same as my birthstone. I wore a veil that was equally dramatic cathedral length with a long blusher and lace trim.

Finding the perfect second dress was hard. I wanted something comfortable that I could really boogie on the dance floor in. I had a vision to wear a short dress, so that I could pair it with fun bridal boots. In the eleventh hour, I found ROTATE Birger Christensen mini dress with tonal floral embroidery, a keyhole back and fun flared cuffs. I liked that it was completely different from the rest of my bridal wardrobe. I paired it with knee-high white leather boots from Staud for a vintage 60’s look.

My rehearsal outfit for the day before paid tribute to the underlying western theme, amplified by my love of horses and the venue itself. I wore an ethereal bell-sleeved gown with a low-cut front from Cult Gaia and cowboy boots from Paris Texas. I also found the perfect Anya Hindmarch bridal purse adorned with a horseshoe, which I used on the day of the wedding.

What was your first dance song? Did you choreograph or improvise?

Our first dance was to the Gallant version of Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin." It's a song that has been a part of our love story for a long time and is a staple car karaoke choice on every road trip. Long before Max proposed, I imagined this being our wedding song. It was an obvious decision! Although Max will deny it, neither of us is particularly good at dancing. Improvising our dance felt more like us and was one less thing to worry about the day of the wedding.

Did you have any special performances or entertainment?

We were thrilled to be able to have a live band. They brought so much energy to the party! I'll never forget our entire wedding jumping up and down on the dance floor and screaming the words to Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten." It was so fun and spontaneous. Also, the only time that I cried was after the last song of the night played. I walked down the aisle to an acoustic version of Whitney Houston's "Higher Love" by James Vincent McMorrow, and the night ended with the band’s version of the Kygo remix. It was a full-circle moment.

What was the most memorable moment from your wedding day?

My now mother-in-law reminded us shortly before the wedding that the ceremony itself and the commitment we were making to one another was the crux of the day. It can be easy to lose sight of that. Walking down the aisle with my dad was really special. I think every little girl thinks about that moment and sharing it with him was emotional for both of us. Our dear friend and officiant, Jacob, led a beautiful ceremony and "ring warming," where our wedding bands were passed between guests, so that everyone in attendance could "warm" them with well-wishes, love, and intention. It was a wonderful way to involve our friends and family. Of all the memorable parts of the ceremony, reading our vows aloud to one another was perhaps my favorite.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

We owe credit to the awesome team of vendors who made our wedding truly magical. Krista, our photographer, was a dream to work with. Her art speaks for itself, but she went above and beyond to make sure our day was everything that we wanted it to be. We will forever be grateful to her for capturing our wedding the same way that we felt it. She has such a gift.

I would also shout out our florist, Jocelyn, at Fig Event Co. and the On The Beat music team. Both vendors totally understood our vision and ran with it. The flower arrangements Jocelyn created for both rehearsal dinner and the day of our wedding were better than anything I could have imagined. The band gave us their all to make it a real party and our guests gave it right back. I can't help but smile every time I think about that dance floor.

What advice would you give to couples who are currently planning their wedding?

It's easy to get overwhelmed or lost in the details of wedding planning, and there are so many of them, you can drive yourself mad. Remember that above all, your wedding should be fun and meaningful. Surround yourself with the people who will remind you of that. Incorporate marital traditions that feel true to you and skip ones that feel orchestrated or performative. Enjoy the process! It will all be worth it.

Were there national/religious traditions at your wedding and how did you implement them?

Max comes from a Jewish family and my mom is Chinese, so it was important to us to honor these heritages throughout the day. We broke glass at the end of our wedding ceremony, signed a Jewish marriage license called a ketubah and offered a Chinese-inspired dinner menu. One of my favorite parts of the day was the Hora, a longstanding tradition at most Jewish receptions. Max and I were hoisted up into chairs on the dance floor, under glowing Chinese lanterns, while our wedding guests linked arms and danced below us. This moment was a poignant symbol of the fusion of our cultural backgrounds and union of our friends and families.

Did you have any special or unique elements (such as a signature cocktail or a fragrance) at your wedding?

Many of the small details of our wedding held special significance to Max and me. At rehearsal dinner, we used oyster shells from my parent's home on the Oregon coast as paper weights. The ring dish photographed in our stationary flat lays I made myself (MIHO ceramics). We traveled to Mexico City a few months before our wedding and picked out a special fragrance from a perfumery called Xinú that I saved to wear until the day of the wedding. Max’s tie was secretly embroidered with a heart shaped patch and our wedding date. At cocktail hour, we used drink stirrers featuring our dog, Rugby’s, face. We also named one of our signature drinks, “the Rugarita,” after him. The wine we drank at our wedding came from our favorite vineyard in Paso Robles. We saved a few bottles of each with hopes that we might someday be able to drink them at our future children's wedding. We gave meaning to many of the minor details of our wedding, but none are as significant as our wedding rings. Each of our rings are born from a piece that belonged to Max's Grandpa. He used to wear a thick, gold cigar band with an inset diamond. Max inherited it and had the diamond removed to make my engagement ring, and we later used the gold from the same band to create his. Having the privilege of wearing a family stone is something I will always cherish.

Vineyard Wedding in California | Real Wedding: Michelle & Max

Did you make a gift for guests, and what was it? What did you give each other as a gift?

We share a love for coffee, so it was a fitting gift to give our guests. We purchased coffee beans from a local Los Angeles roaster and made a stamp using our stationary design. We also created custom matchbooks which our guests kept as souvenirs. We gifted each other vintage Rolex and Cartier watches. We hope these will become family heirlooms.