Food, Wine, and Love

When I first met Paula earlier this year, one thing really stood out to me. She had an incredible spark of love in her eyes. It was apparent that she had found the true love of her life and she had the sweetest smile when she spoke of her fiance Harry.
We had just a little over 6 months to plan their wedding, and they selected one of the most charming venues in the Bay Area--Thomas Fogarty Winery. Food and wine were the priorities, as Paula was not only a food lover but also a great chef at home! I had the perfect caterer to match them up with, and it was indeed a match made in heaven. Paula and Harry fell in love with Ethan Mantle of Componere Fine Catering at the very first meeting/tasting. His impressive background in the culinary industry, along with his warm personality and exceptional food, really blew the couple away. They knew immediately that they wanted Ethan to cater their wedding. We had so much fun creating a customized menu together as Ethan worked hard to really understand Paula and Harry's tastes and preferences. Creating the menu and pairing it with the perfect wines from Fogarty were definitely the couple's favorite part of the wedding planning.

The wedding day took place on a hot summer day in July. Despite the heat, there was a nice breeze at all times since Fogarty is located high in the mountains. Guests gasped in awe upon arrival when they saw the magnificent panoramic view in front of them. Reverend Ed Holt performed a warm and touching ceremony that incorporated Harry's two sons and Paula's brother, acknowledging the coming together of two families. Following that, guests enjoyed delicious hors d'oeurves and a wine tasting experience with Patrick Meier's band playing smooth jazz music in the background. One of the highlights of the day was certainly the impressive four course dinner prepared by Componere, followed by a selection of creative desserts in the Hill House. It was definitely a beautiful day of great food, wine and company....just what Paula and Harry wanted!

Pictures were taken by the AWESOME Lisa Leigh, who can put even the most nervous, camera shy person at ease in front of her camera! Paula and her bridesmaids' makeup and hair were done by Armando of Get Your Do Up. All the flowers were the creative products of Mandy Scott Flowers, and the gorgeous (and tasty!) cake was the creation of Sonya Hong of Butterfly Cakes. All paper products (menu cards, escort cards, and programs) were designed and printed by the talented Lisa Wong Jackson of Good on Paper.