The weather was perfect, offsetting this unique and gorgeous photo of Amanda’s dress hanging in the tree at the beginning of the aisle.

While Amanda got her hair and makeup done, the photographer took pictures of her ring, like this one—resting on the leaf of a succulent—Amanda’s favorite flower!

The couple decided that they wanted to have a special moment together before they became husband and wife, so they photographed their first time seeing each other with this beautiful “first look” photo outside under the sun.

Amanda also added her own twist to the first look photos by taking them with her parents as well. Here she is standing behind the front doors waiting for her mom and dad to glimpse her as a beautiful bride for the first time.

Once the ceremony had begun, the ring bearer—Mario’s adorable nephew—walked down the aisle carrying this sign to give his uncle a heads up right before the big moment!

When it was finally time for Amanda to walk down the aisle, she couldn’t have been more ready to begin her life with Mario! Everything was perfect from her last single step…to their first married kiss.

After the ceremony, guests dined, danced and, of course, partook of the wedding sweets! Instead of a traditional tiered cake, Amanda and Mario cut into a smaller cake and served cupcakes to their enthralled guests.

Amanda and Mario shared a very special day with their friends and family, and we here at Wedgewood Sterling Hills couldn’t be more grateful to them for letting us share in it, too!

Photographer: Montana Dennis

After getting engaged, they decided to plan their wedding close to their family in the Bay Area. They live in Los Angeles and had to plan their wedding mostly over phone and e-mail, having only seen the actual site twice before the big day!

Kissing Balls with ivory roses and crystals hung from the gazebo for an elegant and romantic look.

Tara was a beautiful blushing bride! She decided to go with an everlasting broach bouquet, adding a twist to tradition.

After the vows, rings, hand fasting ceremony and kiss, Tara and Paul exited through a sea of rose petals, friends and family.

They’re such a good-looking couple!

Paul gave Tara a dreamlike wedding kiss.

Where would Tara and Paul be without their family?

The sweetheart table décor featured soft colors. Tara used gold glitter votive candles, the flowers from the ceremony site chairs, more rose petals in pale pink and a gold pin tuck runner to add texture and style to the reception.

Sweetheart table with wine waiting for the new Mr. and Mrs.!

Avonne Lee at Rosedale Floral Design provided the fresh floral centerpieces. They feature ivory hydrangea, peach stock, tulips, pink dahlias and soft pink roses.

Ivory satin tablecloths decorated the guest tables, with gold pin tuck runners, gold charger plates, ivory satin napkins, gold glitter votive candles, menu cards and fresh floral centerpieces.

Tara and Paul created an adorable candy table with color-coordinated sweets and personalized baggies for guests to take home.

Personalized signs make these candy jars extra special!

See this wedding come to life! Tara & Paul’s Wedding Video:

http://vimeo.com/54432209?action=share&post_id=571683443_527817733897935#_=_

Read Tara and Paul’s thoughts about their wedding on Yelp! http://www.yelp.com/biz/wedgewood-wedding-and-banquet-center-crystal-springs-burlingame

To some brides, however, the importance of capturing video footage of your wedding isn’t as obvious. A lot of couples wonder if it’s a worthy expense; how many times will you actually watch the video anyway?

With so many tasks to juggle, vendors to meet and checks to write, should you really add videography to the list? The answer is an unequivocal yes! A picture may be worth a thousand words, but being able to see the change in your fiancée’s facial expression as you walk down the aisle is priceless.

Your wedding day will come and go way too quickly. Of course you’ll remember the highlight reel: walking down the aisle, the I dos, your grand entrance and parts of your first dance. What you might not remember is just how long that first kiss lasted, or the look your parents exchanged when you were pronounced husband and wife.

We’re not suggesting that you replace the sentimental value that regular photos provide. But when you start to budget for your big day, you should carve out enough to hire someone who can capture—on video—those precious moments that you’ll want to remember forever.

Browse our website or visit our Facebook page for examples of Wedgewood wedding videos.

In order for the planning process to be the fantasy you hoped for, you may need a little help. Keeping your budget in mind while you juggle the things you might need is no easy task. If you haven’t planned a wedding before, how do you know how much money to dedicate to flowers, cake or food?

This is where I step in. You can think of me as your Fairy Godplanner.

I meet with brides every week, and 80% of them say that the planning process has caused them stress. The other 20% have just started the process. I get to simplify everything for our brides, taking the stress level from “Oh my gosh, I don’t want to deal with this,” to “Oh my gosh! Let’s make this fairytale happen!”

It’s really simple. Just come in with an open mind, fun ideas and a budget. I get a thrill meeting with brides and hearing their visions for the big day, and then I get to show them what it really means to be a Wedgewood princess. Clients learn that we not only work with the leading cake and floral vendors in the area, but they also don’t have to make separate deposits for each vendor—and their services can be added to each all-inclusive package. The stress dragon can be slayed!

When you’re looking for the perfect fit for your special day, come by and see me, or one of my co-Fairy Godplanners at other Wedgewood locations! I would love to make the marriage to your Prince Charming a fairytale come to life.

Nestled in the foothills of Mount Baldy, this picturesque Mountain View location provides a beautiful natural setting for your wedding. Our outdoor ceremony location, complete with a paved aisle and garden-inspired gazebo gives the perfect layout for any type of ceremony. Our florist vendor provided the aisle swag and gazebo décor shown here.

Our sunset ceremony option provides a romantic background; if you schedule your ceremony at just the right time you can catch the beautiful sunset in your photos. You can even add uplighting into your package to enhance the gazebo during your evening ceremony, like this.

Our newly built pavilion can host up to 250 guests—perfect for large receptions, Quinceaneras and parties alike. Similar to Wedgewood’s Northern California Metropolitan property, the east wall of our pavilion, complete with floor to ceiling glass windows, provides a beautiful view of the mountains. From the outside, our pavilion may appear as a glorified tent, the space functions completely as a structural building with a temperature controlled atmosphere, adjustable lighting, carpeted floors and a built-in bar. You just happen to be able to see the gorgeous outdoors surrounding you! In addition, the fully draped white ceiling and back wall allow this room to be completely adaptable to any and every event theme.

The Fountain View Room functions as the main banquet hall and accommodates up to 150 people. This venue is complete with a full wrap around terrace, a breathtaking view of the golf course’s two lit fountains and a warm ambiance stemming from the drapery and lighting. This transformable space serves as a perfect backdrop for an intimate reception or an indoor ceremony.

Are you planning your wedding or event with us? If so, we would love to hear from you. Be sure to visit Wedgewoodbanquet.com for more information!

Prior to the ceremony, it is becoming increasingly common for brides and grooms to toss superstition aside. Instead of seeing each other for the first time as the bride walks down the aisle, couples have discovered a picturesque chance for the bride to be unveiled.

Here are few reasons why the first look might be a great option for you:

1. Get swept away: Brides, I’m sure you have all dreamt of the moment when you are just about to walk down the aisle to your hubby-to-be and your eyes meet his for the first time. Your heart will flutter and the expression on his face will sweep you off your feet—but you immediately delve into your vows and hardly get to linger in that special moment. Doing a first look allows you to find a romantic location to fall in love all over again – without rushing through a ceremony to-do list.

2. Get all the photos you want: The rare intimate moment shared during a first look usually makes for lovely photos. You can get all your must-have shots up close and personal, with the backdrop of your choice. One day, while flipping through your wedding photo album, you will be glad you took that extra 30 minutes to squeeze in some alone time!

3. More time to celebrate: Another benefit of choosing a first look option is being able to go into your cocktail hour earlier. Those pre-ceremony photos will allow you to get the majority of your bridal party shots done in advance. This means you can spend more time with your guests, which will make them very happy (they are here to see you, after all!).

4. Dodge the nerves: Some couples attest that seeing one another prior to the ceremony helped to lessen their pre-wedding jitters. Take a moment to calm down together before the show goes on.

The day is going to fly by, so why not allow a first look to give you the perfect chance to slow down and remember why you’re getting married in the first place?

I have a few examples of some great color combos that would go great with a gray-themed wedding.

Gray and Yellow

Clearly the yellow blossoms against the gray and makes it very fresh and clean. These colors would work great for an inside wedding—or even a barn!

Gray and Green

Here is a great example of keeping the colors subtle—nothing too distracting, but still eye-catching. I love mint right now; it’s really a great color for spring. Mix it with some gray and you have a great look for springtime.

Gray and Champagne/Gray and Periwinkle

Here are some examples of gray added for a classy look. The muted colors blend well for an old-timey feel. I could see these in New York, downtown venues or another a chic location.

Gray and Orange

All right, I will admit I saved my favorite for last. I love orange and gray together more than any other color combinations. I think the orange pops in all the right ways to make the aesthetic very sultry.

If you’re leaning towards this trending color, I hope these examples help you pick the accent-color perfect fit!

Sarah and Julio were surrounded by love and support on that beautiful summer day as they exchanged vows.

This stunning bride could not be any happier!

Where would a bride and groom without their entourages? This bridal party was ready to have a good time!

After the long, tear-jerking walk down the aisle…it’s time to celebrate!

Sarah and Julio used gorgeous bright colors to accent their table décor: a summer feel with oranges and teal in a rustic flare. What a great look!

Their delicious and beautifully vibrant four-tier cake looked–and tasted–incredible.

We were blessed to be able to share in Sarah and Julio’s special day as they joined together as one.

This is their story with Wedgewood–we look forward in creating lasting memories with yours!