When Elise, a wedding designer and bride-to-be, was planning her California wedding she knew she wanted it to be an intimate celebration in a beautiful setting. When she and her groom, Michael, found Griffith Woods, nestled in the heart of Sonoma County, they knew they found the perfect place to tie the knot! Elise, of Brannan Events & Design, along with her planning partner and husband-to-be, Michael, put together a stellar list of vendors to create this magical day of romance amid a lush, wooded setting.
We love the special details these two tied in throughout their wedding celebration. They chose their wedding date of Friday, May 13th because the bride’s parents were also married on a Friday the 13th, and they see it as a day of good luck in her family. They also chose to pay homage to the bride’s father, who passed away of cancer, with sweet details such as a reserved chair at the ceremony with a mirror that was etched by the groom. Elise also gifted her groom one of her dad’s handkerchiefs, which she hand embroidered. The handmade details didn’t end there- the bride and her mother handmade her veil, which included pieces of her mother’s veil.
One of our favorite details of the day was the inclusion of a gelato cart to give their guests a refreshing treat as they started the day. Their reception was full of romantic details, full summery florals, beautiful touches of calligraphy, and so much joy and celebration. We of course love that they insisted on including their beautiful pups, Daisy and Carli, that participated throughout the day. We think you’ll love the sweet celebration they shared, and we’re excited to share the beautiful images that Kreate Photography captured!
What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?
Being a wedding planner myself, I felt confident- not to mention, I was looking forward to- taking care a lot of the planning and design details myself! I am lucky enough where planning weddings is my full-time job because, planning one as a bride, can feel like one! I had amazing support day of from my assistant take over the day of so I could relax:)!
What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?
I was lucky enough to work with many of the vendors ahead of time but I definitely wanted vendors that cared about their clients and who wanted to make the process as easy as possible!
What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?
When we were hunting for our wedding venue we knew we wanted to feel completely immersed in the redwoods. That was a huge inspiration in the design! I wanted it to feel romantic and intimate with lots of natural details.
What was your favorite thing about your wedding?
Other than marrying the love of my life and having amazing people there to celebrate with us, I loved how secluded and serene the setting was! Our fur babies were able to roam the property off leash and we were in our own little world for a while. That was one of the major benefits on having our wedding on a private estate:)
What is your best piece of advice for other brides?
Don’t sweat the small stuff (even though it feels much bigger sometimes) because at the end of the day you’ll just be grateful to be married to your best friend:)
We love how much love and personality went into so many of the special touches and design details of Elise and Michael’s wedding day. It is clear that they planned with the utmost intention, and the celebrated with so much joy!
VENDORS WHO MADE IT ALL HAPPEN…
Planning & Design: Brannan Events & Design // Venue: Griffith Woods in Santa Rosa, Ca // Photography: Kreate Photography // Caterer: Charlie’s BBQ // Dress & Suit: Allure Bridal (brand) Gesinee’s Bridal, Concord CA (boutique) // Shoes & Jewelry: Via Spiga (shoes) & Renee Pawele (belt) // Hair & Make Up: Kaylee Swift & Vanessa Hagris of Blush Salon // Florist: Brannan Events & Design // Cake: Sweetie Pies Bakery // Gelato Cart: Sweet Springs Rentals // Calligraphy & Paper Goods: Oxford Lettering Co. // Rentals: Classic Party Rentals Napa // Linens: La Tavola Fine Linen // Videography: Alexandra Rivas
Lauren
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