The day began in the ever so encrusted dahlia gardens that were further embellished with many more flowers that were either hung on shepherd’s poles to line the ceremony’s aisle, small intricate vases that hung in the wind, and magnificently lining the wooden arbor. Guests were served Middle Eastern lemon juice and Veuve Clicquot before heading to the amazing Glendeven Inn where they were greeted with signature cocktails in the garden, fabulous appetizers, and local Sergei strung his guitar cascading Spanish melodies in the wind.The guests were invited for a spectacular meal in the courtyard that held hundreds of Moroccan lanterns strung throughout the trees and overhead. The dinner was prepared by Brian and Shennen Morris and their ever so kind and professional staff. Dancing topped off the night in the contemporary wine bar lightly lit in amber orange to set a hip, lounge feeling. Fun was had by all!!!

What a fun wedding for the amazing Mendocino Floral Design. Not often do you get to embellish the dahlia saturated gardens with so many more blooms. Great job!

Photos: Cassandra Young Photography
Food: Morris Catering
Floral: Mendocino Floral Design
Cake: Melinda Ellis cakes
DJ: Modern Music Sound
Ceremony music: Sergei Bassehes
Make up: Mendocino Beauty
Hair: Kali at unforgettable
Equipment: Wine Country Party
Lighting: Matt Rowland Events

Brianna had a vision of her toes in the sand on the Mendocino Coast and a rustic, elegant, romantic reception following and that is exactly what she got. The wedding was on the beach and the reception was walking distance in an old rustic wooden lodge. With her spring green color palette, hundreds of candles, and all of the little details that they had posing against the old grain wood made this wedding so Mendocino. Phil and Brianna were such a treat and Phil we all loved the fedora hat!

They also were the couple that won our wedding giveaway in the spring which included an amazing private dinner at the Cliff House located at the Botanical Gardens.

Food: Mendo Bistro
Floral: LR Farm
Photo: Amanda Archer
Cake & cupcakes: Sharon Garner

DJ: Modern music sound

Ceremony music: Joel Andrews harp

Equipment: Matt Rowland Events

Albert & Sonia: Sunday August 1 2010. Albion California.

I am in love with this Hindu wedding and the people that I met along the way!!!
Sonia and Albie were the most amazing couple. Both recent graduates with their masters at  Stanford University the month prior, having a wedding in Mendocino on August 1, and moving all of their guests that had traveled from India, New Zealand and every place in between to Chicago for a second wedding on August 7 was only the beginning of this enriched couple.Every detail was amazing and to this day the mandap that the ceremony took place is the most beautiful structure that I have ever seen. I had the privilege to assist the officiate during the ceremony that lasted many hours atop this gorgeous platform and it is a memory that I will keep dear to my heart forever. From the fruit, nuts,  herbs,  milk, honey, yogurt and fire that all symbolize the true value of marriage, purity, fruitation, and sweetness!

Words from the couple: Sonya Houston is the best wedding planner we could imagine. We actually held events in Mendocino and Chicago, so we got to compare two different wedding planners. That made us realize how lucky we were to find Sonya in Mendocino.

Sonya seems to know everyone in the area. She showed us locations we would never have found by ourselves. She found creative solutions to every problem.

Through the entire process she was an absolute pleasure to work with, always listening to us, and going the extra mile. On the day, we didn’t have to worry about a thing. Everything exceeded our expectations.  

Mendocino is a wonderful place to have a wedding, and Sonya Houston is a wonderful wedding planner. 

Photos: Charlie Gesell
Floral: Mendocino Floral Design
Cake: Franny’s cup & Saucer
Food: Mendo Bistro
Equipment: Wine County Party
Lighting & Draping: Matt Rowland events
DJ: Aykut
Musician: Gene Parsons

My hope is to begin with a few part series of the weddings that we have done, adding some detail and description of the fun days that we will remember for a lifetime

Guy and Sarah: Saturday June 26 2010 . Booneville California

This was such an amazing wedding!
Their inspiration was to have an outdoor country fair at a vineyard. There were food stations throughout that ranged from an oyster bar, outdoor pizza oven, Paco’s taco, bbq with smoked ribs and traditional mac & cheese, cheese station, yes even a candy table for guests to have a sweet treat.

Local wines were served, and yes they even had a mechanical bull!

Guy and Sarah, as well as their families were such a pleasure to work with and fun was had by all!!!

Brides kind words:  Sonya, you made it all happen. You are just amazing.

Anya Emerson and Jonah Staw, recently featured in the New York Times’ wedding section, selected Mendocino Weddings to help plan their celebration and help create an unforgettable day.

Jonah, founder of LittleMissMatched, a company that made its fame by selling socks in threes, and Anya, an attorney for good causes, decided to tie the knot at their beautiful Rancho Navarro home, built by hand with their friends.

Mexican flare was a perfect fit for Anderson Valley with its local wineries and outstanding Mexican culture and cuisine. Guests were greeted with a wine tasting of select vintages from the region’s wineries – Esterlina, Husch, Navarro and Greenwood Ridge. Then Jonah and Anya led guests up a mountainside trail to the ceremony site. In a lovely gesture, close friends of Anya each handed her a single flower, which grew into a bridal bouquet wrapped with a ribbon when she reached the destination. The procession of guests peeled off in a Virginia Reel to take their seats, which Jonah coined “The Inverted Sock.”

The bride and groom stood under a chuppah, (signifying their new home together), with a view of the golden hills of Anderson Valley behind them, as a covey of little flower girl sprites strew flower petals along the aisle. After the traditional Jewish ritual of the Bide and groom breaking a glass with their foot (symbolizing that the marriage will last forever) the wedding procession walked back downhill to the romantic wedding reception set in an illuminated tent amidst the forest.

A Mexican feast prepared by Alicia’s Restaurant in Boonville included tortillas made on site, stuffed with spicy taco fillings of carne asada, local fish, al Pastor, carnitas and vegetables, dashed with salsas made from garden ingredients. Margaritas, traditional Mexican sodas and homemade sangria livened up the guests for dancing to the exuberant music of local band “Pura Vida.” Instead of typical floral arrangements, the tables were decorated with grasses from my home and a bright orange Clementine that added a dash of color at each place setting.

Whether your style trends towards classic elegance, a Parisian pâtisserie’s croquembouche or a whimsical cake Alice might find at the Mad Hatter’s tea party, our cake makers are masters at translating your desires into a pièce de résistance.

I love to daydream over the baker’s portfolios of show-stopping cakes. Even better, planning a tasting as part of a special vendor day is a delightful prelude to the cake-cutting moment at your reception. Our bakers can turn your heirloom recipe or the latest fashion into a unique, edible work-of-art, be it four layers tall or cupcakes on parade.