Gold Country Weddings 2015 Issue 2

Gold Country

WEDDINGS For The Discerning Bride

Summer/Fall 2015

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Complimentary Bridal Guide

Your Wedding in Beautiful Surroundings...

The Pinecrest Chalet

The Lair of the Golden Bear 209-965-3276 500 Dodge Ridge Road Pinecrest, CA

lairofthebear.org pinecrestchalet.com

Still Memories PHOTOGRAPHY

209-536-0428

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www.stillmemoriesphotosite.com

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Cover Photo Photographer:

Jana Williams jana-williams.com

Design/Publisher Kevin White Michelle White

Advertising Sales

Kevin White 209-768-0432 goldcountryweddings.com

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Bride & Groom: Micheal & Lillian Venue: Ritz Carlton Orange County

Wedding Gown: Galia Lahav Groom’s Tux: Tom Ford

Editorial Contributors Katelyn James Erica Elizabeth Tracy Barbutes Christine Tuohy Wedalert

Wedgewood Banquets Tenaya Lodge Ashley Long BoHo Weddings Michelle White

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Wedding Planning Checklist.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Shower Time.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Our Love Story.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 The Importance of a Wedding Album.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Real Weddings.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 The “First Look”.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Color Palettes.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Yosemite Weddings.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Tips for Choosing your Wedding Venue.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Resource Listings.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Wine Tasting Rooms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Bridal Show Events.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Wedding consultants advise in all aspects of your wedding day.

Need help? Have a question? Contact us today.

What to Wear for your E-Session.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Erica Elizabeth Designs.. . One on One.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Tossing the Garter and Other Customs.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Bride to Bride.. . Helpful advice from real brides.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Vineyard Weddings.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Planning Your Wedding Just Got Easier

Table of Contents

What to wear for your e-session

by Katelyn James

Here are my TOP TEN tips and recommendations for making decisions about engagement sessions outfits!

Enjoy!

1. Most of my couples have two outfits for their engagement session. One outfit is normally on the dressier side and one outfit is more relaxed and casual.

2. Coordinating doesn’t mean “matching”. Wearing the same color in a different shade is actually more ideal than trying to find the EXACT color purple!

3. If one of you is wearing something with a lot of color and pattern, sometimes it’s best to have the other person wear a neutral!

4. This is just an idea! Take it or leave it! Some couples plan their attire to coordinate with their wedding day so that their Save The Dates match the wedding theme and decor!

5. Don’t over think it! Some of my favorite outfits have been when the guy is just wearing a simple colored vneck!

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Photos: Katelyn James

katelynjames.com

6. Make sure you are equal when it comes to how formal your attire is. If the bride is wearing a little black dress…. the groom probably shouldn’t be in shorts and tennis shoes. :) 7. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and wear something that is unique to you! It’s great to wear a dress with a cardigan…. that’s probably what I would wear!… but if you have a unique style, be sure to show it off! Some of my favorite engagement shoots have incorporated my couple’s unique style!

8. If you’re wearing plaid, the bigger the better!! It would be better to have a solid dress shirt than a shirt with teeny tiny patterns. The camera can’t pick those tiny patterns up from far away and that can sometimes result in Chromatic Aberration.

9. Accessorize! Scarves, necklaces, belts…. I love them all! They can add so much to an outfit!

10. Last but not least, this is a tip that I highly recommend paying attention to: Wear attire that is flattering to your figure and your skin tone. It seems like common sense but I’m guilty of this all of the time. We all know that everyone has certain things that look GREAT on them and certain things that aren’t really made for them.

For example… I’m pale… because I’m a redhead. I’ve accepted it… I know that’s never going to change… and because of that, I also know that wearing a strapless, pale yellow sundress for a portrait session is NOT IDEAL! I also know that I personally never LOVE the way I look in pictures in sleeveless shirts. Why? I don’t know!

I’m fine with my arms…. but I just don’t like that look! So if I were to have a portrait session with my husband Michael… I wouldn’t wear a sleeveless shirt. It’s a compliment to say “Oh, well Katelyn will make it look amazing”…. but the truth is, if you don’t like the way you look in stripes on a normal, day-to-day basis, you’re not going to love the way you look in your images that I take. If you’re self conscious about your legs, don’t wear a mini-skirt. If you’re self-conscious about your arms, it’s probably not smart to wear a tube top…. not that those are even “in” anyway (thank goodness). Bottom line, make sure you wear something that you’re comfortable in.

Sure, I’m going to teach you how to pose in super flattering ways, but you’ll love your images so much more if you wear an outfit that you’re comfortable and CONFIDENT in!! Confidence photographs well!! ;) GoldCountryWeddings.com

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Did you forget your wedding guests?

Relax!

Mother Lode Adventures Charter Services Wedding Shuttles are the perfect solution! • •

Our comfortable wedding shuttles provide safe and convenient transportation to give you peace of mind.

We proudly serve our beautiful Sierra Region...and beyond.

Call us to receive a free wedding transportation consultation!

209.677.3183 ~ MLAcharters.com

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Photos by Still Memories Photography

Sequoia Woods Country Club 1000 Cypress Point Drive

Arnold, Ca.

www.sequoiawoods.com

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209-795-1000 x8

pronovias.com

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PRONOVIAS BARCELONA

LA SPOSA BARCELONA

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lasposa.com

sarahjanks.com

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ericaelizabeth.com I am so happy to share some favorite images from my recent photo shoot, highlighting the newest creations in my EnglishRose Collection. I am completely entranced with the photography of Caroline Tran, whose singular talents captured the essence of my new Collection. Her artistry, paired with the exquisite gowns from Sara Janks and Jenny Yoo, showcased my new headpiece designs, veils, and sashes, each inspired by the beauty of the classic English rose.

I was captivated anew by the seduction and mystery of this intriguing flower while launching a venture into the world of scent (watch for the upcoming premier of my Eglantine parfum). As with my fragrance, each new piece stems from this floral inspiration, with this signature flower adorning crowns, halos, circlets and bandeaus.

The art of flower making has origins that reach back through the centuries, when European artisans crafted sumptuous silk roses, custom constructed of silk and hand wrapped with wire.

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The time and craftsmanship involved eventually sent the process the way of mass production, but without the same stunning result.

For this season’s pieces, I’ve focused on recreating the luxury of a gorgeous blooming English rose, fashioning its Olde World appeal into a rich repertoire of timeless accessories for today’s bride.

I love to mix different silks – habatoi, tulle, organza -- to create unique textures, which are then blended with soft French laces and touched with freshwater pearls to add richness and dimension.

As I continue to develop ideas and further hone my skills, I’ve embraced the artisanal art of metal fabrication, seen in many of this season’s bridal crowns and tiaras.

This intense, time-consuming art, while so different from working with the softest of silks, follows the same deep roots of inspiration. My love of nature infuses each design of winding enamel leaves, hand detailed and finished with spots of pearl and rhinestone that sparkle and gleam with the play of light.

My wish is that these creations will not only be cherished on the wedding day, but also treasured as keepsakes through love’s long journey.

With love, Erica

Photography: Caroline Tran Gowns: Sarah Janks & Jenny Yoo Hair & Makeup: Theresa Huang

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Planning a small and elegant wedding in Sonora? or looking for an exceptional place to host your wedding guests?

The Inn on Knowles Hill 1927 Mansion Overlooking Historic Downtown Sonora www.knowleshill.com Tel 209-352-4333

Sutter Creek, Ca.

209.256.4223

Pretty Please !!..Beauty Bar Special Occassion Hair and Makeup ~ Mobile Services Available ~ www.prettyplsbeautybar.com prettypleasebeautybar@yahoo.com

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maggiesottero.com

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Sareh Nouri NEW YORK

Bridal Gowns & Veils: Sareh Nouri www.sarehnouri.com Select Bridal Laces: House of Sophie Hallette www.sophiehallette.com Headpieces: Enchanted Atelier by Liv Hart www.livhart.com Photographer: Orange Photographie www.orangephotographie.com Floral: Laura Clare Design www.lauraclaredesign.com Makeup: Saray Barbosa Makeup Artistry www.saraybarbosa.com Hair: Ashley Malone Pimped Out Hair

“I believe finding a wedding dress is like finding a true friend; you should be able to trust it, you should never regret it, and whenever you see it… it should always make you smile.” ~Sareh Nouri

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My 2015 collection is inspired by old world charm, 1920’s Paris and takes place in a beautiful chic trashed Parisian apartment – where you can feel the mood from days gone by. This beautiful bride is getting married, and she is dancing barefoot and happy on the old floor in delicate dresses trying on various couture headpieces.

To emphasize this mood I have used rose gold, honey-gold, antique gold, silver, cream and ivory Preciosa crystals. In this collection I have also used gorgeous opulent oversized Preciosa crystals in silver to add a touch of glamour to the collection. janniebaltzer.com

Photographer:

Sandra Ă…berg Photography wedding.sandraaberg.com

Hair & Makeup: Mia Jeppson miajeppson.dk

Dresses:

Vintage Bride vintagebride.dk BHLDN www.bhldn.com

Model:

Faye @Le Management lemanagement.dk

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Tossing the Garter

and other customs

Today, the tradition of the wedding garter is tame in comparison to France of the 14th century. In North America, the bride wears two garters; one as a keepsake garter and the other for the throw away. Both garters are worn on the right leg just above the knee. Before the removal of the garter, the bride first throws her bouquet to the single women. The groom removes the throw away garter from the brides leg, sometimes he removes it with his teeth, but more appropriately nowadays he uses his hands. He does this while the bride is sat in a chair.

After the garter is removed, he then throws it to the single male guests. The male guest then takes the garter and places it on the leg of the single female guest who has caught the bouquet. Those that catch either item are said to be the next to marry. In some instances, it is said that they will marry each other.The keepsake garter is removed later in private during the honeymoon night.

Numerous wedding garter traditions have been obtained over the years that still seem to become rules of etiquette today. Take a look at a few that are still popular and some that have long since been forgotten.

The garter tradition originated back to the 14th century. In parts of Europe the guests of the bride and groom believed having a piece of the bride’s clothing was thought to bring good luck. They would actually destroy the brides dress by ripping off pieces of fabric. Obviously, this tradition did not sit well with the bride, so she began throwing various items to the guests – the garter being one of them. It became customary for the bride to toss the garter to the men. But this also caused a great problem for the bride….sometimes the men would get drunk, become impatient and try to remove the garter ahead of time. Therefore, the custom derived at having the groom remove and toss the garter to the men. With this change, the bride began to toss the bridal boutique to the unwed girls who were eligible for marriage.

Another interesting custom dated back to the ancient times where the wedding garter represented the virginal girdle. When the groom removed the garter from the bride, this represented the bride’s relinquishment of her virginity.

An Old English custom was while the bride and groom were in their bridal chamber, the wedding guests would sneak into the chamber picking up discarded stockings and throwing them at the couple. Whoever flung a stocking that hung on the bride or groom’s nose, would be the next to marry. “ Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue and a Silver Sixpence in her Shoe” Did you ever wonder where the custom “Something Blue” derived from?

Wearing something blue dates back to biblical times when the color blue was considered to represent purity, faithfulness and fidelity. Back then the bride would wear a piece of blue clothing or a blue band around the bottom of her dress.

The ancient Roman maidens also wore blue on the borders of their robes to symbolize their love, fidelity and modesty, while the Christians associated it with the purity of the Virgin Mary.

Article Courtesy of Wedalert.com Karen Bridal Angel GoldCountryWeddings.com

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amykuschel.com

The Peace & Love Collection 27

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Jenz Salon

When you need to look your best Murphys, Ca.

We focus on the details

You enjoy the moment Auburn,Ca.

Schedule A Site Tour Now 530-888-7888 Ext. 640

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(209) 728-9043

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RUE

DE

SEINE

Young Love

COLLECTION

RUEDESEINE.COM

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Monique Lhuillier

Bliss

COLLECTION

moniquelhuillier.com

Photos: Coliena Rentmeester

Barretta Gardens Inn

Intimate Weddings & Romantic Getaways A European Style Bed and Breakfast in Sonora, Ca barrettagardens.com

209-532-6039

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Bride To Bride

Helpful advice from real brides!

Mark & Genevieve 1. Your unique wedding at a glance: My wedding was so much better than I thought it could be. It was beautiful and graceful and so much fun. It was a mix of everything I love, which is a lot of things that don’t necessarily go together.

2. Your biggest challenge in planning your wedding: My biggest challenge with my wedding was doing it 99% all by myself. I had plenty of support but not a lot of hands out for help.

3. How you overcame/made it work: I made it work mostly on my own, but at some point, I just started assigning tasks to family members.

4. Favorite moments: My favorite moment was during the ceremony. I was engrossed in mine and my husbands vows, but in the background I heard a whole lot of sniffling.

5. Funniest moments: The funniest moment I had was way before my wedding day really started. My best friend, and bridesmaid, came knocking at my cabin at 4:30 in the morning. She scared the living daylights out of me, but I was the one with the coffee!

6. Your advice for other brides: Think about everything you want your wedding to be, after all, you only get one! Take the time and consideration of the details, because those are the things you will look back on and love.

7. Most important lesson you learned from your wedding: What I really learned was that I absolutely love weddings. Not because of what they look like, but because of all of the love involved. Sure, family can be less than fun sometimes, but the love and support you can receive is amazing. Besides, it’s the best day ever if you get to marry your best friend!

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Photos by: Still Memories Photography

Tim & Tammy 1. Your biggest challenge in planning your wedding: The biggest challenge in planning our wedding was the fact that we lived about 3 hours from the venue.

2. How you overcame/made it work: We overcame this challenge by making sure to coordinate as many vendors in one day as we could. We made several trips but it was well worth it.

3. Favorite moments: Some of my favorite moments of the wedding was walking down the aisle and seeing everyone sitting waiting for us to exchange our vows. It is so surreal when you are finally to this point after all the planning and hard work.

4. Funniest moments: One of our funniest moments was when everyone got up and did the chicken dance during the reception. I loved that.

5. Your advice for other brides: My advice to other brides would be make sure to get your dress in ample enough time prior to the wedding and try the dress on in front of a mirror with plenty of light. You need to make sure that the dress fits perfectly as my dress had some issues with the cups not fitting appropriately and I had to buy some fashion tape at the last minute because there was no time to alter the dress.

Also another big flop was the fact that my dress was below my tan line on my back so I would recommend to make sure that you have no visible tan lines.

6. Most important lesson you learned from your wedding: The most important thing I learned from this whole experience is that you really need to take the time to cherish every moment of your special day. It all happens so fast and then it’s over in a blink of an eye. The most important part is having your family and friends there to share this momentous occasion; so take the time to appreciate every moment.

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Photos by: Still Memories Photography

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Bella Cucina

“Where a perfect event is so much more than just a great meal”

Catering & Event Planning “Serving Sacramento, Amador and surrounding counties” bellacucina3.com

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209-223-2213

209-223-3222

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Arnold, California

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Black Bear Inn Mountain Luxury

GoldCountryWeddings.com

arnoldblackbearinn.com

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by Custom-built open air photo booth

(916) 531-2538 www.redcartstudios .com/photobooth

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Vineyard

Weddings

“Great wine requires a mad man to grow the vine, a wise man to watch over it, a lucid poet to make it, and a lover to drink it.”

– Salvador Dali

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Amador Cellars

By Ashley Long Deep in the heart of Amador County’s lush Shenandoah Valley wine country, you will find the The Barn at Amador Cellars. Nestled amongst the rolling hills and beautiful vineyards of Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Grenache, Mourvedre, Aglianico and Sauvignon Blanc, The Barn at Amador Cellars, with its old world ambiance, is the perfect place for your rustic, country wedding. The classic Gold Country style Barn provides both a rustic indoor area, as well as a beautifully landscaped outdoor area amidst the vines. This serene, peaceful setting creates the perfect backdrop for your special day.

Newlyweds Mike and Michelle who were married in the Barn last June couldn’t stop raving about it, “We couldn’t have asked for a better venue, it was just perfect! The Barn is amazing, the setting is gorgeous, the owners are super friendly and the wine is delicious!

We looked at a lot of different venues, in multiple areas, and nothing came close to The Barn at Amador Cellars. Very reasonably priced, beautiful vineyard setting, rustic barn, very well maintained grounds, and everyone there was very easy to work with.”

Useable, versatile space both inside and out provides flexibility when it comes to set-up. You can choose to have your ceremony and reception either inside the barn with the big doors open, overlooking the vineyards or out on the lawn as the sun sets behind the hills. Whatever you choose, the Barn at Amador Cellars provides a beautiful canvas to create a fun, unique wedding. One of the grooms recalls, “It is a very versatile venue that you can really set-up however you want; what we did was had the ceremony inside the barn with the big doors open on each end, gorgeous views out into the vineyard and a nice breeze blowing through which gave it a great indoor/outdoor feel. We then had cocktail hour outside under the trees which provided some nice shade. We had our dinner out on the beautiful lawn area and then we had the cake, music, and dancing back inside the barn under the amazing chandelier! It was an absolutely perfect wedding.”

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Amador Cellars is quality driven, family oriented, and dedicated to producing flavorful wines that can be enjoyed for all occasions. Every wine is made in its own individual, traditional style so that the wines produced are unique and different. This concept is carried over and mirrored in the weddings held at The Barn as well. Amador Cellars takes a more hands-off approach, allowing the bride and groom to choose their own vendors: caterers, florists, photographers, DJ’s/bands, etc. (all must be licensed of course) so that each wedding has its own unique personality. As Lauren, who was married at Amador Cellars in September can attest to, “A lot of other wineries require you to work off a preferred vendor list and they really mark up the prices. Amador Cellars does not do this, which made it easier on our wallet.”

As one of the many happy brides wed at Amador Cellars boasts, “If you’re looking for an affordable, family owned venue with great wine to boot, I can’t recommend Amador Cellars enough! Larry and Linda were incredible; they really put so much heart into making our big day special. The barn was built by Larry himself and it comes furnished with two stunning handmade farm tables that you can use however you want. Linda decorated the bridal room in the barn with an elegant couch and full length mirror for you and your bridesmaids to use while getting ready. I can’t forget to mention the crystal chandelier hanging in the Barn that adds just the right amount of glamour to the barn setting. Go see this venue for yourself and meet this lovely family, you will not be disappointed!!”

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WWW.IRONSTONEWEDDINGS.COM 40

MURPHYS, CA | (209)728-1251 GoldCountryWeddings.com

Enchanting - Breathtaking - Intoxicating

Photos: Delano Photography

events@villavallecitovineyards.com

Vallecito, Ca.

209.743.9384

Let our love story become part of yours.

Make Scott Harvey and Jana Wines part of your special day.

Contact us to schedule a personal tasting and discuss our exceptional wedding packages.

209-267-0122 scottharveywines.com

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Wedding Planning Checklist 1 Year to 6 Months Prior • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Choose a wedding date Decide whether you want an indoor or outdoor wedding Select the colors, theme, and details of your wedding Choose and book a location and officiant for your ceremony Choose and book your reception location Select the caterer and choose a wedding cake Choose a florist and start planning your wed ding flowers Book the musical entertainment and master of ceremonies Find a photographer Write your guest list Make a bridal registry Decide on bridesmaids, groomsmen, and remainder of bridal party Start shopping for your wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses Begin thinking about your preferred honey moon location

6 Months to 3 Months Prior • • • • • • • • •

Finalize your guest list Choose your invitations Mail invitations Purchase the wedding gown and veil Purchase the bridesmaids dresses Purchase or arrange for rental of groom and groomsmen tuxedos Book your honeymoon Plan the rehearsal dinner Arrange transportation to and from the wedding and reception

3 Months to 1 Month Prior • • • • • •

Obtain the marriage license Purchase the wedding rings Have the mothers of the bride and groom choose their dresses Confirm all catering, floral, and travel details Create your wedding programs Plan and invite everyone to the rehearsal dinner

• •

Purchase wedding accessories like favors and place cards Finalize all music with the DJ or entertainment provider

2 Weeks Ahead • • • •

Finalize all details with the caterer and give an updated guest count Confirm all plans with your florist Go over the photo timeline of the wedding day with your photographer Obtain your tickets for your honeymoon

1 Week Ahead • • • •

Pack for your honeymoon Give the wedding party their gifts Hold the rehearsal dinner Attend bachelor/bachelorette party

Day Before • • •

Relax with family and friends Get wedding manicure The bride should stay with loved ones and retire early

Your Wedding Day • • • •

Stay calm!

Enjoy a healthy breakfast Visit makeup artist and hairdresser Get dressed for your wedding and …

Savor every wonderful moment of your special day!

Bride Tip: When going to bridal shows, type up address labels in advance, so you don’t have to spend time filling out all the prize registration forms.

Bride Tip: Do your dress shopping as early as possible. 6 to 9 months is recommended, to allow enough time for the dress to be ordered, shipped, and to have any alterations completed.

1 Month to Two Weeks Prior •

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Plan makeup and hairstyling, book professional stylist if desired GoldCountryWeddings.com

Long Barn Lodge

Long Barn, Ca. longbarnlodge.net

209-586-3533

Flowers and Fine Gifts

Kevin Robert DeHoff Premier Wedding and Event Florist

1500 North Beale Road Marysville, California (530) 743-7387 • 800-972-9997

mycountryflorist.com

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Couture Weddings

by Dottie

Floral Design Camino Flower Shop 1297 Broadway Placerville, CA 95667 530-644-5730

Simply Delish 209.754.1978

picklepatchdeli.com

Wedding Venue 577 West Saint Charles Street San Andreas CA

We Do Catering - Call for a Quote 44

365 South Washington Street Sonora simplydelishshop.com

GoldCountryWeddings.com

209-533-1177

Shower Time

by Christine Tuohy

It’s time for the party preceeding your nuptials! Here’s a list of ideas for party themes and games that’ll keep everyone having a great time.

First, the basics. Anyone close to the bride can host the shower, be it the Maid of Honor, the bride’s sister, or Mom. The shower should be at least 2 weeks before the wedding itself, and showers are usually informal affairs that can be anything from a brunch in a restaurant to a pool party barbecue in your back yard. They can be ‘girls only’ or co-ed to include the whole gang! Traditionally food is served, guests mingle, and the bride opens her gifts. (be sure to have a friend write down who gave which gift to make it easier for the bride later when she writes her thank-you notes) As for the theme of the party, the sky is the limit. How about a day at the spa with you and your bridesmaids? Perfect pedicures, massages and facials, all in a relaxing, sweetly scented atmosphere. Spa parties can be held at a spa, or even do-it-yourself in your home!

At home, you can have a cupcake baking party, or a wine and cheese tasting with an array of tasty international cheeses from your local market. How about a scrapbooking party? Set up the table with all sorts of scrapbook supplies and have your girlfriends bring photos, recipes, and other memorabilia to create a great book the bride can keep for years. For the more casual shower (co-ed or not) have a barbecue with cocktails and music, or a Happy Hour theme with wings, mozzarella sticks and interesting beers and wines. A bowling party at the local bowling alley is also a fun option!

Now that you have some shower ideas, it’s game time! Try the following games to keep the laughter rolling: Bridal Mad Libs. Type out the story of how the couple met, or how they got engaged and make a Mad Lib out of it! Oven Mitt Pantyhose Game. Give all the ladies oven mitts and knee high panty hose and line them up. Start the timer, and the first to put on both panty hose while wearing the oven mitts wins a prize! (Baking Mix, perhaps?) Honeymoon Scavenger Hunt. Hide wedding or honeymoon related items around the house or yard and get everyone searching!

Rule #1 at your wedding shower: Have fun!

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Our Love Story Shane & Nicole “We met by joining the same kickball team in DC. My friend, Alan (who was also our officiant) and Shane’s friend Tom (one of his groomsmen) worked together.

Tom recruited Alan and Shane to join the team, and Alan convinced me to join as well. We were immediately interested in each other, but it took Shane a couple weeks of kickball and flipcup games to finally make a move!

Although neither of us is from DC originally, it will always be where we fell in love. Some of our first dates were to the national museums, the zoo and to embassies’ open houses. We chose our venue due to its historical significance and proximity to all the major DC attractions. Our guests were able to easily walk everywhere!

The day of the wedding was a little stressful because we knew it would rain at some point, but it was unclear exactly when it would happen. Fortunately, the rain held off for the ceremony and cocktail hour! It started pouring down right after we entered for dinner and the reception! We like to think we got the best of both worlds – the beautiful outdoor ceremony we planned, plus plenty of good luck from the rain, while everyone danced the night away.”

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Photos: Emily Clack Photography

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emilyclackphotography.com

Party Royal Rentals

Weddings & Events (530) 676-4453 3970 Durock Rd. Shingle Springs, Ca. www.partyroyalrentals.com

Exceptional Flowers Every Time

“Affordable Elegance”

petalsandplum.com

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Photo: Rich Miller

209 . 984 . 3016

HURST RANCH

916 .223 . 4959

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The Importance of a Wedding Album

Boho-Weddings.com

My wedding photography is something I would SO go back and change if I could. I really wasn’t prepared for how important the wedding photography was going to be for me after my wedding, and for that reason I just didn’t do enough research or allocate enough of our budget to this area. For this reason I am now unhappy with our photographs. After deciding a month before our wedding that getting a friend with a good camera to take the photos wasn’t our best laid plans, we got a couple of recommendations for photographers and went with the cheapest. We booked a 6 hour digital only package……Big Mistake. The 6 hours didn’t include any of the wedding once the sun went down, which meant we had to rely on our rather drunk guests to take photos of our beautiful candle lit villa… the results were not good! The digital only package didn’t give us any sort of album, just a disc of images to do what we wanted with! It was about 6 months later that I regretted this decision and wish we had gone for an album package. So today I want to talk to you about the importance of a wedding album.

Now I know photography can seem like a BIG expense when you first start planning your wedding, BUT an investment in a good photographer and the right photographer is money well spent; believe me, I really wish I’d spent more.

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I am all for choosing a photographer who lets you have the images on a disc so you can print away to your heart’s content and have a copy of all the images, BUT a good album is so important. Why? Well, I shall tell you.

An album is what you will look at time and time again, you will get the album out and show relatives and friends.

You will get it out on anniversaries and look through the pages, you will show your children and in years to come you will show your grand children. Looking at the images via disc on your computer or i-pad just isn’t the same.

Discs won’t last forever, they get lost, scratched, broken and with technology moving as fast as it is, who is to say how long we will be able to use them for?

You may decide to make up your own wedding album with the disc. I did this and the results aren’t great. I made two albums. Album 1) I got a select few printed out from a leading photography shop, quite large and popped them in a big album, you know the ones with the tissue paper in between. Yes they look OK, but the photos have already come unglued and the quality of the images isn’t as good as it would have been from a professional album.

Album 2) I designed my own album via an online photo book maker, you know the ones where you can design the background, the cover and add as many images as you like per page. This album is bad! I managed to get 300 images in one book, never a good idea. The book looks cluttered and badly designed and the image quality is poor. I have seen lots of these books and to be honest none have ever looked that great. Photo books are a fab idea for holidays, or birthdays but for a wedding album, honestly leave it to the professionals.

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You hired a professional to take the photos, so why not hire a professional to print the photos? Your photographer will be able to print out the images into a book at a high quality that will do the original photo justice.

Now I know there a many of you out there on a budget and you may feel a wedding album is just one more thing to add to the ever-growing wedding budget. The beauty of the album is it’s something you can order once the wedding is over, not something you have to pay for straight away. You can choose the album 6 months after the wedding, with some photographers allowing a year to choose and pay for one. Why not consider using some of your wedding present money to put towards the album?

I asked a couple of photographers what they thought. Here is what they had to say. “ I think photographs are meant to be experienced. Some of my fondest childhood memories involve rummaging through old boxes of photos. It wasn’t just the content of the photos that I loved – but the entire experience of discovery. What would I look at next? What would I uncover? If two photos were stuck together, I would carefully pull them apart so I could discover what lay hidden away. It was the smell of the paper and the brittle feeling in my hands. It was the yellowing corners and the names scribbled on the back.

When you buy a wedding album – you are buying the experience that your children, grandchildren (and even ancestors!) will have with your memories. They will flip the pages and debate who was who. They will laugh at the fashions and marvel at how much they looked like you. This is just not the same when you are viewing photos on your computer or television screen. It all becomes image – you miss the experience.”

Jaye – Tux and Tales Photography “ In my opinion you just can’t compare an image on screen to a professionally printed image… there’s something about seeing it on paper, being able to touch it, having something physical in your hands. Seeing that finished product is magic and for me, well obviously I love to see my images printed in a beautiful handcrafted album. I know that it is going to be treasured and brought out at family gatherings. proudly shown off to friends and eventually passed down to the next generation so they can laugh at (and eventually copy) the fashions. I chose about 70 images for my own album – I never even look at the rest that are sitting on a disc. In fact it’s been almost 6 years, I don’t know if the disc even works any more… I think I backed them up somewhere… but I have my album, so I’m happy. If you are considering an album most photographers will let you order up to a year after the wedding so all the big expenses are paid. Heck, get one for your first anniversary… it IS ‘paper’!”

Claire – Claire Penn Photography So what do you think? Are you married and did you choose to buy an album from your photographer? Or did you make the decision to only have a disc package? Are you currently looking into photography for your wedding? Have you considered an album?

Photos-www.tuxandtalesphoto.co.uk/

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Affordable Elegance Wedding Ceremony, Reception, Overnight Accomodations in a Beautiful Setting at Saddle Creek Resort & Country Club

For Package Information Phone 209.785.8587 www.saddlecreek.com

1001 Saddle Creek Drive Copperopolis, Ca.

D esign hompson Inspiring

Your Photo Of Yourself From Website

Spaces, Events and Impressions

Tricia Thompson Design is the premier wedding and event coordinator in Tuolumne County. With almost 30 years of experience in interior design, fashion consulting and event planning, I have unique skills and an eye for design to give you a stress-free planning process and flawless wedding day. It is my intention to free you to focus on your guests while assuring a memorable and successful day filled with love and joy. We invite you to visit www.triciathompsondesign.com for more information and to request an appointment.

I look forward to connecting with you!! Please contact me at (209) 596-0267 or e-mail me at inspiringspaces4u@gmail.com

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Union Hill Inn

by Tracy Barbutes

When you read, time and again, reviews like “enchanting” “piece of heaven” “dream wedding” “stress free” and “where heaven and earth come together” – it isn’t difficult to understand why people travel near and far to celebrate their weddings at the Union Hill Inn. This rustic and refined Sierra Nevada wedding venue has been featured in Brides Magazine, Martha Stewart’s Weddings Magazine, and was awarded by BuzzFeed as the #1 spot in their “22 of the coolest places to get married in America.”

Union Hill Inn is located near California’s Sierra Nevada historic and charming gold rush communities of Columbia, Sonora and Jamestown. It is a short day trip to Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe and the worldfamous Napa Valley. To the north, across the Stanislaus River, is the historic town of Murphys, with more than a dozen wine-tasting rooms in the downtown area and more at the surrounding wineries.

Innkeepers Barbara and Don provide multiple accommodations for you and your wedding guests, including an inn with four suites, a dairy barn with two suites, as well as three cottages. These charming cottages include a Groom’s Coop (a converted chicken coop!), a Bridal Cottage and a Road House. Tents and RV’s are welcome too.

Be sure to speak with Barbara about your needs.

You will have many choices for your wedding ceremony at this site, including a romantic wedding chapel (a former barn), underneath the branches of a massive oak tree for an intimate setting, in addition to assorted lawn or pavilion areas.

The pet-friendly grounds include a romantic chapel; a foot bridge ideal for romantic photo opportunities; an historic garden; two pavilions (Upper and Grand); a gazebo; a swimming pool; an amphitheatre; off-street, private parking; various ponds, as well as oodles of nooks and crannies to sneak away for a private moment. There are trails throughout for walking, running, hiking and horse and buggy rides.

Rather than rush through a ceremony and reception, you and your guests may celebrate in the banquet hall until the wee hours of the night. This California destination wedding location is an ideal place to spend an entire weekend with all of your family and friends. unionhillinn.com

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Above & Beyond TR AVEL

Maureen Dinnocenzo aboveandbeyondtravelagency.com

209-795-3226 866-476-7476

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Lance & Lindsey Vendor Love Photographer Still Memories Photography stillmemoriesphotosite.com Venue Pageo Lavender Farm pageolavenderfarm.com Flowers Yonan’s Floral yonansfloral.net Caterer Alvarado’s Catering

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Chris & Tatiana

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Vendor Love Photographer Brian Wright French Grey Photography frenchgreyphotography.com Venue Yachts de Paris Hair and MakeUp Harold James jameshairandmakeup.com

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Vendor Love Photographer Craig and Eva Sanders craigevasanders.co.uk Ceremony Cramond Kirk Edinburgh, UK. Reception Harburn House West Lothian, UK. Flowers Flowers by Cherry Blossom Cake Liggy’s Cakes Edinburgh, UK.

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Rob & Catherine

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Vendor Love Photographer Still Memories Photography stillmemoriesphotosite.com Venue Lair of the Golden Bear/ Pinecrest Chalet lairofthebear.org pinecrestchalet.com

Josh & Liz

Floral Design Sweet Lilacs sweetlilacsstudio.com DJ Sound Extreme Productions soundextreme.com Desserts / Hors d’oeuvres Lila and Sage lilaandsage.com Event Coordinators Save The Date savethedateep@hotmail.com

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Kyle & Samantha

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Vendor Love Photographer Cassandra Eldridge Photography cassandraeldridge.com Venue Blue Dress Barn bluedressbarn.com Cake Sweet Mandy B’s Flowers Marco Alexzondra

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Fabian & Marie-Loise

Vendor Love Photographer Carmen and Ingo Photography carmenandingo.com Venue Villa Sermolli Tuscany, Italy villa-sermolli.com Music Sea Stars Music seastarsmusic.com Catering Villa Sermolli

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Rob & Lisa

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Vendor Love

Photographer Christine Dibble Photography christinedibblephotography.com Cake Cornerspace Cakes cornerspacecakes.com Catering Lunch Lady lunchladycatering.com Hair and Makeup Beau Intrepid Salon beauintrepidesalon.com

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Colin & Regina

Vendor Love Photographer Inspired Photography

by Susie & Becky photographybysusie.com Venue Stone Manor Country Club Midddle Town, MD. Planner Rex and Regina

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Flowers Ory Floral GoldCountryWeddings.com

The “First Look”

by Katelyn James

First Looks.….they might possibly be the best new wedding trend out there. When I first heard about doing a “First Look” I thought to myself…”that’s cool… but I’ll NEVER do it for my own wedding”. Ohh I can be SO wrong sometimes! Not only did Michael and I share a First Look on our wedding day, I also encourage ALL of my couples to do one as well! First Looks are amazing and SO incredibly helpful to photographers! I have had several photographers ask about First Looks recently and so I thought that maybe I should do an Ask Anything post about them! I’m definitely not a pro at shooting them but I have had more couples opt for the First Look this year than I expected and I LOVED IT! So, there are several reasons why brides do NOT want to do First Looks: 1. Momma won’t approve 2. The Bride wants that “AH!” moment to be when she is coming down the aisle and 3. It’s just too non-traditional.

Well, my answer to brides that are unsure is this…. 1. I know you love your Momma, but if this is something you want to do, it’s your wedding and you should go for it!

2. I understand wanting him to be totally shocked and in awe of you as you come down the aisle…that’s understandable, I wanted that too! The thing is, he is going to be “in awe” of you coming down the aisle no matter what! Michael still bawled when I came down the aisle, even though we had seen each other before the ceremony. That moment is so incredible and it doesn’t lose that special feeling if you see each other before hand…. believe me! Michael would tell you that even though we saw each other beforehand, when I came through the back doors of the church and walked down the aisle, it was still one of the most powerful moments of our ceremony! and 3. True, this is a VERY non-traditional concept but it’s AMAZING for several reasons: 1. Your guests will not have to wait over an hour for you to arrive at your reception! When a bride and groom wait to do ALL of their portraits after the ceremony, (family, bridal party, romantic portraits and then travel to the reception) that usually takes an hour and a half, sometimes longer if the couple wants a ton of awesome portraits of just the two of them! Because this is so time consuming, it often leads to rushed portraits and can cause a little stress for the Bride and Groom because they aren’t enjoying their portraits together, they are worrying about their guests having to WAIT. 2. A first look allows you to have time with JUST your husband.

When couples decide to see each other for the first time in private, it is an emotional moment that the two of them share and it’s so incredibly intimate. I get to stand off to the side and document it! This is a time for the couple to love on each other, for the groom to tell his bride how STUNNING she is and this moment serves as an once in a lifetime photo opportunity! What most brides don’t realize is that when a bride walks down the aisle, her man may think she looks fabulous, but he is unable to tell her that until AFTER the ceremony!

The first look allows couples to embrace and just be together for a few minutes on their wedding day and that is priceless!!

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3. Couples that choose a first look always end up with 40% more portraits than those who do not opt for the First Look AND the bride’s makeup is still in tact (sometimes tears from the ceremony can require a makeup touchup and this can take close to 15 minutes of time).

4. It calms nerves…. BIG TIME. This is huge for the groom. Almost ALL grooms that have experienced a First Look admit that seeing their bride beforehand eases the wedding day jitters and allows them to relax and actually enjoy their ceremony! (Michael would agree!)

5. Last but not least, a First Look is the answer to the wedding day timeline crisis! It creates ample portrait time and allows the bride and groom to celebrate freely.

Attention all late fall, winter and early spring brides…. you will most likely run out of natural light for portraits after your ceremony….a First Look is a great solution for this issue!! Right Brit?! (My fabulous January Bride that is doing a first look! Can’t wait!!) While I LOVE first looks, I never pressure my couples into doing them. I always tell them all of the reasons why it’s a smart decision but if they really aren’t interested, I drop it. It’s their wedding day! It’s my job to make them happy and to help them plan a great time-line for pictures, but ultimately, it’s their decision.

Whew! I could go on and on. Really, I could! I LOVE first looks and I love how much my couples appreciate them afterwards! It is definitely a HUGE decision but I have never had a couple that wasn’t THRILLED that they decided to go for it!

Photos:Katelyn James

katelynjames.com

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Floral Design

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Creative

SWEETS SWEETS

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Color Palettes Before you start choosing your wedding décor, you will need to choose a color palette. Choosing the perfect color scheme can be difficult, especially if you’re uncertain about your theme. It can also be helpful because once you’ve chosen your colors, you can then start to envision the scene – your bridesmaids dresses, invites, shoes, floral design, details, etc. When deciding on a color palette, there are some questions you should ask yourself.

1. What time of the year will your wedding be? Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter. Think about colors that will complement the season you have chosen. Spring and summer colors tend to be lighter or softer, while fall and winter colors are usually darker and richer.

2. Where will you be having your wedding? Will it be an indoor venue or an outdoor venue? Check your venue surroundings to see what colors may compliment the setting you choose and the colors that are already in and around there.

3. What is your wedding style? Do you prefer something more bold or vibrant with one or two accent colors, or something more romantic or elegant with an assortment of soft muted colors? A couple of places we have found to be helpful in choosing a wedding palette, are bridal magazines featuring real weddings, and pinterest to see what creative ideas previous brides have put together for their weddings. We have also put together an assortment of color palettes here, just to give you a few ideas. The possibilities are endless.

Have fun with it!

Bride Tip: Limit your primary/main wedding colors to just two or three, so it won’t look confusing, and keep your colors consistent throughout the wedding.

Mocha,Red +

Photos Still Memories Photography

Yellow

Photos Craig and Eva Sanders Photography

Photos Jana Williams Photography

Photos Amy Little Photography

Orange +Blue

Cream +

Cranberry

Pastels

Pale

Photos Josh Best Photography

Photos Craig and Eva Sanders Photography

Photos Paper Antler Photography

Yellow+

Green

Peach,Green+

Pink

Pink+

Blue

Yosemite

Weddings

Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space.

- Ansel Adams

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Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite Rustic, Elegant Romance Nestled amongst majestic giant sequoias and towering mountains just minutes outside Yosemite National Park’s southern gate, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite lends elegance, charm and exquisite service to one-of-a-kind nuptials.

Whether couples want to be one with nature or throw a black tie affair with forested views on their big day, Tenaya Lodge has a location to fit every wedding wish. Brides and grooms focused on the outdoors can set the scene for “I do” under the High Sierra skies on the open-air grand terrace, or tie the knot and dance the night away in the covered outdoor pavilion. The lodge also has a number of indoor options, including an expansive grand ballroom that can play host to over 1,000 guests.

Tenaya’s expert team of wedding planners stand by couples from day one, offering coordination on anything from planning a simple menu to orchestrating the full wedding day. And, thanks to the skills of the lodge’s culinary staff, each sip and bite of the celebratory menu will be fully customized and completely delicious.

For brides and grooms with eco-conscious sensibilities, Tenaya Lodge delivers. The lodge’s parent company, Delaware North, abides by a number of regulations in keeping with its signature GreenPath philosophy, and the Double Silver LEED-certified hotel has earned accolades from the TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program, the California Green Lodging Program and more.

To alleviate pre-ceremony stress or beautify for the big day, the luxe onsite spa, Ascent, offers a suite of options specially designed for brides-to-be and their attendants. If the honeymoon calls for an extended stay at the lodge, couples can also indulge in a full spa experience with treatments built for two. Tenaya’s Premium Rooms are sporting a brand new remodel from top to bottom, and couples looking to live the high life will fall for the ultra-modern – and thoroughly romantic – adults-only Garden Suites and Contemporary Suites with fireplaces, soaking tubs and more.

Brides-to-be can learn more at TenayaLodge.com/Weddings.

For personal assistance, contact Weddings and Special Events Manager Charlene Kelley at 559-692-8953 or tenayaweddings@ dncinc.com

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Getting Married in

Yosemite National Park

If you’re looking for an amazingly beautiful and grand location to say “I do”, Yosemite National Park can be the perfect destination with it’s many breathtaking views.

The Ahwahnee, a popular venue in the park, combines the luxury and services of a 4-diamond hotel with the awesome scenery of Yosemite, to create memories that will certainly last a lifetime.

The Ahwahnee offers an elegant, historic setting for intimate ceremonies and receptions. Exchange vows on a beautiful lawn with the wonders of Yosemite National Park as your backdrop, host a cocktail reception with views of Glacier Point, and enjoy a four-course banquet in the hotel’s Solarium.

The Wawona Hotel, rich with magical Victorian splendor, has the romantic ambience of a bygone era. The perfect place for an elegant, fairytale wedding or special occasion, the Wawona was founded in 1856, as evidenced by its showy, wraparound verandas and New England style architecture. Outdoor receptions are a favorite on the Wawona’s lush green lawns.

With three walls of French doors that beautifully frame the picturesque scenery of the surrounding grounds, the Sunroom is perfect for indoor receptions. Guests can freely move between the Sunroom and the Veranda, enjoying views of Wawona’s wildflower-covered meadows and Yosemite’s only golf course. Just up the road, the oldest living things on the planet – the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias – stand as towering examples of the enduring power of love.

Rustic, and endearing, Curry Village is an inspirational and cost-effective location for weddings set in the heart of Yosemite Valley. Surrounded by million-dollar views of majestic waterfalls and granite walls, Curry Village Pavilion offers banquet space and patios with casual charm sure to make you and your guests feel relaxed and comfortable in a breathtaking natural setting.

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And after you say “I do,” Yosemite’s recreational options are as endless as your love, complete with activities and tours for the most magical honeymoon imaginable. www.yosemitepark.com GoldCountryWeddings.com

Blooms & Things Wedding Packages Available

Angels Camp, Ca. bloomsandthings.com

GoldCountryWeddings.com

209-736-6771

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FLORALS FOR WEDDINGS & SPECIAL OCCASIONS www.sweetlilacsstudio.com susan@sweetlilacsstudio.com

.

.

209 840 2949

simply

Perfect...

The Event Center at

209 . 772 .1714

La Contenta Golf Club

Valley Springs, Ca.

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www.LaContentaGolf.com

The Sequoia Mansion Placerville, Ca.

The Sequoia Mansion sits in the heart of the historic town of Placerville CA, nestled in a sleepy neighborhood filled with Victorian homes. Built in 1853, the mansion was one of the first homes to be constructed in Placerville and today it still retains much of its authentic details and all of it’s original charm!

Wedgewood Wedding and Banquet Center has been performing weddings at Sequoia Mansion for just over three years with much success. Now hosting over 100 weddings a year, Wedgewood at Sequoia Mansion is known above all for value, service and convenience. The mission; to take the stress away from planning weddings and make them affordable for everyone! Our all-inclusive, customizable packages are perfect for any couple!

The Sequoia Mansion boasts over 10,000 square feet of event space, offering guests a rare chance to enjoy weddings in a Victorian home with modern luxuries. The Veranda, the original porch of the home, seats 90 people and is the perfect spot for winter or rainy day ceremonies and is also the favorite room of guests hosting baby or bridal showers. With its beautiful tin ceilings and large windows, it is one of the most airy and beautiful rooms in the house. The Sequoia also has two other ceremony sites on the property; the Patio, a quaint English garden surrounded by vegetation and presided over by a Sequoia tree older then the house itself, and the front lawn which offers more space and a beautiful antique gazebo covered in Wisteria as a backdrop for the ceremony.

The ballroom, an addition to the original house, seats 200 people and offers guests a romantic and neutral backdrop to host wedding receptions. Along with a dark and cozy bar featuring a gas fireplace and beautiful woodwork, Sequoia Mansion also features a cocktail room where guests can enjoy appetizers and mingle.

Upstairs in Sequoia Mansion you will find that the original bedrooms of Kernel Bee and his family’s home have been turned into an office space, a gorgeous chandelier lit bridal suite and a large groom’s room. A private waiting area is furnished with Victorian furniture and stain glass windows that look out over the patio. This space can be reached by going up the authentic, wood carved staircase of the home.

As Sequoia Mansion is known for its rich history and being the roots of Placerville, it is only fitting that hundreds of couples are able to start their lives together in this historic home. If you are interested in receiving information on events at Wedgewood Sequoia Mansion please contact us at 888-382-5108.

wedgewoodbanquet.com 8585

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F� your Wedding, Honeymoon � Romantic Getaway Choose....

1. 800 . 654 . 5060 Hertz Local Edition 13413 Mono Way Sonora, Ca. 95370

209 . 588 . 1575 Hertz.com

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Where everything is Taylor made

* Custom Design * Jewelry Repair (209) 533-9302 13769 Mono Way Suite N Sonora, Ca. 95370

Under the clock in the Junction 87

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Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Venue

by Tracy Barbutes

One of your first decisions along your wedding journey should be selecting your venue: many sites book up well in advance. Before you begin your research, talk with your fiancé and create a list of what you want, keeping in mind both of your likes and dislikes. Be honest with one another as you discuss the following questions: Do you and your fiancé want a religious ceremony?

Having a religious ceremony may dictate whether you have the ceremony in one place and the reception at another venue.

How many guests would you like and are they mobile?

Your wedding day is, of course, about you. It is about your guests as well. Do you have elderly family members who want to share in your special day but have limited mobility? Will they be able to easily access your ceremony and reception?

What type of surroundings do you both enjoy?

Do you prefer something elegant and sophisticated; shabby chic; a grand ballroom or a forest? If you choose to have an outdoor wedding, does the venue have a back up plan for inclement weather? Will the venue provide a tent (or tents) to protect you and your guests from rain or excessive sun, or heaters if it gets chilly?

Dates Select a range of dates while conducting your venue search, which allows you to choose the venue that you like best. If you’re set on a specific date, your venue selections may be more limited.

Would you like a local or destination wedding?

A destination wedding creates quality time with wedding guests on neutral ground. (It may also greatly reduce your guest list.) A destination wedding may be an all-inclusive location near your home where you and your guests stay for a weekend, or it may be on an exotic island in the Caribbean.

Budget Be realistic –what can you afford?

Now that you’ve agreed on your style and budget and are about to embark on your search, remember: Never to make any final decisions based on what you see online. Always visit a venue before you sign a contract!

Use the following guidelines when making calls and visiting sites: Are there enough accommodations nearby for all your guests?

If you have out of town guests, where will they stay?

Vendor Lists Does the venue have a preferred vendor list? If so, will they allow you to use someone who is not on the list?

Will they charge you if you use a vendor not on the list?

Is the venue wheelchair accessible?

Will be any other events on-site the day of your wedding?

Are there overtime charges?

Is the gratuity is included in the price?

Are the set-up and clean-up included in the final price?

Is a band or loud music allowed?

What are the cancellation and postponement policies?

Check to see if the following items are included: Tables, Chairs, Linens, Dishes, Silverware, Parking (If parking is a problem, you may need to hire a shuttle bus or vans-an added expense) and Areas for the bridal party to get dressed.

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o hair

Events Extraordinaire

make-up

Wedding and Event Planning Services

209-352-0429 www.Sonora-Events.com

nails facials massage Photo by Charleton Churchill Photography

125 Peek St., Ste. B & F, Jackson

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Gordon Hill Flower Shop

www.colevideoweddings.com Jackson, Ca. gordonhillflowershop.com

209-223-0123

THE ITTY BITTY BALLOON SHOP

Your Special Event Decorating Alternative

Visit our Website or Simply Come in and See us for a Free Consultation ITTYBITTYBALLOONSHOP.COM Located in the Junction Shopping center

Sonora (209) 588-2758

209.288.2675

Musicians & Entertainers

Daniel Roest (916) 294-0400 (w) (408) 292-6723 (c) www.danielguitar.com daniel@danielguitar.com Sierra Mountain Band 209-743-9352 strumbug@aol.com

Mountain Motion Entertainment 209-753-7113 Mountain-motion.com Info@Mountain-Motion.com

Rusty Rockers Band 209-293-3139 therustyrockers.com info@therustyrockers.com

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Resource Listings Beauty

Catering

Favors/Gifts/Specialty

Jenz Salon

Beth Sogaard Catering

Itty Bitty Balloon Shop

Lila And Sage

Scott Harvey Wines

Bella Cucina

Florists

209-728-9043 Murphys, Ca

Pretty Please Beauty Bar 209-256-4223 Sutter Creek, Ca prettyplsbeautybar.com

Skintique

209-223-4255 Jackson, Ca skintiquedayspa.com

Studio 3 Salon

209-588-8833 Sonora, Ca studio3salonsonora.com

Fat Cat Organic Salon

209-533-1343 Sonora, Ca facebook.com/FatCatSalon

Formal Attire Let’er Buck

209-533-1144 Sonora, Ca leterbuckwesternwearanduniform.com

Cakes

1-866-441-2384 Plymouth, Ca chefbethcatering.com 209-728-2604 Murphys, Ca lilaandsage.com

209-223-2213 Jackson, Ca bellacucina3.com

Christophers

209-533-2600 Sonora, Ca christophersristorante.com

Pickle Patch Deli 209-754-1978 San Andreas, Ca picklepatchdeli.com

Lunch Lady

209-768-1044 Murphys, Ca lunchladycatering.com

Chef Dave Cooks 209-928-1306 Sonora, Ca chefdavecooks.com

209-267-0122 Sutter Creek, Ca scottharveywines.com

Sweet Lilacs

209-840-2949 Sonora, Ca sweetlilacsstudio.com

Blooms and Things 209-736-6771 Angels Camp, Ca bloomsandthings.com

Petals and Plum 916-223-4959 Colfax, Ca petalsandplum.com

Gordon Hill Flower Shop

209-223-0123 Jackson, Ca gordonhillflowershop.com.com

The Country Florist

209-588-3880 Sonora, Ca cornerspacecakes@gmail.com

Event Coordinators

530-743-7387 Marysville, Ca mycountryflorist.com

Chef Dave Cooks

Events Extraordinaire 209-352-0429 Sonora, Ca sonora-events.com

Natural Flair

Tricia Thompson Designs

Mountain Laurel Florist

Save the Date Events

Columbia Florist

Corner Space Cakes

209-928-1306 Sonora, Ca chefdavecooks.com

Simply Delish

209-533-1177 Sonora, Ca simplydelishshop.com

Lila And Sage 209-728-2604 Murphys, Ca lilaandsage.com

209-596-0267 Sonora, Ca triciathompsondesign.com

209-559-9975 Sonora, Ca savethedateep@hotmail.com

530-677-0878 El Dorado, Ca naturalflair.net

209-532-9533 Sonora, Ca mountainlaurelca.com 209-532-6878 Columbia, Ca columbiaflorist.net

Insurance

Columbia Kate’s

NY Life

209-532-1885 Columbia, Ca columbiakates.com

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209-588-2758 Sonora, Ca. ittybittyballoonshop.com

Michelle Dean 209-743-2223 mdean@ft.newyorklife.com

GoldCountryWeddings.com

Jewelry

Rentals

Taylor Jewelers

Party Royal Rentals

209-533-9302 Sonora, Ca

Music/Entertainment Sound Extreme Productions 209-532-0868 Sonora, Ca soundextreme.com

A & A Music Events 916-451-6700 Sacramento, Ca aamusicevents.com

Mountain Motion Entertainment 209-753-7113 mountain-motion.com

Sierra Mountain Band 209-743-9352 strumbug@aol.com

Daniel Roest

530-676-4453 Shingle Springs, Ca partyroyalrentals.com

Transportation Mother Lode Adventures Charter Services

Timber Creek Ballroom

209-588-1575 Sonora, Ca hertz.com

916-774-3870 Roseville, Ca timbercreekballroom.com

Travel Agent

The Redwoods

Above and Beyond Travel

209-795-3226 Arnold, Ca aboveandbeyondtravelagency.com

Villa Vallecito Vineyards

209-532-0868 Sonora, Ca soundextreme.com

Red Cart Studios 916-531-2538 Sacramento, Ca redcartstudios.com

Photography Still Memories Photography 209-536-0428 Sonora, Ca stillmemoriesphotosite.com

Christine Dibble Photography 209-536-1740 Sonora, Ca christinedibblephotography.com

Tracy Barbutes Photography 209-559-4477 tracybphoto.com

530-888-7888 Ext.640 Auburn, Ca ridgegc.com

Hertz

Rusty Rockers Band

Sound Extreme Productions

Ridge Golf Club

Hurst Ranch

Venues

Photo-Booths

209-533-1494 Sonora, Ca unionhillinn.com

209-677-3183 Twain Harte, Ca MLAcharters.com

916-294-0400 danielguitar.com 209-293-3139 therustyrockers.com

Union Hill Inn

209-743-9384 Vallecito, Ca villavallecitovineyards.com

Pinecrest Chalet

209-965-3276 Pinecrest, Ca pinecrestchalet.com

Barretta Gardens

209-532-6039 Sonora, Ca barrettagardens.com

Ironstone Vineyards 209-728-1251 Murphys, Ca ironstoneweddings.com

Black Oak Casino Resort 209-928-9348 Tuolumne, Ca blackoakcasino.com

Wedgewood Banquets 1-866-966-3009 wedgewoodbanquet.com

Library Galleria 916-264-2800 Sacramento, Ca librarygalleria.com

GoldCountryWeddings.com

209-984-3016 Jamestown, Ca

855-543-6656 Wawona, Ca redwoodsinyosemite.com

Sequoia Woods Country Club 209-795-1000 x8 Arnold, Ca sequoiawoods.com

Long Barn Lodge 209-586-3533 Long Barn, Ca longbarnlodge.net

Strawberry Inn

209-965-3662 Strawberry, Ca strawberryinn.com

Lazy Z Resort 1-800-585-1238 Twain Harte, Ca lazyz.com

The National Hotel 209-984-3446 Jamestown, Ca national-hotel.com

Twain Harte Tree Farm 209-586-7666 Twain Harte, Ca twainhartetreefarm.com

La Contenta Golf Club 209-772-1714 Valley Springs, Ca lacontentagolf.com

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Venues Black Bear Inn

209-795-8999 Arnold, Ca arnoldblackbearinn.com

Pickle Patch Deli 209-754-1978 San Andreas, Ca picklepatchdeli.com

The Pines Resort 559-692-8837 Bass Lake, Ca basslake.com

Best Western

1-800-532-1944 Sonora, Ca bwsonoraoaks.com

Venticello

209-728-0242 Murphys, Ca rebeccadykstra.com

Prospect 772 Winery

Sutter Creek Wines Baiocciwines

82 Main Street, Sutter Creek 209-267-5523 www.baiocchiwines.com

Bella Grace Vineyards

73 Main Street, Sutter Creek 209-267-8053 www.bellagracevineyards.com

Cinque Wines

83 Main Street, Sutter Creek 209-267-0900 www.CINQUEwines.com

Miller Wine Works

67 Main Street, Sutter Creek 209-267-5828

www.millerwineworks.com Scott Harvey Wines

79 Main Street, Sutter Creek 290-267-0122 www.scottharveywines.com

Sierra Ridge Winery

209-736-9361 Angels Camp, Ca prospect772.com

54 Main Street, Sutter Creek 209-267-1316 www.sierraridgewine.com

Camps Restaurant

Sutter Creek Wine Tasting

209-736-8181 Angels Camp, Ca campsrestaurant.com

Knowles Hill Inn 209-352-4333 Sonora, Ca knowleshill.com

Saddle Creek Resort 209-785-8587 Copperopolis, Ca saddlecreek.com

Alchemy

209-728-0700 Murphys, Ca alchemymarket.com

Videographers Cole Video

209-288-2675 Sonora, Ca thecolevideo.com

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Wine Tasting Rooms

85 Main Street, Sutter Creek 209-267-5838 www.suttercreekwinetasting.com

Yorba Wines

51 Hanford Street, Sutter Creek 209-267-8190 www.YorbaWines.com

Calaveras Wines Allegorie Tasting & Art Gallery 432 Main Street Murphys 209-728-9922 www.allegoriewine.com

Black Sheep Winery

221 Main St Murphys 209-728-2157 www.blacksheepwinery.com

Brice Station Vineyards 3353 E. Hwy 4 Murphys 209-728-9893 www.bricestation.com

Broll Mountain Vineyards

106 Main St Murphys 209-728-9750 www.brollmountainvineyards.com

Chatom Vineyards

1969 California 4 Douglas Flat 209-736-6500 www.chatomvineyards.com

Four Winds Cellars

Renner Winery

448 Main St Murphys 209-728-2314 www.rennerwinery.com

Stevenot Winery

458 Main Street #3 Murphys 209-728-3485 www.stevenotwinery.com

Tanner Vineyards

3675 Six Mile Road 209-736 4766 www.fourwindscellars.com

202 B Main Street Muphys 209-728-8229 www.tannervineyards.com

Frog’s Tooth Vineyard

Twisted Oak Tasting Room

380 Main St. Suite 5 Murphys 209-728-2700 www.frogstooth.com

Hatcher Winery

425 Main St Murphys 209-605-7111 www.hatcherwinery.com

Hovey Winery

350A Main Street Murphys 209-728-9999 www.hoveywine.com

Ironstone Vineyards

1894 Six Mile Road Murphys 209-728-1251 www.ironstoneweddings.com

La Folia Wines

263A Main Street Murphys 209-728-5298 www.lafoliawine.com

363 Main St. Murphys 209-728-3942 www.twistedoak.com

Twisted Oak Winery

4280 Red Hill Road Vallecito 209-736-9080 www.twistedoak.com

Val du Vino Winery

634 French Gulch Road Murphys 209-728-9911 www.ValduVino.com

Villa Vallecito Vineyards

263 Main Street, Murphys 209-890-3153 www.villavallecitovineyards.com

Vina Moda Winery

147 Main St Murphys 209-728-1917 www.vinamoda.com

Lavender Ridge Vineyard

425 A Main Street Murphys 209-728-2441 www.lavenderridgevineyard.com

Milliaire Winery

Sonora Wines Mt Brow Winery

276 Main Street Murphys 209-728-1658 www.milliairewinery.com

10850 Mountain Brow Rd,Sonora 209-532-8491 www.mtbrowwinery.com

Mineral Wines

La Bella Rosa Vineyards

769 Dogtown Road Angels Camp 72 N Washington St, Sonora 209-533-9968 209-743-4100 www.labellarosavineyards.com www.mineral-wines.com

Newsome Harlow

403 Main St Murphys 209-728-9817 www.nhvino.com

Indigeny Reserve

14679 Summers Ln, Sonora 209-533-9463 www.indigenyreserve.com

Gianelli Vineyards

18263 Main St, Jamestown 209 984-1500 www.gianellivineyards.com

GoldCountryWeddings.com

Lodging

Angels Camp

Jackson

Travel Lodge 1-800-525-4055

The National Hotel 209-223-0500

Auburn Holiday Inn 888- 976-4808 Best Western 877-574-2464

Jackson Rancheria Hotel 209-223-1677 Holiday Inn Express 1-877-859-5095

Mariposa

Comfort Inn 866-611-6301

Mariposa Lodge 1-800-966-8819

Foothills Motel 866-611-6301

Best Western Plus 1-800-568-8520

El Dorado Hills

Comfort Inn 209-966-4344

Holiday Inn Express 916-358-3100 Marriott 916-293-8723 California Suites 510-429-9700 Suite America 916-941-7970

Folsom

Yosemite Inn 209-742-6800

Mokelumne

Murphys Murphys Suites 209-728-2121

The Victorian inn 209-728-8933

Residence Inn 916-983-7289

Murphys Historic Hotel 209-728-3444

Placerville Bella Vista B&B 530-622-3456

The Groveland Hotel 800-273-3314

Cary House Hotel 530-622-4271

Lillaskog B7B 209-962-1818

Best Western Plus 530-622-9100

Rancho Cordova Holiday Inn 888-987-8843

Courtyard 916-772-5555 Best Western Plus 877-574-2464 Hampton Inn 916-772-9900

Sacramento

Double Tree 916-929-8855

Hotel Leger 209-286-1401

Hampton Inn & Suites 916-235-7744

Evergreen Lodge 209-379-2606

Roseville

Embassy Suites 916-326-5000

Murphys Inn Motel 209-728-1818

Groveland

Marriott 916-638-4141

Citizen Hotel 916-447-2700

Courtyard 916-984-7624

Lake Natoma Inn 916-932-2769

Hotel Sierra 916-638-4141

Courtyard by Marriott 800-340-0665 Westin 916-443-8400 Four Points by Sheraton 916-263-9000 Larkspur Landing 916-646-1212 Riverboat Delta King 916-444-5464

Springhill Suites 916-925-2280 Residence Inn 916-649-1300

Sonora Black Bear Inn 209-795-8999 Inns of California 209-532-3633 Gunn House 209-532-3421 Sonora Inn 209-532-2400 Barretta Gardens B&B 209-532-6039 Knowles Hill B&B 209-532-4333 Best Western 209-533-4400

Sutter Creek The Hotel Sutter 209-267-0242 The Hanford House Inn 209-267-0747 Foxes Inn 209-267-5882 Sutter Creek Inn 209-267-5606

Yosemite

Hilton Garden Inn 916-568-5400

The Redwoods 888-225-6666

Red Lion Hotel 916-922-2020

The Ahwahnee 209-372-1407

Hilton Arden West 916-922-4700

Wawona Hotel 209-375-6556

Clarion Hotel 916-444-8000

Yosemite Lodge at the Falls 1-866-539-0036

GoldCountryWeddings.com

95

Bridal Shows Dream Wedding Show

International Wedding Festival

Sonora Wedding Faire

Cal Expo February 2016 11am-4pm dreamweddingshow.com

Modesto Centre Plaza September 13th, 2015 12-4pm

Motherlode Fairgrounds February 28, 2016 12pm-4pm sonoraweddings.com

The Firehouse Wedding Showcase The Firehouse Restaurant Feb. 28th, 2016 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM firehouseoldsac.com

Delta King Bridal Expo The Delta King July 19th, 2015 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.bridalexpos.com

Chico Bridal Show Silver Dollar Fairgrounds August 16th, 2015 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. www.chicobridalshow.com

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Modesto Centre Plaza Jan 24th, 2016 11am-4pm internationalweddingfestival.com

Folsom Bridal Show Lake Natoma Inn August 30th, 2015 11:00am-4:00pm folsombridalshow.com

Vizcaya Open House September 24th 6pm-8pm RSVP stacey.kitchell@vizcayasacramento.com Vizcaya at 2019 21st Street / Sacramento

GoldCountryWeddings.com

Calaveras Wedding Faire Ironstone Vineyards March 2016 12pm-4pm calaverasweddings.com

Luxury Wedding Show Tsakopoulos Library Galleria August 9th, 2015 12 pm - 4 pm luxuryweddingshows.com

Modesto Bridal Show Sept.13, 2015 12pm-4pm Modesto Bridal Show Jan. 24, 2016 11pm-4pm Modesto Centre Plaza 1000 L Street Modesto, CA 95354 The first 100 brides receive one thousand Bridal Bucks to spend at the show!

August 30TH 2015

GoldCountryWeddings.com

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Wedgewood Sacramento Properties

Kiss the stress goodbye With Wedgewood taking care of all the details, the only thing you’ll have on your hands is a ring.

David Girard Vineyards

The Sterling Hotel

Sequoia Mansion

Placerville

Downtown Sacramento

Placerville

For nearly 30 years, couples have customized our all-inclusive wedding packages to create their ideal celebrations. From basic planning to complete coordination, you can pick and choose which of our affordable services to include in your package—and then leave the rest to us!

Discover your perfect fit at Wedgewood’s Sacramento locations.

WEDGEWOODBANQUET.COM • 1-866-966-3009 • SALES@WEDGEWOODBANQUET.COM