The Couple
"We carved a pumpkin together, and the rest is history," Hanna says of first meeting Stephen at a Halloween party in 2010.
Nearly four years later, on June 14, 2014, the San Francisco-based pair tied the knot in the city of Santa Rosa, California, just south of where Hanna was born and raised. Hanna wanted the wedding to be "sophisticated and polished." Rather than focusing on a theme, they chose design elements that felt true to their personal style.
The Invitations
Hanna, a graphic designer, took things into her own hands for the invites—designing them herself and then having them letterpressed and foil-stamped locally by Dependable Letterpress.
The Setting
The ceremony took place among the manicured landscape of the Mayacama Golf Club. "I think it's just a spectacular venue," Hanna says. "To get there, you drive down a private country road for several miles, weaving along rolling hills, mature oak trees, and long grasses."
The Fashions
Hanna really wanted a dress that reminded her of the Sixties. She ended up picking a gown by Rosa Clará that had a full skirt and fitted waist. "Bonus features were a sweet jacket with fabric-covered buttons down the back—adorned with a bow at the top," Hanna says. She paired her gown with black patent leather Ferragamo shoes.
Stephen wore a dark-green tuxedo jacket from Burberry with checked blue suit pants from Paul Smith. He accessorized the look with a floral bow tie from J.Crew, a color-blocked pocket square from Barneys, and black patent leather dress shoes from Ferragamo that matched those worn by the bride.
The Bridal Bouquet
Dragonfly Floral designed Hanna's bouquet of peonies, English roses, abutilon, linden blossom, smoke bush, and Carolina jasmine.
Do the Twist
For her hair, Hanna wanted something low and sculptural. With help from The Powder Room, she got just that.
The Bridal Party
The couple gifted their attendants, which included family and friends, special tokens of appreciation. Stephen gave his groomsmen pocket squares in colorful patterns and their bow ties, and his cousin, a girl, a gold necklace with an amethyst pendant. Hanna gave her bridesmaids a metal bird to symbolize that they had given her wings to fly.
The Bridesmaids' Bouquets
Each bridesmaid carried a blooming peony.
The Four Children
The bride's nephew Gavin was the ring bearer, while her niece Sofie and the groom's niece and nephew, Ivy and Kai, held wedding-day flags.
The Ceremony Setting
The ceremony took place at a wine cave and patio overlooking the golf course.
The Processional
At the early-evening celebration, Hanna's dad walked her down the aisle to the song "Crisantemi" by Giacomo Puccini. "The quartet's lead violinist was my very first violin teacher when I was 6," Hanna says. Around 185 guests gathered to watch the bride and groom get hitched.
The Ceremony
The ceremony was officiated by Hanna's maternal cousin Jon Brickman, and during the service, Stephen's youngest sister, Chrissy, sang "If the Stars Were Mine" by Melody Gardot. Stephen's good friend recited a reading by John W. Gardener, and Hanna's friend recited a reading from "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway.
The Toss
With the help of her mom and sister, Hanna used a stamp carved out of a potato to embellish lavender toss bags slung over the backs of chairs. "The plus sign was a motif we used throughout—it originated from the 'H+S' on our invitations, and symbolizes togetherness and the combining of two people," Hanna says.
The Escort Cards
Hanna hand-lettered each envelope with a black pen and colored pencils (one of her favorite drawing tools), while her best friend, Caroline, and the groom's youngest sister, Chrissy, helped choose sayings and quotes for each of the cards inserted in the envelopes.
The Centerpiece
Centerpieces included all of the flowers in Hanna's bouquet (peonies, English roses, abutilon, linden blossom, smoke bush, and Carolina jasmine), with an added touch of pagoda flower, pokeweed, and ornamental red plum leaves.
The Tables
Tables were adorned with vintage etched Parisian tumblers, eclectic vintage silverware, and Portofino platters. Table numbers were hand-drawn and painted by the bride, the bride's mother, and best friend, Caroline, using stencils from the font used on the invitations. Keeping with the vintage theme were metal café chairs to seat the guests.
Familiar Faces
In the months before the wedding, Hanna gathered photos of all of her and Stephen's relatives on their wedding day and created a huge banner to hang near the bar at the reception. A small box on the corner of each image indicated the relation to the couple (such as cousins, parents, etc.) and was color-coded to note if they were on the bride's side or the groom's. Below the pictures, the wedding date and year were listed.
The Wedding Wine
The bride's father, who is a grape grower, worked with a good friend and local winemaker to create two special wines for the wedding—a Sauvignon Blanc and a Cabernet Sauvignon. The labels boasted illustrations, like this one by Hanna's nephew, another by her niece, and one the bride had drawn 20 years prior that her dad had saved.
Illustrations played a part with the guest book, too, as the couple set out William Wondriska's "A Long Piece of String" for their loved ones to sign. "The book leads the reader on a journey of discovery, and has no words, so it was great for guests to contribute to it," Hanna says.
The Cake
Patisserie Angelica made a simple 10-inch white cake with layers of lemon zest, lemon curd, and fresh raspberries that the bride and groom sliced together in the foyer after the ceremony. The cake, enrobed in an ombré of pink buttercream frosting, was served to guests in addition to a chocolate chiffon cake with chocolate fudge filling and fresh raspberries.
Another sweet note of the night? Take-home kraft-paper baggies of saltwater taffy in a variety of flavors from Bodega Bay.
The Wedding Dance
The newlyweds danced to "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone.
The Parent Dances
The couple's first dance was followed by a sweet father-daughter, mother-son dance to "Try a Little Tenderness," sung by Stephen's good friend Jimmy Delgadillo.
Sources
Location and Catering: Mayacama Golf Club
Day-of Coordination: Covenant Coordinating
Flowers: Dragonfly Floral
Photography: Delbarr Moradi
Stationery Printing: Dependable Letterpress
Cake: Patisserie Angelica
Music: Intermezzo; California Mobile DJ Entertainment
Rentals: Wine Country Rentals
Hair and Makeup: The Powder Room