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Destination Weddings: Auberge du Soleil Resort, Napa Valley

Auberge du Soleil Resort has just debuted a brand new wedding deck that is indoor and outdoor showcasing their phenomenal views of Napa. This is in conjunction with Auberge du Soleil’s Michelin-starred Restaurant celebrating 30 years in 2011 as the “one that started it all” – the very first fine dining venue in the Napa Valley, which now is known as a hot culinary destination.

Auberge du Soleil was the vision of legendary French-born restaurateur Claude Rouas, who sought to recreate the sun-drenched ambiance of Provence in the California Wine Country. Perched on the slope of Rutherford Hill overlooking Napa Valley, Auberge du Soleil quickly gained recognition as one of the leading restaurants in Northern California, not only for its superb cuisine, but also its spectacular views of the valley below. In 1985, responding to guest demand, Rouas and business partner Robert Harmon opened the inn, a collection of sun- and earth-toned maisons housing 50 rooms and suites, each with French doors opening onto private terraces and sweeping views of olive groves and the vine-studded valley. Today, under the direction of Executive Chef Robert Curry, the Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil has earned international recognition, including back-to-back Michelin stars while guests also savor “the best seat in Napa Valley.”

To learn more about how this could be the wonderful destination wedding or honeymoon for you, visit their website.

New Featured Wedding

The beautiful grounds of the Dallas Arboretum are the backdrop for this featured wedding by photographer Thisbe Grace.

Featured Wedding – A Chance Meet at the Beach

Web & I met on a half-blind date, half-wing person type of situation. I was vacationing on Kauai with my family. My parents rented a house in Haena and we were constantly either at the beach or doing the usual tourist activities, such as hiking, scuba, snorkling, etc. My older sister, Ali, and I had meet a couple of “local” boys at the beach and one, really liking my sister, invited her to see the sunset that evening. Ali wanted me to come along, so he said he’d bring a friend. Thus, we met at sunset on Ke’e Beach, which is at the end of the road on Kauai’s North Shore. (I should mention that I did catch the bouquet at my friend’s wedding not even a month before…). Now we live in Hawaii.

I choose a peacock theme because the colors in the peacock’s feather are constantly changing; however; they remain a gorgeous palette of harmonious hues.

As far as vendors, everything fell perfectly into place. Our wedding planner, Allison of DFW Events, was recommended by a friend. She in turn pointed us towards Thisbe Grace, our photographer. We choose Mimi’s Garden and the Camp House (Dallas Arboretum) because of both there proximities and/or use of water. The Garden with its man-made waterfalls and the Camp House due to the beautiful view overlooking White Rock Lake. Gill’s was one of the pre-selected choices for the Dallas Arboretum and after meeting Steve, the owner, and tasting the food, I was sold. Ryan with Lights Dallas was another Allison choice and we could not have been happier with the sound and music. I always wanted a string quartet to play during the ceremony, specifically ” All You Need Is Love” as we walked out Man & Wife, and Dallas String Quartet played perfectly!

The Couple:  Lauren Pingree & Web Godinez
Wedding Gown – Stanley Korshak Bridal Salon
Photography – Thisbe Grace Photography
Designers & Coordinators – DFW Events
Flowers – The Wildflower
Location – The Dallas Arboretum
Hair/Makeup – Mo Bowers
Lighting – Beyond

Couture Wedding Gowns Shine in Ko Olina

Spring’s dreamy bridal couture gowns bearing unmistakeable details are captured in all their majesty amidst the striking landscape that is Ko Olina. This could be an amazing Destination Wedding for those looking for a Pacific Coast wedding.

Photography by Visionari | Source: PacificWeddings.com

Dreamy Bridal Lingerie by Claire Pettibone

Claire Pettibone is by far one of our favorite treats to indulge in. Her lingerie will last forever if you wash with care. Here’s something fun to collect that both you and your groom will enjoy! Her lingerie is comfortable, yet oh so sexy. Can you imagine yourself in any of the beautiful pieces below? We can. Feminine, romantic and so unique in her fabric designs. Here at StrictlyWeddings.com we are a fan of her resort wear, her bridal line and couture line – all perfect for your wedding. Check out her website. We know you will be in a dream wearing one of Claire’s designs…talk about sleeping in perfection!

Elizabeth Messina Wedding Photography – Take Time & Enjoy

As you know, sometimes at StrictlyWeddings.com we reach out to see what wedding photographers outside our cities are doing that might inspire, engage, excite or titilate our readers. West Coast Photographer Elizabeth Messina’s blog, Kiss the Groom will immediately capture your eye and before you know it, you’ve spent 30 minutes to an hour just devouring post after post. It’s fun to escape on occasion.

The inspiration boards below are not what we initially drooled over, yet we have never seen a black wedding gown with black toe nail polish and the blue theme was just too close to our blue Texas skies.

Destination Weddings: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Untamed, restrained, cosmopolitan and country, Puerto Rico has it all. El Yunque – America’s largest rain forest – and 19 other forest reserves are home to 20 orchid varieties and countless other flora and fauna. Water babies will love its 270 miles of coastline littered with innumerable snorkeling, sunning and world-class surfing beaches. The island’s massive central mountain range tops 4,000 feet and demands hikers take note. There’s even a phosphorescent bay that glows at night.

After dark, visit New San Juan for its flamenco dancers, piano bars, open-air concerts, clubs, casinos, folkloric shows and Latin revues. Casinos can be found in almost every major hotel, clubs for all shapes and tastes go in and out of trendy favor, and there are always new restaurants to sample.

These fabulous photographs are from a destination wedding in San Juan, Puerto Rico from Fred Marcus Photography at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton resort. One hundred friends partied the weekend away and had such a great time. The weather was amazing and only made the ceremony held on the beach even more special.

Wedding Advice From The Pros: Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

On your wedding day, the right picture can instantly bring you back to the happiest day of your life – and the right photographer can take you there.

At our studio, Fred Marcus Photography in New York City, we think choosing your photographer is the single most important decision you will make when planning your wedding. You may have heard this before, but it’s true! Once the cake is gone and the flowers have wilted, your cherished memories will bloom for years to come through your wedding photos.

So what should you consider before choosing your photographer? The three most important things to look for are personality, experience and their studio. (more…)

Wedding Themes – The Power of Yellow

Who doesn’t have spring fever? We do!

So while talking with our Dallas wedding partner, Jordan Payne of Jordan Payne Events, on what spring color energizes her; she waxed so poetic about the color yellow it inspired us to search our trusted sources for Weddings inspired by “the power of yellow!”

“I am seeing more and more clients bringing shades of yellow into their wedding and event design,” says Jordan. “Not only are there so many shades of yellow, but it is a color with so much personality!  A color that will mesh with a soft, elegant wedding or a bold, electric yellow for an over the top celebration.”

Below are some pairings of the beloved color yellow with various color combos to inspire you this spring …

Above photos courtesy of Junebugweddings.com

Photo courtesy of Keith Laverty

Photo Courtesy of Jordan Payne Events

Photo courtesy of Jordan Payne Events

Unique Wedding Ideas – Nautical Wedding Touches

As you know, we sometimes look to resources outside our own to bring you ideas that you can use in your wedding plans. This example uses some of the beautiful linens from our StrictlyWeddings.com linens partner, Wildflower Linens.

Inspired by the exotica of old-world sea ports, the event planner combined nautical elements, the eclecticism of gypsy travelers and a rich and dramatic color palette of navy, cinnamon and orange with hints of celadon and gold to create a fantasy-filled environment for this wedding at Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs, California. Multiple layers of colors, textures and fabrics were used to set the scene along with thoughtful details like pomegranates, figs, compasses, sea-glass floats, nautical rope and a mixture of collected trays and vessels.

Source: Junebugweddings.com

Event Design, Production and Planning: Kristin Banta Events
Photography: Miki & Sonja
Venue: Korakia Pensione
Catering: Savore Catering
Floral & Décor: R. Jack Balthazar
Lighting: The Lighter Side
Linens: Wildflower Linens
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals