A fabulously chic setting, and a decadent four-course dinner for their family and friends. These were the top priorities for David and Anne, a couple from the Bay Area with a sophisticated aesthetic and tastes. Tan Weddings & Events, their planner, knew immediately the perfect pairing: Hamel Family Wines would host, and Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn would cater the event, both in Sonoma Valley.

A Wine Country Wedding

Hamel Family Wines cultivates a chic blend of modernity - a tasting room of steel, glass, and rammed earth, and traditional - a wine cave, oak barrels, and a biodynamic vineyard. Fairmont Sonoma proudly caters for large-scale events, prepared with locally-sourced ingredients and customized for the client’s discerning palate!

A Team of Luxury
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To complete the guest experience, Tan Weddings & Events assembled a team of creatives including Theoni, Bright, and Le Bloomerie. The place settings and florals created a richly textured, sensual experience that supported the four-course meal of seared scallops, Dungeness crab and cauliflower soup, roasted beet salad, and entrees such as filet mignon with potato dauphinoise. Dessert followed, along with cake from Flour & Bloom, as Talia Koval painted a live canvas of the celebration.

Anne and David, seated at a u-shaped array of farm tables, flanked by their family and close friends, shared words of gratitude - for each other, for the blessings of togetherness, for an evening that was their dream come true.

​Vendor List:
Photo: Nicole Sepulveda Photography
Planning, Design & Production: Tan Weddings & Events
Venue & Wines: Hamel Family Wines
Catering & Accommodations: Fairmont Sonoma
DJ: Extreme Productions
Florals: Le Bloomerie
Video: Inventive Filming
Cake: Flour & Bloom
HMUA: Urban Beauty Loft
Live Painter: Talia Koval
Rentals: Theoni Collection
Lighting: Bright Event Rentals
Transportation: Grape Escapes Limousine
Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna
Dress: Netta BenShabu
Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Vendor List
Photo: Valley Images Photography
Planning & Production: Tan Weddings & Events
Venue & Catering: Park Winters
Florals: Strelitzia
DJ: The Wedding DJ
Video: Phillip Alan Films
HMUA: Veronica Marshall | Veronica Gersalia | Yesi Dominguez
Dessert: Zest Fresh Pastry West
Dress: BHLDN
Suit: Menguin

Mahino and Ben's wedding was one for the century. From its stunning locations, flawless attire, lush florals, and delicious food, the entire weekend was packed full of details to remember for a lifetime. Their wedding was a 4-day extravaganza with guests from all over the world. Mahino and Ben even traveled from New York themselves and hosted one of the most spectacular destination weddings we've had the pleasure of coordinating! 
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A Multi-Cultural Dream

Mahino and Ben's wedding weekend started off with a Welcome Dinner at Tre Posti. It was a beautiful, sunny evening to kick things off! Mahino's bright and cheery dress paired so nicely with the scenery and surrounding decor. Their crowd-pleasing menu set the tone for the rest of the weekend. This first evening event ended magically with a mix of fireworks and twinkling string lights showering over their guests. 

The second day included their Rehearsal Dinner at the Culinary Institute of America. At this event, they incorporated a short Hindu ceremony as everyone was adorned in traditional Indian garb. Ben entered on a horse while Egyptian musicians played with the bridal party dancing alongside of them. They later incorporated the Hora to tie in Ben's Jewish roots. Mahino, with both Egyptian and Indian descent, was draped beautifully in bright red and gold accents. 

Before we could blink, their wedding day had arrived! The wedding was at Calistoga Ranch and kept to very traditional American cultures and trends. At the end of the ceremony, they stomped the glass to keep the Jewish layers intermingled throughout their celebratory weekend. Admiring Mahino's stunning wedding gown, we couldn't help but reflect on the thirty bustles it took five people to properly attach! She was show-stoppingly beautiful and every detail was worth it beyond measure. 

They ended the weekend with a Farewell Brunch at Calistoga Inn. It was the perfect setting and way to thank their guests for the journeys they had made to celebrate Mahino and Ben. With both stomachs and hearts full, Mahino and Ben concluded their wedding of a lifetime with nothing but amazing memories to look back on. We adored how the couple honored their cultural backgrounds and kept true to who they are while also creating a truly elegant weekend. 

Behind the Scenes

You might be wondering how did we pull off this over-the-top wedding with a couple that lives across the country? For couples like this who could not come visit in person, we found creative ways to plan the most important details. For their main wedding tasting,  we had the pleasure of attending it with Ben's mother. It was a great time to exchange feedback as well as get to know the mother of the groom! 

For the creative aspects of design and aesthetics, we sent Mahino and Ben detailed photos of various combinations of rentals. We even had hand drawn renderings for design set ups since they could not physically attend showroom visits with us.

An added touch that was so much fun for us to do was create a custom logo for their wedding celebrations! They ended up using the logo on paperie (thank you Little Bird Paper Company!), custom wax seals on menus, custom signage, and even had it printed on guest gift bags. 

The wedding was a huge success and went off without a hitch thanks to all of the amazing vendors involved. All that being said, near or far, we are here to help you plan the wedding of your dreams! 

Over 25 years ago, Rick and Jennifer started working in the wedding industry, playing flute, harp, and piano for ceremonies, cocktail hours, and receptions. Over the years, we listened to couples and learned their needs and how we could create incredible events for them. And over the years, we have learned that one of the essential parts of a wedding is attire. It not just sets the tone for the day but makes the two of you feel incredible.

That is why we wanted to introduce TWE Suitology, an ongoing series about finding that perfect look. We believe that finding the best attire for your day is just as special as shopping for a wedding gown! Whether the two of you are wearing incredible custom suits or looking for a suit to compliment your spouse’s gown, we have years of experience to share.

​We can’t wait to share everything you need to know about suit shopping. From tips on purchasing, renting, accessories, suit fabric, trim, styling, and even fit, we will cover it all!

​Your wedding day look should reflect who you are. Many of our couples think that suits are just black, gray, or blue. And tuxedos are black with a white shirt. But that is not the case anymore! There are so many incredible ways to customize your look. For a subtle touch, you can have your wedding date monogrammed on the inside of the suit. Bold jacket linings are a great place to experiment with style and add a pop of color or pattern while still having a classic suit for all occasions. Ultimately, the most important thing is that you feel great!

​Vendors:
Suit | Indochino

Kai and Reggie met when both were students at UC Davis. They share a love of science, and their first date was to go starwatching at the park! The couple wanted to include the importance of science and have a nod to their first date. Thus, a celestial themed wedding was designed! They decided to go back to UC Davis for their wedding and get married at the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center. Personally, we think that was a great decision. In fact, TWE owners, Jennifer and Rick, got married in the exact same garden space on campus 27 years ago!

There were so many great details to this beautiful wedding that represented the sky and stars.

Rosaura from Pigment & Parchment was the perfect fit to create custom watercolor-painted signage, planet table names, hand-drawn menus, and stained-glass place cards. She also provided live painting services for guests during the reception!

Bekah of Bloom & Vine incorporated fairy lights with deeps floral hues to match the fall season and compliment the blues and purples within the palette. She created a floral moon behind the couple for their ceremony. It made for a beautiful backdrop and matched their theme perfectly.

Kellie of Palette Cakes designed exquisite layers showcasing the sunset, clouds, sky, and stars. It was the perfect cake for their celestial themed wedding. Not to mention, it was delicious!
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Once night fell, UC Davis Astronomy Club hosted a special star-watch talk and shared their telescopes with guests after dinner. Between stargazing, face painting, and dancing, the guests all had an amazing time and experienced a wedding to remember!

Kai and Reggie’s wedding was so perfectly them, and we loved having the opportunity to plan a gorgeous celestial themed wedding. We always want to help couples plan their ideal day and bring their dreams to life. As planners, we believe it’s so important to stay true to the couple’s vision and help them create those unique details. We’d love to do the same for you! Just reach out to us, so we can get to know each other.

Vendors:
Photo | Valley Images Photography
Planning, Design, Production & Officiant | Tan Weddings & Events
Venue | Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center UC Davis
Catering | Olive & Vine Catering
DJ | DeBorba Events
Florals | Bloom & Vine
Paperie, Signage & Live Painter | Pigment & Parchment
Cake | Palette Cakes
Video | Jevin Films
Rentals & Lighting | Celebrations Event Rentals
Moon Arch | Blossom Farm Vintage Rentals
Astronomy Presentation | Astronomy Club at UC Davis
Suits | Indochino

​Tina and Leo’s fall wedding at Viansa Winery was so lovely. This couple is friends with Jamie and Andrew, one of our previous couples. So, we got to see both couples at not only their own wedding, but also at their friends’ wedding! We love it when there are connections between our clients and when we get to see our couples again! 

​Viansa Winery is one of the most beautiful wineries in California with its stunning vineyard views. The venue has a variety of options for ceremony and reception spaces. Before their wedding, Tina and Leo hosted a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony on site in an intimate room near the wine cave earlier in the afternoon. The couple fell in love with the look of the stately cypress-treed garden space for their wedding ceremony. It was the perfect backdrop, as it overlooked the rolling hills at sunset.

They chose to have cocktails on the patio overlooking the vineyard, and dinner and dancing inside the beautiful pavilion. When it comes to the Viansa, you really can’t go wrong. Every space is beautiful and adds the perfect scenery to your wedding. Not to mention, Viansa's wines are exquisite!

This wedding was so colorful and fun! Tina and Leo chose Strelitzia Flower Company to create large displays of red and pink flowers with some white details and lots of greenery. We combined this with some rustic details, and their décor was beautiful. Their white cake by Flour and Bloom looked so elegant with the pops of color from the flowers. Plus, Elaine Bell Catering did an amazing job with the catering and the food looked wonderful!
We love working with beautiful venues like Viansa Winery and helping our couples bring their vision to life. We would love to work with you and learn all about what makes you unique as a couple. Let us know how we can make your wedding day extraordinary!
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Vendors:
Photo | Daniel Neal Photography
Planning, Design, Production & Officiant | Tan Weddings & Events
Venue | Viansa Winery
Catering | Elaine Bell Catering
DJ | DeBorba Events
Florals | Strelitzia Flower Company
HMUA | Triple Twist
Cake | Flour & Bloom
Rentals | Standard Event Rentals
Linens | La Tavola | BBJ LInen
Lighting | Twilight Design

We loved working on Jamie and Andrew’s intimate wedding at Sonoma Golf Club! This couple choose Sonoma Golf because they loved the iconic architecture and the ease of having their guests stay at the nearby Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. Plus, Jamie and Andrew are huge foodies, so they were excited about Sonoma Golf’s high-quality food. Their wedding day was just a dream! 

Jamie and Andrew’s wedding was a fusion of Chinese and Jewish cultures. The couple hosted a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony at Fairmont Sonoma in the morning. Then, they had a rabbi perform their beautiful wedding ceremony. At their reception, not only did Jamie and Andrew have a choreographed first dance, but they danced the hora later on. We love it when couples combine cultures to create something unique to them! 

To meet their guests' concerns about being indoors, we moved the entire event outside, taking advantage of flipping the garden from ceremony to dinner, and the patio from cocktail to dancing. This was a late summer wedding and experiencing the beautiful outdoor spaces all evening was absolutely dreamy! It was wonderful to just be under the stars as the evening progressed. Standard Event Rentals did an amazing job with the lighting too, making the evening hours even more special. It added wonderfully to the classic and colorful décor that Jamie and Andrew chose.
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Jamie and Andrew’s Sonoma Golf wedding came out beautifully and moving everything outside was a great decision. Our first goal is always to create the best day possible for our couples, which also means creating the best day possible for their guests. We want to make sure guests are enjoying themselves, and this often includes designing the event so they’re comfortable. Let us know how we can help you have the day of your dreams!

Vendors:
Photo | Studio Opia
Planning & Production | Tan Weddings & Events
Venue | Sonoma Golf
Catering, Bar & Accommodations | Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn
DJ | SJ's Disc Jockey
Florals | Flourish
Rentals, Draping & Lighting | Standard Event Rentals
Cake | Flour & Bloom
HMUA | Makeup by Quis
Officiant | Rabbi Steve
Video | Phillip Alan Films
Musicians | East Bay Duo
Dress | Allure Bridals from I Do Bridal Boutique
Suit | Generation Tux
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Alyssa and Cody had an elegant wedding at Park Winters. They wanted those classic and sophisticated details, which helped us solidify the design. Their design aesthetic carried throughout the rentals, linens, cake, and florals. The couple and their college friends made up the joyful wedding party, which made the wedding day that much more fun! We’re so proud of how beautiful their wedding day turned out to be. 

Park Winters is one of our favorite venues, and it was perfect for Alyssa and Cody. It really matched their vision and allowed us to create that more classic look. For the flowers, Alyssa chose a soft palette with a focus on beautiful textures. A romantic blend of David Austin roses, dahlias, and handpicked flowers gave it an organic feel. The table décor by Flourish was amazing with the greenery and flowers adding that elegant touch. The emphasis on florals continued with the guest favors. Guests were sent home with seeds to plant in their gardens to remember this fabulous celebration.

You would never know that the sunny, summer wedding day was 109 degrees! The venue, planner, and vendor team quickly made adjustments to move the reception indoors to keep the guests comfortable. Everyone worked together to create a beautiful reception for the couple.

The bride had her hair and makeup artist stay for touch-ups until the reception began, which was a great idea with the intense heat. The result was gorgeous photos and low stress!
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When you hire a full planner, you know every detail will be taken care of! We were easily able to make a last-minute room switch to make guests comfortable and keep them out of the heat. Our goal is always to carry out our couple’s vision and make sure their guests have a great time. We would love to do the same for you! Just reach out to us so we can learn more about your ideal wedding day! 

Vendors:
Photo | Matthew Lim Photography
Production & Design | Tan Weddings & Events
Venue, Catering & Bar | Park Winters
Florals | Flourish
Video | Worldlove film + photo
HMUA | Christi Reynolds Beauty | All Dolled Up
Rentals | Celebrations | Blossom Farm Vintage Rentals
Cake | Palette Cakes
DJ | The Wedding DJ Company
Musicians | Mersonacta Quartet
Officiant | Scott Farmer
Paperie + Signage | Katie Buckwalter | Jolie Mae Collections
Transportation | Nationwide Limousine Service
Bridal Dress | Marchesa Notte from Kinsley James
Bridesmaid Dress | BHLDN
Tuxedos | The Black Tux

Alex and Solomon wanted a wine country wedding for close family and friends at a venue where people could stay the night, enjoy the pool, restaurant, and spa to extend their wedding experience into a vacation get-away! Naturally, they chose Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, which was perfect for them and happens to be one of our favorite venues! The couple fell in love with the lush greenery on site and the exquisite food options. 

The couple envisioned incorporating important Jewish traditional elements into their ceremony and reception. They wanted to include the signing of the Ketubah before the wedding ceremony, getting married under the family's tallit, and stomping on the glass at the end of the ceremony. For the reception, it was important to them to do the blessings and challah at dinner and dance the hora. Plus, the Rabbi shared her gifted voice while singing during the ceremony, incorporating many traditional ceremony elements. 

The couple chose the Oak Tree lawn for their ceremony. This spot has beautiful greenery and is tucked by the Spanish-style golf club. The moss-covered walls made for stunning portraits! We love how the traditional and classic décor came out with the white flowers and greenery adding a beautiful touch to their ceremony.

For the reception, they wanted an intimate space that felt warm and inviting and allowed guests to enjoy the property. The Sonoma Valley Room and Patio worked perfectly! The room's best features are the large fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows. The large doors lead into the private patio, where guests could mingle during cocktail hour.
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We loved working with Alex and Solomon on their gorgeous wedding at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. Everyone had so much fun, and it was the perfect day. We'd love to work with you too! We can help you bring your wedding day vision to life. Let us know how we can make your wedding day extraordinary!

Vendors:
Photo | Nicole Sepulveda Photography
Planning, Design & Production | Tan Weddings & Events
Venue, Catering, Bar, & Accommodations | Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn
DJ & Lighting | Sound Image DJs
Florals | Accents by Sage
Video | Phillip Alan Films
HMUA | Bella Bridal Napa Valley
Officiant | Rabbi Susan Leider
Rentals & Linens | Bright Event Rentals
Paperie | Valley Press Co.
Challah | Nugget Bakery
Dress | Essense of Australia from Novella Bridal
Suit | Bloomingdales
Veil | Bridal Breeze
Rings | Lauren O Jewels