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

Picking your wedding venue is such an important decision. You need a wedding venue that you love aesthetically, but you also need a venue that fits your wedding day needs! We highly recommend hiring your wedding planner first, as the planner can assist you with finding the perfect venue to match your vision, budget, and guest needs.

As planners in Northern California, we are experts at how to pick the right venue. We help our clients navigate all of the choices and help them select the one that fits their vision! Since we have planned events at most venues in this area, we know exactly what to look for and create layouts for every need.

When it comes to picking your wedding venue in Northern California, you'll want to keep a few things in mind!

How to Pick Your Wedding Venue
When selecting a venue, consider the following questions:

1. Does it accommodate ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing?
You might choose to have your ceremony venue and your reception venue be different, but it's important to understand what each venue can do for you. If you want to do everything at the same venue, be sure to ask if your entire event can be held on site. This includes having space for all of your events, as well as what rental items you might need.

2. Is there a "Plan B" option in case of inclement weather?
If you want an outdoor event, you'll need to make sure you're covered in case of less-than-ideal weather. Check with the venue if you can move the event inside if need be or if you can put a tent on the property! As wedding planners, we make sure that all of our couples have a Plan B for their event.

3. Are there other events going on at the same time on the property?
This is something that may or may not concern you. Some venues hold multiple events on the same day, which often means signs pointing guests to the correct wedding and sharing restrooms. If this concerns you, be sure to pick a venue that only holds one event a day!

4. Do you need accommodations on site for overnight, getting ready, rehearsal dinner, and farewell brunch?
You might decide to do some of these things elsewhere, but it's important to know upfront what your venue can accommodate. It might be easier (and cheaper) to go with a venue where you can do everything you need on-site. It also allows for easier transportation if all of the events can happen on the same property.

5. How is the accessibility for your guests regarding driving or shuttles, parking, ADA accessibility, and ease of walking on site?
In general, you want to make sure your venue is easily accessible to everyone, but this is particularly true if you have guests with disabilities. You'll want to make sure the venue can accommodate those guests. You’ll also want to understand the parking situation, so you can easily schedule any necessary transportation.

6. What are the restrictions regarding alcohol, sound, live music, and vendors not on the preferred list?
These are all things you need to be aware of in order to plan your wedding properly. Check with your potential wedding venue to see if they have any policies in place and see if any of those policies don't work for you. For example, if you have your heart set on a photographer but need to choose from a preferred vendor list, you might need to go elsewhere. Another thing to ask is how late your wedding can go. If you are dreaming of a late-night affair, make sure the venue has late-night hours.

7. Do additional restrooms need to be brought in?
This is an important detail that people tend to forget. You need to make sure you have enough bathrooms for your guests. The last thing you want is a long line to the bathroom!

8. Is there enough space for your projected guest count?
It's crucial that your venue can accommodate the number of people you're thinking of inviting. And it's just as essential to make sure it's not too crowded! If your venue holds 200 guests seated, and you want 200 guests and a lounge, large dance floor, and multiple bars, your venue might not be able to accommodate guests and rentals. That is another reason why you should have your wedding planner help you select your venue. As planners, we can let you know if your layouts and design details and guest count can fit within the space.

9. Is the space open to the public?
If you decide to have your wedding in a place that is open to the public, you might have guests that you didn't invite. Even if this doesn't concern you, it's good to know what the rules are!

10. How is the general ambient noise level on site?
​If there's a lot of noise around, like traffic noise, that might upset your big day. So, be sure to pay attention to the general noise level when you visit. This is particularly important for your ceremony. If you are dreaming of an outdoor ceremony, make sure that it is a quiet space.

Our Favorite Wedding Venues in Northern California​

Hiring your wedding planner before you pick your venue means you have help picking out that perfect location. We love helping our couples pull together their ideal wedding. Reach out to us, and we can help you find that amazing wedding venue in Northern California that's just right for your big day!​

We loved Emily and Alanna so much from the start of our first Zoom meeting together! The couple chose to have a summer wedding at Silverado Resort in Napa. They loved the beautiful spaces, excellent food, and nearby accommodations on site for their out-of-town guests. The day turned out perfect! 

Emily and Alanna requested a beautiful chuppah installation for their ceremony and provided three family cloth tallits to be hung from the top. The brides were surrounded by gorgeous flowers and garlands, and they looked so beautiful together. It was an amazing and intimate ceremony. At the rehearsal, the Rabbi also had the brides sign the Ketubah with their daughters holding a tallit above them as we all sang. This was a really special moment that we were happy to be a part of. 

We used some lesser-known spaces at the venue. Cocktail hour and dancing were in the brick-laden arbor courtyard, the ceremony was at the vineyard, and dinner was on the mansion lawn. We selected modern lounge furniture to encircle the dance floor and lit up the space with beautiful overhead lighting from Bright and uplights from DJ Matt Brys of Extreme Productions.

A gorgeous cake from Flour & Bloom was featured on the raised outdoor stage behind the brides. Local flowers and garlands from Flourish adorned bannisters and her lanterns glowed as the night progressed. Silverado Resort created an exquisite dessert bar on top of a delicious dinner. The brides danced non-stop and said at the end of the night that whether we knew it or not, we are now friends forever!
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It was such a joy to meet Emily and Alanna and work with them on their summer wedding at Silverado Resort. Their vendors really came together to create a wonderful experience. We always work so hard to bring our couples’ visions to life. We would love to work with you on your big day. Just let us know how we can help!  

Vendors:
Photo | Holly D Photography
Planning, Design, Production & Harp | Tan Weddings & Events
Venue, Catering, Bar & Accommodations | Silverado Resort
DJ & Lighting | Extreme Productions Entertainment
Florals | Flourish
Rentals, Linens & Lighting | Bright Event Rentals
Cake | Flour & Bloom
HMUA | Dreamcatcher Artistry
Signage + Paperie | Shimmer & Stain
Officiant | Rabbi Postrel
Bride Dresses | Essense of Australia & Maggie Sottero from Gesinee's Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses | David's Bridal
Flower Girl Dresses | BHLDN

Hailey and Patrick decided to elope at one of the most beautiful venues in California – Beaulieu Garden. The couple opted for a timeless, classic look, which matched the venue perfectly. We always love working at Beaulieu Gardens! Paula Le Duc's team always does a stellar job with this gorgeous venue, including the most inventive food options. It was lovely to see Hailey and Patrick’s Beaulieu Garden elopement come together so well.

​Maggie and Adam have been together for many years, and their families are friends. Their spring wedding in Woodland was a fairytale wedding. They had so many cute details, and we just loved pulling their vision together.

​​This couple really paid attention to the details. For instance, Maggie wanted custom paperie that really expressed her vision for her spring wedding in Woodland. So, she had paperie made with custom wax seals and handmade letter-pressed paper. She designed it along with us, her mom, and Valley Press Co.

Maggie and Adam also had custom cookies for favors. These included handmade flower-seeded paper, which is such a cute detail! All the Things by Kami did an amazing job with them.

Not to mention, one of our favorite aspects of the wedding was the elegant mobile bar. It is actually a refurbished horse trailer. The mobile bar was such a fun idea, and it fit right in with their elegant backyard wedding.
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This magical blush wedding came out amazing. It’s always wonderful to get to know new couples and learn all about their love story. We want to bring your vision to life and help create the special day you’ve been dreaming of. Reach out to us and let us know what we can do for you!

​Vendors:
Photo | Weddings by Scott & Dana
Planning, Design & Production | Tan Weddings & Events
Catering | Acoustic Events
Florals | Full Belly Florals
DJ | Function 45
Video | Phillip Alan Films
Dessert | Sugar Bits
Bar | Belle Aventure | Mendocino Outland
Signage | Shimmer & Stain
Paperie | Valley Press Co.
Specialty Rentals | Blossom Farm Vintage Rentals
Rentals & Lighting | Standard Event Rentals
Linens | La Tavola Fine Linen
HMUA | Taryn Passifione Makeup | Emily Scott Hair
Officiant | Bill Beermann
Custom Cookies | All The Things by Kami
Restrooms | Lulu's Luxurious Restrooms
Venue | Private Woodland Estate
Bridesmaid Dresses | Jenny Yoo
Suits | The Black Tux
Gown | Martin Thornburg by Mon Cheri at Miosa Bride