Saray woke up on yet another beautiful Sonoma morning, a day not unlike the many others her and Jesse have spent in wine country. And just like all the others, the blue sky was in full effect, the grapes were dangling dangerously off the vines, begging to be picked; but on this day… on this particular day…. she was going to marry her best friend at her Arista winery wedding. These two adventurous, stubborn, dreamers (the three words she used to describe them as a couple) from Chicago dreamed up a perfect destination wedding. They wanted it to be intimate, as they wanted to be able to spend time with each and every important person in their lives. They wanted it to be fun and unique and they especially wanted to show off the Sonoma that they loved so much. Arista Winery with its rustic elegance and natural beauty was the perfect venue. The ceremony took place under a huge oak tree, looking out over the rows of grapes, and golden hills. They asked guests to pick a seat, not a side as these two families were joined. Then, surrounded by 60 of their closest friends and family from all over the globe, they cried, they laughed and they promised to be each other’s everything. During the golden hour, Arista’s delicious Pinot Noir was passed as guests were treated to a gorgeous sunset. We took that opportunity to explore some of Arista’s property, stopping to take photos along the way. The evening continued with a dynamite dinner by The Girl and The Fig, under the twinkling bistro lights and the bright moon. After the heartfelt speeches and the cutting of the cake, the party started in the cellar room and the two families bonded as they tried their moves at Ghangam Style. The next day, I got a text from Saray and they had so much fun, that Jesse’s pants were latterly ripped off him about 10 minutes after we left. I think that means the wedding was a huge success. 🙂
