A Casual Rustic Wedding in California

September 20, 2011

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Carly and Chip

Carly Newman and Chip Waters met in 2002, working at the same restaurant in Atlanta. Carly was a hostess and in college, and Chip, a waiter at the time, was starting graduate school. Carly knew from the moment she saw Chip there was something special about him, and the couple wed in Healdsburg, California, a few days after their six-year anniversary.

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The Location

The couple chose to hold their reception at Barndiva, in Healdsburg, after falling in love with the eco-friendly venue while scouting for a rehearsal-dinner location. They loved the venue's rustic elegance and intimate environment.

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The Ceremony

The truly personalized ceremony was officiated by Carly's grandfather, a judge in Florida, who was also ordained just for the occasion. The couple wrote their own vows, and Chip's aunt read his favorite poem, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.

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Processional

Four bridesmaids and three groomsmen led the ceremony's processional. The ladies wore Vera Wang gowns; the guys wore seersucker suits from J. Crew.

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Ceremony Music

Carly's brother Craig performed Ingrid Michaelson's "The Way I Am" during the ceremony. Craig played the drums and was joined by his friends Parker on the guitar and Jessie on vocals.

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The Program

The program featured portraits of Barndiva's striking barn and weathervane. It lightheartedly listed "eating, drinking, dancing, and celebrating happily-ever-after with the newlyweds" directly after the ceremony's conclusion.

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Family

The bride, with her sister Danielle and mother, Una, paused for a photograph of the Newman women. Danielle became engaged a few months after the wedding and will be posing for more family portraits with the same photographer, Leah McCormick, at her wedding.

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The Bride's Bouquet

The bride's bouquet of citrus-hued blooms included dahlias, privet berry, cymbidium orchids, and freesia. Created by Bonnie at Dragonfly Floral, it was created using organic flora grown a few minutes away from the wedding venue.

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The Fashions

Carly bought her wedding dress by Parisian designer Suzanne Ermann from a store in her hometown of Atlanta. She accessorized it perfectly with Miu Miu shoes and a vintage clutch borrowed from her mother, then she doubled up on the "something borrowed" by wearing diamond earrings belonging to her step-grandmother. Topping it off was a fresh orchid tucked into her hair. Chip wore a khaki Hugo Boss suit and John Varvatos shoes.

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The Reception

Guests dined in the garden at four long tables, each named after influential musicians in honor of the groom's love of music.

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The Menu

Barndiva prepared a bespoke menu that merged the couple's culinary preferences. Since Chip's favorite food is pork and Carly's is fish, both were served as entrees at the dinner buffet, specifically, roasted Niman Ranch pork loin and pan-seared snapper. The venue's catering services use only products from sustainable and local sources.

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First Dance

For the first official dance as husband and wife, Carly and Chip took to the dance floor to Band of Horses' "No One's Gonna Love You."

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Dessert

The couple opted to forgo a standard wedding cake. Instead, the chocolate-loving groom had his sweet tooth satisfied with a selection of cocoa confections, including a delicious chocolate dessert made for each guest by Barndiva. Carly's mom also baked homemade cookies served from old-fashioned cookie jars with labels.

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Sources

Photographer: Leah McCormick
Venue: Barndiva
Band: Trevor Kinsel and the Klein Trio
Hair: La Coupe Sauvage
Makeup: Trisha O'Connor
Flowers: Dragonfly Floral
Bride's Gown: Suzanne Ermann
Bride's Shoes: Miu Miu
Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang
Bride's Engagement Ring and Wedding Band; Bridesmaids' Earrings: Victoria Greenhood
Groom's Suit: Hugo Boss
Groom's Shoes: John Varvatos
Groomsmen's Suits: J. Crew

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