A Formal Autumnal-Themed Wedding Outdoors in California

July 28, 2011

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Katie and Ian

Credit: John Kernick

Katie has been a wedding planner and a floral designer, so she knows a thing or two about romance. But when Ian, an illustrator she'd met only briefly, called her up at her San Francisco studio as she was meeting with a bride, she was all business. "I gotta make this quick," she said. "Are you calling to ask me out on a date?" He was, and if Katie wasn't charmed when she picked up the phone, her feelings bloomed once she had the chance to spend the day with Ian, cruising down Highway 1.

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Invitations

Credit: John Kernick

Katie adores faux bois, and the wood-grain motif was present throughout the day, from the cover of the program (far right), featuring letters that phonetically spell the couple's names, to a miniature barrel of matches (top right).

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Bridesmaids

The bridesmaids wore Empire-waist gowns and satin ballet flats wrapped with matching ribbon. They carried bouquets bursting with dogwood, and florist and garden roses.

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Groomsmen

Credit: John Kernick

The groomsmen were decked out in slate suits, melon-and-white checkered shirts, and coordinating ties.

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Boutonnieres

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Resting on scalloped tags, boutonnieres were laid out in a moss-lined basket for the groom, two of his groomsmen, and his father and grandfather. The adornments for the groom and best man were distinguished by golden bittersweet -- the clusters also combine blackberries, fuzzy bunny tails, and variegated dogwood, all tied with apricot-colored ribbon.

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Bouquet

Credit: John Kernick

The bride, a floral designer by trade, composed her bouquet of plush 'Pieter B' and 'Evelyn' garden roses, bunny tails, and pink-edged variegated dogwood. Vintage jaquard ribbon adds a final flourish.

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Family

Credit: John Kernick

The families gather on the lawn for a portrait.

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Ceremony

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The bride and groom embrace as their officiant and attendants look on.

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Silhouette Artist

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The couple hired Karl Johnson, a silhouette artist, to create black-and-white replicas of each guest's profile.

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Cutting Corners

Credit: John Kernick

Working in under three minutes, Johnson made two copies of each likeness at once -- one, pasted onto paper, was given to each guest and one to the couple as a surprise.

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Waiting Patiently

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Claudia Schwartz and husband Tom await their turn.

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Ian's Silhouette

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Katie and Ian's profiles hung outside the cocktail area.

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Katie's Silhouette

Credit: John Kernick

Katie's silhouette.

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Delighted Duo

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The couple shares a laugh at the cocktail hour.

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Table Setting

Credit: John Kernick

A custom-ordered faux bois tablecloth brought the woods inside the reception tent, which was set right on the grass and decorated with Eastern motifs. The centerpieces were designed by the bride from garden roses that included 'Golden Celebration,' 'Evelyn,' 'Pieter B,' 'Charles Austin,' and 'Mojave,' along with sea oats and blackberry brambles. Continuing the enchanted-forest theme, the flowers were arranged in vases wrapped in stained birch bark. Letterpress scalloped tags hanging on chair backs helped guests find their seats.

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Place Setting

Credit: John Kernick

"Berry" is both the couple's married last name and part of the overall theme of the wedding. Here, a dainty raspberry design dresses up the embroidered hemstitched napkins by Table and Thread, and faux bois log place card holders by Bell'occhio adorn a table.

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The Reception

Credit: John Kernick

The sun sets over the long tent where guests enjoy a family-style dinner of beef tenderloin, rack of lamb, or poached salmon, all served with organic vegetables.

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Cake and Dessert

Credit: John Kernick

From left: A pillar of caramel macaroons entices guests. Green-tinted white-chocolate leaves top a tower of delicacies that include walnut bonbons and "La Femme" chocolates with a ganache filling of passion fruit and chocolate. The marzipan-covered cake features a faux bois pattern that was pressed onto the coating with a custom rubber stamp. A two-tiered cake stand holds pistachio chocolates and champignons caramel. Fluted French canneles, assorted macaroons, and green candied bonbons complete the sweet tableau.

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Dessert Table

Credit: John Kernick

The treat-laden dessert table, in all of its sweet glory, was covered with a blanket of velvety moss.

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Quail Eggs

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Speckled chocolate quail eggs wait to be plucked from their straw nest.

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Macaroons

Credit: John Kernick

The couple has long adored macaroons, so they offered some of their favorites from local patisserie Bay Bread -- calligraphed labels that note the flavor of each encourage sampling.

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Sources

Credit: John Kernick

Wedding Planner: Pamela Fishman Cianci for Outlined Productions
Event Design and Stationery: Bell'occhio
Event Production: Wendy Cook for Trademark Event Productions
Cake: Sam Godfrey for Perfect Endings
Flowers: Green Valley Growers, Brannan Street, Garden Valley Ranch
Wedding Gown: "Zelda" gown by Vera Wang Luxe, from Vera Wang Bridal
Groom's Attire: Custom suit by Seize sur Vingt, 212-343-0476. Shirt, tie, and shoes from Saks Fifth Avenue
Groomsmen's Attire: Suits by Brooks Brothers. Shirts and ties from Saks Fifth Avenue
Hair: Tina Kwak, Addison Salon, 415-931-9513
Makeup: Maria Lee, and Nan Webb for Nanskin
Silhouettes: Karl Johnson
Band: Gaucho
Place Settings, Tables, and Chairs: Classic Party Rentals
Tents: Raj Tents

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