We’re spending this week on Snippet & Ink in Northern California’s wine country, and today’s beautiful wedding comes to us from two Snippet & Ink Select vendors, Jesse Leake and Alison Events! Caitlin and Brian celebrated their nuptials with a Meadowood wedding full of classic style, from the traditional invitations to the all-white flowers – with a touch of tartan!

As a nod to the groom’s Scottish and bride’s Irish family, a bagpiper played at the ceremony.

Caitlin describes the tartan pinning, which paid tribute to the groom’s Scottish heritage: “Historically, the groom would pin his family’s tartan on the bride as a sign of welcome into his clan. Brian’s father presented the tartan and it was an emotional moment that held special significance for Brian’s family.”

The groom’s family tartan was echoed in napkin belly bands and in a sugar ribbon on the wedding cake.

SEE THE FULL GALLERY FOR ALL THE PICS OF THIS NAPA WEDDING FROM JESSE LEAKE AND ALISON EVENTS.

 

Why did you choose this location for your wedding?  Once we decided that we wanted to get married in California, we knew that Meadowood was our first choice. It’s a quiet oasis and unique in that it provides guests with another view of Napa Valley beyond the wineries and vineyards.

What inspired you when you were planning your wedding?  We were most inspired by a friend’s wedding we attended in New York that was intimate with great food, music and all in one place so that once guests arrived there was a seamless transition from the ceremony to the cocktail hour, dinner and dancing. That set the bar for us for what a great wedding felt like. We were also generally inspired by Meadowood’s beauty and knew that we wanted to preserve that natural, simple elegance.

What was your favorite moment or part of the day?  The ceremony was the most meaningful part of the day. We tried to incorporate the coming together of our families by including both Scottish (Pinning of the Tartan) and Irish (an Irish blessing) elements but also contributed to writing the vows which gave a personal element to our commitment to one another. Our readers were mentors and their participation allowed us to give thanks for all their guidance over the years. We wanted the ceremony design to be fairly simple but but a few small elements, such as parasols and a rose petal path down the aisle, highlighted the natural elegance of Meadowood. The weather could not have been more perfect and the ceremony was flawless. Overall it was a very special part of the day.

Did you include any traditions in your wedding?  In addition to the Scottish and Irish traditions in our ceremony, I wore a small “something blue” heart pinned into my dress that says “I Love You,” which was worn by my grandmother and my mother on their wedding days.

What was the best advice you received as a bride?  The best advice I received as a bride, over and over again, was to enjoy the day as it goes by so quickly. People told me to be fully in the moment – to savor the time with your new husband, your guests and your family, look around, take it all in. Look at people’s faces, watch their expressions, listen to what they are saying and just enjoy it.

What advice do you have for other brides?  I would echo the advice I received about taking it all in. There were several moments during the day where I just looked around and took mental pictures of my surroundings – those have been some of the best memories in the weeks since the wedding. Beyond that, my advice would be to make people feel special, welcome and taken care of. We got great feedback about our welcome baskets and from people who felt like we took the time to visit with them and thank them for coming. Additionally, putting a lot of effort and thought into table seatings makes a difference – we found that people had a great time mixing with new and old acquaintances, and that several new friendships were formed because we took the time to really think about who would get along.

Do you have any budget tips for other brides?  Having a great wedding planner helped us to negotiate contracts and stay on budget during the process. They were also able to help us understand the areas where we could cut costs, and the areas where it was important to invest in a great vendor. Also don’t be afraid to negotiate – the worst that can happen is they say no!

 

Alison Events and Jesse Leake are Snippet & Ink Select vendors.

Photography: Jesse Leake / Event Planner: Sunna Yassin for Alison Events Planning & Design / Venue: Meadowood in Saint Helena, California / Dress: Anne Barge / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Jewelry: Harry Winston, Shreve & Co, Kleinfield / Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna / Shirt, Tie: Giorgio Armani / Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo / Cufflinks: John Hardy / Bridesmaid dresses: Coren Moore / Officiant: Kimberley Thompson / Stationery: Olive Route / Floral Designer: Brown Paper Design / Cake: Perfect Endings / Rentals: Hartmann Studios / Music: DJ Josh Dukes with Boutique DJ's