Real weddings make me smile not only for their beautiful images and inspiring stories, but because each and every one is entirely unique and original. Whether two weddings are held at the same venue, shot by the same photographer, or showcase two brides wearing the same gorgeous gown, no two can ever be entirely the same, because each bride and groom’s story, along with the unique touches they bring to their day, will be different every time.

In one of my absolute favorite weddings from 2010, Kimberly, who is also known as Party Planner Gal in the blogosphere, married Sachin on Saturday, October 23, 2010, at Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery in Pleasanton, California. The couple’s rustic vintage glam celebration for 320 guests was original in every way, flawlessly combining Eastern and Western flare.

Here, Kimberly describes the experience in her own words and by sharing a few of her favorite photos.

What factors influenced your choice of wedding theme and style?

October is our favorite month, so there was no question that we would be married in October. We are both drawn to earthy, muted colors, so once we found our venue – a Mediterranean-style winery in the heart of the Livermore Valley – our color palette of chocolate brown, olivine and emerald green, sunflower yellow and ivory was quickly born. I have always been attracted to vintage jewelry, lace and styling, so I tried my best to incorporate these elements into my attire, our DIY invitation suite and our decor.

It was also important for us to decide on a palette and feel that would work well with both our Catholic and Hindu ceremonies, which were held back-to-back on the same day. Fortunately, the traditional wedding saris from the region of India where Sachin’s family is from are green and yellow, so that worked perfectly with our color scheme. Since red is considered an “auspicious” color in his culture, we incorporated touches of it here and there. Somehow, it all worked together to create our theme of “Rustic Vintage Glam with an Eastern Twist.”

We gave a further nod to our respective cultures (Lebanese and Maharastrian Indian) through our sit-down dinner, which included a variety of Indian and Lebanese dishes that were served family-style. The flavors blended together flawlessly, and our caterers were excited to work alongside one another in our venue’s kitchen to produce a lovely meal for our guests.

What were your favorite parts of the planning process, and what were the biggest challenges you faced along the way?

My favorite part of wedding planning was rediscovering my creative, crafty side through the many DIY projects we tackled for our wedding day. I also loved working alongside my then-fiance to create elements of our wedding that were truly reflective of our relationship and our personalities.

Hands down, the biggest challenge we faced along the way was managing our large guest list of almost 400 invitees. Finding a venue that could accommodate such a massive guest list was challenging, as was executing DIY projects on such a large scale. Of course, we constantly had to sit down and reevaluate our budget throughout the process. In the end, it was worth it, because we were surrounded by everyone we could have possibly wanted to attend our wedding!

What was the most memorable aspect of your wedding day?

I’m stuck between two. The first was seeing my almost-husband for the first time that day at our “first look,” which took place in the courtyard outside our venue. I remember running up behind him because I was so excited to have him finally see me in my wedding gown. This moment was truly special to us, and we wouldn’t have skipped our “first look” for the world.

My second most memorable moment is when the dance floor opened up and several of our Jewish friends lifted Sachin and I onto chairs for an impromptu “hora.” We have always loved this aspect of the Jewish weddings we have attended. It was a special moment for us, and we felt honored that our friends felt us worthy of participating in this tradition.

Now that you’re married, what advice would you offer to others who are still planning?

It’s been said a million times, but my advice would be to not sweat the small stuff. The details are beautiful, but they’re not what make the wedding. My fondest memories of our wedding day involve things we couldn’t have planned: the giddy anticipation I felt before seeing my groom for the first time, the joy and happiness I experienced during our ceremonies, and goofing off with our friends in the photo kiosk and on the dance floor. If I had to choose between these memories and coordinated menus and place cards, the memories would win out a million times over.

Photo Credits  

Photo Kiosk Photograph by Fotomio: www.fotomio.com
All Other Photographs by Paige Morrison: www.peasandhoney.com

Vendors

Venue – Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery
Photography – Paige Morrison
Officiants – The White-Robed Monks of St. Benedict (Most Rev. Robert M. Dittler) & Family Friend Prabhakar Sathe
Wedding Gown – Modern Trousseau
Bridal Shoes – Valentino
Bridal Accessories – Various Etsy Sellers
Tuxedos – The Men’s Wearhouse
Flowers – Diablo View Florist
Bridal Hair – Flair by Jackie
Bridal Makeup – Exquisite Faces
Photo Kiosk – Fotomio
Catering – La Mediterranee & Raja Sweets
Lighting – Fantasy Sound Event Services
DJ – Andy Atta
Rings – Tacori & Christian Bauer
Cake & Pie Buffet/Wedding Cake – Whole Foods

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