Classic Beaulieu Garden Wedding / Rutherford, California Wedding

Classic Beaulieu Garden Wedding

Natalie and Chris flew into wine country from Los Angeles and held a destination wedding with all their family and friends. Beaulieu Gardens was a stunning setting for this effortlessly elegant day. When you enter the Beaulieu Gardens property, you are immediately surrounded by vineyards, oak trees, and a huge expanse of space to wander around in. Natalie and Chris’s guests were shuttled into the venue and let off at the scene pictured immediately below. They walked through a blooming rose garden just up the path to reach the ceremony area.

The ceremony area was the real showstopper. You’ll see below how the gorgeous fountain courtyard made the ceremony feel even more momentous. The ceremony even had a unique twist I had never seen done before: to everyone’s surprise, several friends of the couple took turns standing up where they were seated to read old texts and facebook messages that were exchanged between Natalie and Chris very early on before they started officially dating. It was extremely sweet and moving to hear records of their beginnings as a couple, and to hear them from their closest friends.

My favorite part of the day was (as usual) hearing the heartfelt toasts given by friends and family during dinner. I loved capturing the tears, laughter and embraces that were abundant that evening. On top of a gorgeous and emotional dinner reception, I think it’s safe to say that Natalie and Chris threw the dance party of the century! The floor was packed with guests who danced hard and non-stop for hours until the cord was literally yanked mid-song by staff who were worried about sound ordinances. Good thing they had an afterparty arranged!