Lavender fields, candy-colored palette, a ferris wheel… all captured on camera by the talented Lisa Lefkowitz! I can think of no better way to spend the morning than with this whimsical wedding at Bear Flag Farm.
This might be my favorite mismatched bridesmaid collection I’ve ever seen! The shades of blue and coral work so perfectly together, and with the rest of the wedding decor. The ladies carried bouquets of peonies, roses, irises, and other blooms in shades of pink and cream.
Says the bride: “For the details of our ceremony, we took inspiration from our history as a couple, from our families, and from aspects of recent weddings we had attended (take notes!).”
What inspired the bride and groom in their wedding planning? “The earliest inspirations for our celebration were the lavender fields of Provence, a nighttime carnival, and a Michelin-starred restaurant. Thanks to the farm’s natural beauty, it’s natural bounty, and Tina’s ingenuity, we were able to create a sort of romantic carnival in the French countryside feel, complete with lavender fields, a French quartet, a gourmet ice cream truck, a ferris wheel, and amazingly delicious food prepared with seasonal ingredients grown right on the farm. The farm itself was a source of constant inspiration. We were married among fruit trees under arches of flowers against a backdrop of greenery, enjoyed our cocktail hour under a dreamy star-filled tent, frolicked through the gorgeous lavender fields and rode the ferris wheel at sunset, and dined and danced the night away under hanging lanterns on a sunken lawn surrounded by sycamore trees.”
Raj Tents added an extra touch of magic to Anna and Matt’s celebration.
Guests found their table numbers on cards attached to the spokes of an old bicycle.
Dinner was held on a sunken lawn, surrounded by sycamore trees. Large white lanterns hung over the tables and dance floor. Low centerpieces of hot pink peonies in turquoise vases added pops of color to the tables.
SEE THE GALLERY FOR TONS MORE IMAGES FROM THIS WHIMSICAL CARNIVAL-INSPIRED WEDDING AT BEAR FLAG FARM.
Why did you choose this location for your wedding? After visiting several other potential venues, Bear Flag Farm just felt like “home.” We were enchanted by the serene and beautiful farm, whose lavender fields, orchards, vineyards, and sycamore trees are the stuff of paradise, and we were equally impressed by owner Tina Reikes, a wonder of a person who we would come to know as an all-around wedding-planning magician. We could see immediately that the farm would provide a spectacularly beautiful backdrop on which we would have the flexibility to bring to life our vision for our wedding day.
What was your favorite moment or part of the day? Toward the end of our celebration, the band performed a wonderful, French-English duet version of La Vie en Rose for our last dance. Part way through, we realized that our guests had begun to link arms and were slowly bobbing about us in a circle, creating an incredible moment in which the support of our family and friends was visually instantiated. Moments later, everyone treated us to a marvelously ridiculous kazoo send-off as we floated to our getaway car and made our escape together into the starry night.
What was the best advice you received as a bride? On a very practical note, more than one person suggested scuffing up the bottoms of my new shoes, which probably saved me from making an unintentionally grand entrance onto the dance floor.
What advice do you have for other brides? Planning a wedding ourselves made us see other people’s weddings through an entirely new lens; attending other weddings is a wonderful way to identify things to incorporate (or avoid!) that might not otherwise come to mind. Also, as much as possible, surround yourself with vendors who know weddings inside and out; thanks to ours, we were able to simply enjoy our wedding day to the fullest – one of the best gifts we received!
Do you have any budget tips for other brides? Consider non-wedding-specific sources for bridesmaid dresses. Designers often require orders many months in advance and can be absurdly expensive, but we were pleasantly surprised that, with a bit of detective work, it was possible to find dresses we liked even better from other sources.
Photographer: Lisa Lefkowitz / Venue: Bear Flag Farm in Winters, California / Event Planning & Design, Floral Designer: Tina Reikes of Bear Flag Farm / Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Alterations: Michael Sommerfield, Miosa Couture / Shoes: Dessy / Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Levkoff, WHBM, J. Crew / Hair, Makeup: Maria Chang / Tuxedo: Hugo Boss / Groomsmen Tuxedos: Black Tie Tuxedo and Formalwear / Officiant: Joshua Greene / Rentals: Hartmann Studio Rentals, Classic Party Rentals, La Tavola Linen / Tent: RAJ / Lighting: Got Light? / Videographer: Koda Pictures / Transportation: California Wine Tours / Getaway Car: Wine Valley Convertible Catering: Paula Le Duc Fine Catering / Stationery: Hello!Lucky / Music: Baguette Quartette, Fil Lorenz Orchestra / Ice Cream Truck: Twirl and Dip / Live Event Painter: Agnes Csiszar Russo / Wooden Flower Place Cards: CompanyFortyTwo
Lisa Lefkowitz is a Snippet & Ink Select vendor.
Dessy is a sponsor of Snippet and Ink.