Stunning Fall Wedding Outdoors

Mondays can be wonderful, Kati and Justin proved by hosting their wedding on one. “Since this was a destination wedding, we wanted our friends to come out and explore San Francisco, Napa and the Bay area for the weekend and then celebrate with us on Monday,” Kati says. The couple met in college at a fraternity party, and after seven and a half years (Kati says she has to throw in the half), Justin proposed. “From there, it was a fun time planning the best Monday ever!”

At Wente Vineyards, Kati and Justin wanted to have an elegant wedding without being overly fancy, and they incorporated handmade wooden table numbers created by a friend; plus the couple made their own invitations, place cards and programs. “We found we could really get our humor across making our own invitations versus buying something pre-made,” Kati says. For the wedding’s colors, they chose dark burgundy (matching the cabernet they love at Wente) and blush and white shades, plus a wall of greenery. Kati also points to pink glasses that brightened up the tables as a favorite detail, as well as the chandelier over the dance floor. Kati also fondly recalls shopping for her wedding dress with her mom, and after trying on more than 100 gowns, she found a perfect, customizable dress by Naama Anat.

For couples planning their weddings, Kati says, “We gave ourselves almost a year to plan, and we really spent a lot of time researching each of our vendors and all the details, so that we could get the best vendor at an excellent price. I think the key is working with your partner so that you are both happy with the different parts of the wedding – even if the guys say they don’t care, they do!”