Santa Ynez Wedding Photo Shoot by Mark Brooke Photography + Rani Hoover Inspired Weddings & Events
What do you get when you combine a team of talents, the gorgeous Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez and some seriously beautiful inspiration? Apparently you get layer upon layer of photo shoot perfection. Pick your jaw off the floor perfection. Pin every picture perfection. Every romantic detail of this Italian villa meets California sunshine shoot was carefully curated by Rani Hoover Inspired Weddings & Events and beautifully captured by Mark Brooke Photography – giving us so much pretty we could swoon all the live long day. And trust me, with a work of art cake by Sweet & Saucy Shop, serious styling TEAM Hair & Makeup and SO much more – there is a LOT to swoon over. See it all here!
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From Rani Hoover of Rani Hoover Inspired Weddings & Events… I am so pleased to share my inspiration for the villa shoot at The Sunstone Winery. I came across this amazing property while scouting for venues with a couple from LA and fell instantly in love. The property is a “green” property with in-floor heating, made from over than 80% reclaimed materials that were shipped over from France and designed and built by the parents of the current owner. Nestled in the Sunstone Vineyard, which is an organic estate vineyard, and sitting atop a bluff overlooking the river valley in Santa Ynez, I couldn’t wait to plan a shoot using every inch of the property. This shoot became very special to many of the vendors contributing as we learned the history of the property, styled the shoot with amazing vintage heirloom pieces and planned every detail from the heart.
The inspiration: A two-story Italian Villa sits atop a hill surrounded by vineyards and olive trees with views to die for and all of the charm of a privately-owned estate. The couple elopes to their family estate and invites their closest family and friends to enjoy a glass of welcome sparkling wine with floating hibiscus and follow the ribboned flags to the wishing wall. Once there, the guests are asked to write a wish for the bride and groom and lace it in the wishing wall before joining them for an intimate and lavish dinner in front of the villa. After dinner, guests witness a sunset ceremony overlooking the valley under a standing oak tree lit by a field of lanterns. Post-ceremony fireside port, cigars, cake and truffles are waiting before they depart in classic style.
The details, design and style all reflect the feel of a couple who have pulled the most cherished items from their family home to create a lavish tablescape full of love and personal touches — a truly intimate ceremony full of lanterns, and candlelight and dessert by the fire, surrounded by loved ones. If the love is in the details, the beautiful sky-blue La Tavola linen feels like the bride pulled down a 14 foot drapery to dress the table, the hand painted place cards cling to the bone china Herand bowls and top the jars of freshly-jarred olives from the orchard. Even the scallop on the label mirrors the front door wood carving. The bride’s heirloom pieces of jewelry are her family’s treasured pieces made to feel as grand as the backdrop of the villa. I have also drawn inspiration for this shoot from a personal hand woven rug I’ve always loved and used it to anchor a 13-foot table lined with daylight candles. The flames of silk ribbon with touches of leather, wood, vintage furs, antique Christofle silver, heirloom Herend bone china (loaned from a friend) and to-die-for vintage Chanel and Vrba jewels. I love the elements of fire and air so these are present throughout, along with an air of mystery and surprise touches intended to inspire such as the welcome table and the wishing wall. Toss in beautiful classical guitar wafting through the villa and cap off the evening off with a vintage 1941 Cadillac appointed with silk ribbons and a floral medallion. Perfection!
Photography: Mark Brooke Photography / Venue, Wine Magnum, Table Wines & Port + Select Furnishings: Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez, California / Planning, Styling, Rug, Chargers + Two Cranes Purse: Rani Hoover of Rani Hoover Inspired Weddings & Events / Floral Design + Accessories: NLC Productions / Table Drape, Napkins + Ceremony Pillows: La Tavola / Benches, Tablescape Accessories, Sofa + Tables: Archive Vintage Rentals / Arch, French Antique Table + Three-Tier Display: J.Woeste / Christofle Items, Vrba + Chanel Jewelry, Toasting Flutes, Cake Serving Set + Compact: Coast 2 Coast Collection / Wedding Invitations + Letterpress Signage: Prairie Rose Press / Lighting: LBPS Lighting / Custom Dark Chocolate + Salted Caramel Truffles: Jessica Foster Confections / Wedding Cake: Sweet & Saucy Shop / Guest Rooms: Hotel Corque / Guitarist: Chris Fossek of JSH Music Productions / 1941 Cadillac: Classic Motoring Car Rentals / Wedding Dress: La Soie Bridal / Hair + Makeup: TEAM Hair & Makeup / Female Model: Elly Brown (floatingsinger@yahoo.com) / Male Model: Rocky Fain (rockyfain@yahoo.com)