The rolling golden hills of California in the fall set the scene for this elegant and down-to-earth shoot! California Ranch Events, a working ranch and wedding venue, was the perfect place to bring our inspiration to life, with endless pastures rolling up towards a clear blue sky. The landscape inspired the color palette for the shoot – hints of dusty blue and sunset-hued flowers in coral, salmon, and yellow stood out beautifully against the gold velvet of the hills. The original concept came from marrying the rustic sophistication of Ralph Lauren with the rugged beauty of a California ranch – hints of the brand’s preppy origin can be seen in the modern geometric print of the grand Kings Table, set with earthenware and gold-dipped marble details to tie in the natural setting. Floral designer Michelle Lywood added rich color to the table with late-summer roses and peonies nestled among trailing vines, set on chic blue and white patterned linens and hemstitched napkins from Napa Valley Linens, along with luxe place settings from Bright Event Rentals, and elegant furniture from Pleasanton Rentals.

A flowing chiffon and lace wedding dress from Alvina Valenta became the romantic centerpiece of our shoot, paired with a gold jeweled sash and intricate bridal headpiece handmade by Haute Bride. The layers of glitter-dusted tulle sparkled under the late fall sun with a dramatic lace keyhole back that brought pure drama to the rustic surroundings. Our hair and makeup artist, Moderne Beauty, created two unique bridal hairstyles to complement the crystal and gold strands of Haute Bride‘s jeweled headpiece . Our handsome groom embodied the classically preppy style at the heart of the shoot in a charcoal gray suit with a subtle striped shirt and French Blue tie. The local denizens of the ranch stole the show, with a horse called Tango who captured the hearts of our bride and groom and our crew! Tango’s owners were the first couple to tie the knot at California Ranch Events and he became an indelible part of our shoot with a sweet floral collar made by Michelle Lywood!