Brooke & James | Private Estate Wedding in Sonoma

Published on Martha Stewart Weddings.

When Brooke and James began planning their wedding in Atlanta, they quickly realized that they wanted to celebrate their marriage with only those closest to them - their immediate family. They wanted to take their guests somewhere special, so they picked a private estate hidden in the mountains, all the way across the country in California, where they could have all 10 of their guests stay with them.

The ceremony and reception design focused on mimicking the natural surroundings - both blended in seamlessly with the natural elements of the property. Along with their planner, Hilary of Hilary Marie events, Brooke and James chose earth tones for the ceremony florals, with just 4 benches for seating. The reception table featured a runner of florals and greenery that was "growing" out of a bed of moss. The design was set under a canopy of lights that mirrored the stars overhead.

The female guests wore earthy shades of pink in different styles and textures. The bride's uncle sang their First Dance song and then serenaded the couple with a song he wrote for them leading up to the wedding. Scroll down to see more from this beautiful, intimate wedding!

The Team:

Planning & Design: Hilary Marie Events

Florals: Laura’s Floras

Beauty: Raven Reed

Video: Ryan Noel Films

Paper: Kelsey Malie Calligraphy

Dress: Olia Zavozina

Music: David Ronconi

Catering: Pascaline Fine Catering

Rentals: Theoni Collection

Lighting: Got Light

Bride’s shoes: Bella Belle

Janine Licare
Elizabeth & Will | Montage Healdsburg Wedding

Featured on Martha Stewart Weddings.

This intimate, colorful summer wedding at the Montage Healdsburg is one for the books. Elizabeth and Will said their vows in front of 80 of their closest family and friends in Sonoma, California.

Elizabeth started the day by getting ready with their rescue pup, Juno, in one of the suites at the hotel. She wore a stunning Mira Zwillinger gown with delicate floral appliques along the bodice and paired it with classic Chanel heels and heirloom accessories.

The ceremony took place at the Oak Cathedral (an amphitheater-style grove with a cathedral-like canopy), during which Juno got to stand at the altar with them. The altar featured bright florals and lush greenery, arranged in a semi-circle that faced guest seating. Juno and their cat, Muni, also made appearances during cocktail hour as line drawings on their custom napkins.

At the reception, guests were seated at two long farm tables. The tablescape featured a neutral linen and lots of colorful florals, including bud vases with pansies, potted herbs, and bright arrangements. Each guest's place setting was adorned with a mini posy of either tiny blackberries or citrus fruit with herbs, tied together with a silk ribbon. Scroll down to see more!

The Team:

Planning & design: Alexis Raine Events

Florals: Loop Flowers

Venue: Montage Healdsburg

Dress: Mira Zwillinger

Video: Lola Video

Hair and makeup: Sherrie Long

Rentals: Theoni Collection

Janine Licare
Lissa & Johnny | Martis Camp Wedding

Featured on Brides.

Lissa and Johnny’s wedding weekend took place over the span of several beautiful summer days at Martis Camp in Lake Tahoe.

The Friday Welcome Party was full of festive dresses and bright florals set in a Redwood grove. Lissa wowed guests with a white Zimmermann dress with intricate detailing and appliques. At the center of the event was a large round bar draped in florals and greenery.

On Saturday, the ceremony was held on a small cliff facing the mountains. At the altar was an arch overflowing with flowers, and each side of the aisle was lined with cascading white florals and greenery.

The reception took place under a custom-made, wood-framed, open-air tent with white linen drapery. There were two different tablescapes: the first featured long farm tables with cream runners and whitewashed chairs that had a woven back and classic french design. The other tables were round with blue embroidered linens and a smaller chair with overlapping wood spindles. Overhead were several woven rattan chandeliers draped with greenery. There were lots of fun details for guests to enjoy throughout the reception, including a beer canoe, a Gelato cart, and an espresso bar.

The dancefloor was set in front of the iconic Martis Camp red barn. Guests could either join in or take a break in one of the lounge areas set up in the amphitheater-style seating area that overlooked the dance floor. Scroll down to see more from this incredible wedding weekend!

Vendors:

Planning & design: Audere Events

Florals: Stems by Diana

Venue: Martis Camp

Video: Dax Victorino Films

Paper goods: Prim & Pixie

Bride’s Hair and Makeup: Mellody Vere

Dress: Monique Lhuillier

Bridesmaid dresses: Shona Joy

Bridesmaid hair and makeup: Love is in the Hair

Music: Bob Gail

Tent: Celebrations Party Rentals

Rentals: Theoni Collection, Found Rental Co

Linens: BBJ La Tavola

Groom and groomsmen’s suits: David August and Suit Supply

Janine Licare
Alicia & Taylor | Fall California Micro-Wedding on Family Ranch

Featured on Martha Stewart Weddings.

I’m so excited to share photos from Alicia and Taylor’s intimate fall California Micro-Wedding on her family ranch. Alicia and Taylor were scheduled to have a 300-person black-tie wedding at Ojai Valley Inn (with Michel B as the planner) in September of 2020, with a great number of guests flying in from Hong Kong. When Covid hit, they knew they'd have to postpone their larger celebration but still wanted to have a small wedding on their original date. Their friends came together to throw them the perfect wedding at Alicia's family ranch (with horses and cows roaming the property!). Their dog, Rufus, was able to join in on the festivities too! From doing Alicia's hair and makeup to arranging the ceremony seating and setting up the tables for the reception, their friends became the equivalent of a vendor team. A local florist, Expressions Floral, creating a stunning bouquet filled with white cosmos, pink and orange strawflowers, rust-toned and dark red dahlias, red and peach zinnias, white and “black knight” scabiosa, orange ranunculus, foxtails, white daisies, mini roses, and lisianthus buds. All their guests stayed onsite at the ranch sleeping in tents that the couple set up for them. They gave each guest a gift tote with items to make their camping experience more comfortable, including earplugs and an eyemask.

The ceremony took place on a mountain top on the family property. Guests were shuttled up to the ceremony site in the various jeeps that are always on the property. Their friends arranged bales of hay as seating and covered them with white linens and marigold pillows. Two floral arrangements sat on top of wine barrels to frame the altar. The reception was held at the main house. Taylor’s mom used to own her own bakery so she made a 7-layer wedding cake for them with buttermilk-lavender frosting. She also made two types of cupcakes: coconut cake with toasted coconut buttercream, and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

To keep the event as safe as possible for everyone attending, all guests were asked to get a Covid test before the wedding. Alicia and Taylor provided tons of resources and information on testing sites to help make this easier for their guests.

See more from this beautiful wedding below!

Janine Licare
Jess & Beau | Micro-Wedding at Beaulieu Garden in Napa Valley, California

As seen on Martha Stewart Weddings.

Jess and Beau had originally planned a 150-person summer wedding at Beaulieu Garden, until Covid-19 forced them to reschedule. With the help of Kaella at Kaella Lynn Events, they transformed their large celebration into an intimate 10-person micro-wedding in under 2 months.

Jess found her original dress at Kleinfeld in New York City, but wasn't able to go to her fittings because of travel restrictions. Instead, she found a new gown a month before the wedding at Kinsley James Couture Bridal; a simple yet elegant silk cotton dress designed by Rita Vinieris, with a low back, spaghetti straps, and a sweeping train that she paired with a 14-foot long veil.

For her accessories, she wore a pear-shaped diamond necklace and tennis bracelet that had belonged to her grandmother. Her bouquet, created by Amanda Vidmar Design, featured roses, dahlias, bleached bougainvillea, bleached peacock feathers, and dried grasses.

They had their ceremony in the sunken garden and followed it with light bites, including artisanal cheeses, fruits, and nuts catered by Paula LeDuc. Their cake was a single-tiered carrot-cake with vanilla buttercream frosting, topped with fresh figs. See the full vendor list at the end of the gallery!

Bride's Gown, Rita Vinieris
Bride's Accessories, Kinsley James Couture veil; Jeffrey Campbell shoes
Hair, Katie Taylor
Makeup, Janesa Simmons Beauty
Groom's suit, The Black Tux
Rings, Kerns Fine Jewelry

Janine Licare
Clare & Nick | Colorful Midsummer Wedding at West Shore Cafe, Lake Tahoe

Featured on Martha Stewart Weddings.

This bright and colorful midsummer wedding took place at the West Shore Cafe in Lake Tahoe. Working with their wedding planner, Jenn Robirds Events, Clare and Nick decided on a relaxed, yet romantic vision for their big day, complete with muted blues and a sunset-inspired floral design. Clare’s bouquet included white icelandic poppies, peach and pink ranunculuses, yellow zinnia, soft pink foxglove, soft blue tweedia, white astilbe, lisianthus, white peonies, Koko loko roses, garden roses and the only “greenery” element was bleached ruscus. It was perfect for Clare - a traditional floral-only bouquet with a modern shape. The lush ceremony arch featured many of the same and looked like a flower explosion!

All these incredible florals accented her lace Carolina Herrera gown beautifully. She chose a simple A-line dress with bold floral lace overlay a unique fabric that had golden thread in a honeycomb pattern. Clare says, for the other details, “I tried to match the earrings, shoes, hairpin and belt with organic feeling and the delicate golden honeycomb detail and the natural setting. The pearl earnings had a jacket of golden vine with leaves, the shoes had floral details, and the belt had golden undertones and a pop of sparkle with opal stones. For my wedding band, we worked with the jeweler to add in one sapphire to a diamond band to represent Lake Tahoe. It was my “something blue” and a little daily reminder of our wedding day and the commitment we made to one another.”

For her bridesmaids dresses, she had each bridesmaid choose from a variety of blue Jenny Yoo dresses that all complemented each other. She was taken by the beautiful Ohana print from Jenny Yoo and built the other colors around.

About the invitation, Jenn Robirds says “the invitation suite was a completely custom design. We wanted to showcase the venue in a fun way so we added a gorgeous line drawing to the invitation and had it letter pressed in a custom mixed blue ink. We added in some modern touches like a vellum map of the lake. To tie the suite together we used a paper with bark embossed details and closed it with a custom wax seal. The playfulness of the paper and the palettes of blues set the perfect tone for the wedding weekend.”

To achieve the relaxed, romantic lakeside wedding vibe, Jenn says “We opted for low arrangements in alternated sizes and vessels down the linear table scapes to create movement. Organic Flora literally blew us away and the product she sourced was perfect! Our initial direction included long tables with linens, but one afternoon we received a call from the groom letting us know he wanted farm tables - so we made the switch and added gorgeous gauze-like runners from La Tavola Fine Linen. The china in a gorgeous soft blue with amazing details along the rim was another stand out element. We sourced tumbled glass from Canada for the place cards for an understated detail that played to the brides love of sea glass. Letter press menus pulled it all together with the epic venue rendering adorned on the bottom.”

When a couple chooses me to photograph their wedding, it is truly such an honor and a privilege. It’s also so exciting to see the design they come up with for their wedding day! This wedding in particular was chock-full of amazing details and incredible colors. I would get giddy every time I’d receive a text messages from Clare in the months leading up to the wedding with sneak peek photos of all the fun details to come. A few other standout details from the day were the perfect blue plates, terra cotta elements, sea glass place cards and glass jugs for the escort display. See them all below!

Bridesmaid dresses, Jenny Yoo

Groom's and groomsmen's attire, Indochino (suits), Knotty Tie (ties and pocket squares)

Engagement ring and wedding bands, Robert C. Wesley Jewelers

Music, MR DJ Event Services

Catering, West Shore Cafe

Cake, West Shore Cafe

Favors, For Your Party

Rentals, Forever Vintage RentalsLa Tavola Fine LinenStandard Party Rentals

Photo booth, The Candid Ham

Vendors:

Photography, Janine Licare Photography

Venue, West Shore Cafe

Planner, Jenn Robirds Events

Videographer, McDuff Productions

Flowers, Organic Flora

Invitations and stationery, Little Bird Paper Company

Bridal gown, Carolina Herrera

Bride's earrings, Majorica Pearls

Bride's hair clip, Luna & Stone

Bride's belt, BHLDN

Bride's shoes, Badgley Mischka

Bride's hair and makeup, Love Is In the Hair

Janine Licare
Aly & CJ | Mauve and Dusty Purple Lakefront Wedding in Lake Tahoe

Featured on Style Me Pretty.

Aly and CJ's summer Lake Tahoe wedding was filled with pretty mauve and dusty purple tones, stunning and lush florals, and a sailcloth tent with hanging lanterns, pitched under a redwood tree grove. When looking for a waterfront venue in Lake Tahoe, Gatekeeper's Museum was the perfect spot.

Aly's lush bouquet had mauve roses, small white garden roses, delicate white poppies, a variety of greenery, and several textured elements in the same mauve tones. Her dress was a fit and flare with a sheer crochet lace overlay.

Their ceremony took place on the lakeshore underneath redwood trees. The decor included large concrete planters in a variety of shapes and sizes filled with florals. At the cocktail hour, in lieu of escort cards, the guests' names were hand calligraphed onto pink Himalayan salt shot glasses. As each guest found their shot glass, they were poured a shot of tequila!

The reception was held under a sailcloth tent and was arranged with a mix of long and round tables. Above the dancefloor were several large lanterns, some of which were made from nest-like branches and shaped into wooden hives. The lanterns were draped with greenery which tied the space into the forest around it. The centerpieces featured soft-hued florals with bright, bold accents.

Vendors:

Planning and Design: Audere Events

Florals: Stems by Diana

Venue: Gatekeeper’s Museum

Dress: Made with Love

Hair and Makeup: Status Salon

Rentals:

Catering: Blend Catering

Janine Licare
Tuscan Villa Wedding Inspiration at Sunstone Villa

Sunstone Villa is the perfect backdrop for those looking for an Italian Villa vibe for their California wedding. This shoot embodies so much of what you’d find in the Italian countryside, as if you were to actually have a destination wedding in Italy. The pinks, golds and mauve tones in the color palette mirrored those that can be seen throughout the property, from the limestone in the buildings to the rolling golden California hills.

The design inspiration reflected the old world architecture of the villa - from the gold plated chargers to the fresh cut fruit used as accents on the table. Couture Events, the planner and designer, incorporated figs, peaches, and grapes as decor into the tablescape - an homage to classic masterpieces and still life art. 

The dress, designed by Carol Hannah, had a soft, feminine and whimsical skirt with a structured and modern bodice. La Fleur du Jour used an assortment of dahlias, roses and butterfly ranunculus in the bouquet and for the centerpieces in those same pink, gold and mauve colors. Take a peek below to see more from this stunning shoot, and scroll to the bottom for the full vendor list!

Vendors:

Design & Coordination: Couture Events
Venue: Sunstone Winery
Florist: La Fleur du Jour
Paper Goods: In Loft Calligraphy
Rentals: Bright Event Rentals
Tabletop Rentals: BorrowedBLU
Video: Aziz Studios
Signage: Delovely Details
Desserts: Sugar Crush Sweets
Jewelry: Shel Couture
Gowns: Carol Hannah Bridal
HMUA: Page Beauty
Backdrops: JRD Art Shop
Production: Ruffled blog
Model: Oolivia Andelin

Janine Licare
Alicia & Taylor | San Francisco & Marin Engagement Session

With just a few months left before their fall wedding at Ojai Valley Inn, it felt like a great time to share Alicia and Taylor’s engagement session. They chose some of my favorite locations in San Francisco and Marin for engagement sessions and it was such a fun evening. We started off in the Presidio in San Francisco before heading to one of the most beautiful beaches just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin. After the beach, we moved to Mount Tamalpais to finish up the session at sunset. The two of them are so sweet together as a couple and also such wonderful friends to me and my husband, outside of wedding photography! My husband went to elementary school with Alicia and shortly after met Taylor, and Alicia and I met at Stanford in 2009! I couldn’t be more excited for their wedding this September.

Janine Licare
Lauren & Barron | Classic Wedding at Pebble Beach

Lauren and Barron's wedding took place on the California coast at Pebble Beach in September. It was the definition of a classic, coastal California wedding. Filled with stunning and timeless florals, it also had plenty of modern elements and personal touches. Lauren and Barron live in Texas (hence Barron's cowboy boots) so this was a destination wedding for them and many of their guests.

Lauren's bouquet included white garden roses, orchids, and a mix of light greenery. She wore a strapless satin Monique Lhuillier gown with beautiful fluid draping on the back that mimicked a bow even longer than her train. Her half-up hairstyle was both romantic and timeless. The bridesmaids wore dove grey floor-length gowns in the same color but different styles.

The ceremony took place on the 18th hole of the Pebble Beach Golf Course overlooking the California Coast. The back row was lined with a wall of low florals and the altar was composed of two raised, lush arrangements that included all the same flowers of Lauren's bouquet, with additional greenery elements for texture.

After the ceremony, the cocktail hour was a parade! All the guests followed a bagpiper along the length of the golf course from the ceremony location to the reception space, which took place at the beach club, where the remainder of the cocktail hour would be held. The escort card installation featured a blue gradient across the entire board - it fit perfectly with the color story of the day. For sunset portraits, we went out to the dock that overlooked the water and the cocktail hour. Then we snuck onto the golf course for a few extra photos. These are some of my favorite bride and groom photos of the day.

The Reception had floor to ceiling bay windows, through which you could see the entire coastline (and then the sunset). The tablescapes included a variety of florals, from small bud vases to larger arrangements. Tapered candles provided dimension and height. Lauren's grandmother passed away shortly before the wedding. They were very close. To honor her, Lauren did a Grandfather/Granddaughter dance that was so touching it had the crowd in tears. Lauren and Barron exited their reception with a petal toss to end the night.

Janine Licare
Jessie & Qi | Art Inspired Wedding at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco

As seen on Martha Stewart Weddings.

Jessie & Qi’s September wedding took place at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. Their fall color palette was the perfect fit for a museum wedding. It was an intimate celebration with 60 guests that they managed to plan in just two months! With the help of their wedding planner, Lovely Time, their wedding design was flawless and the entire day came together seamlessly.

The invitation suite was a sneak peek of the color palette that set the mood for the whole wedding day. The apricot-colored envelope was a hint of the main color that would be seen in the florals of the day. The Dutch still-life inspired liner tied into the museum theme, and the black hand-torn paper that was layered as a back for the acrylic announcement card served as foreshadowing to the black patina on the bronze sculptures that were showcased in the Reception space.

The florals were created by Hawthorn Flower Studio. Jessie’s bridal bouquet had a soft-yet-sculptural shape, comprised of dahlias, Heirloom Garden Roses (a variety of types), Wabara Spray Garden Roses, Ranunculus, Freesia, Spray Clematis, and Abelia.

The reception took place in the Rodin Gallery of the museum. Guests dined surrounded by some of Rodin’s most well-known sculptures, including “The Three Shades” and “The Kiss”. The reception was set up as a variety of round tables, square tables, and one long table as the head table. 

For the table design, they used blue crushed velvet linens, onyx and gold scalloped plates, gold and black flatware, antique styled taper candlestick holders with apricot-colored candles, and napoleon style black chairs. The black elements of the tablescape and design tied in seamlessly with the black patina of the Rodin bronze sculptures. As compared to the bouquets, the centerpieces were more dahlia heavy with accents of heirloom garden roses and spray roses. The Cornflower added a balancing blue tone that tied into the linens. The centerpieces also included Heirloom garden roses, Abelia, Dahlias, Cornflowers, Ranunculuses, Echinecia, Wabara garden spray roses.

The wedding cake was displayed as if it was an art piece of its own. It was surrounded by lush florals on multiple levels, with the cake at the center with its own spotlight. The floral arrangements around it were reminiscent of Dutch masterpieces, featuring velvet fabrics, porcelain busts, and a variety of flowers in rich autumnal tones, including tulips, maple, dahlias, and various roses. 

Janine Licare
Maddie & Matt | Filoli Garden & Palo Alto Engagement Session

Filoli Garden was the perfect place to start Maddie & Matt’s engagement session. They both grew up in the Bay Area so Filoli wasn’t too far from home. The property itself is incredible and has recently opened it’s doors to hosting several weddings a year. After shooting at Filoli, we moved to the foothills of Palo Alto to continue the session with their dog, George, a Cavapoo. The second location was the epitome of the Bay Area in the fall, golden hills for as far as the eye can see.

I first met Maddie and Matt at Philz Coffee in Redwood City. During that first meeting we realized we had so much in common, 0ur conversation was easy, and they were so fun to spend time with as a couple. I just knew I had to photograph their wedding. Their engagement session reaffirmed all of that and I couldn’t be more excited for their wedding day!

Janine Licare
Classic Wedding at Beaulieu Garden in Napa Valley, CA

This Beaulieu Garden wedding in Napa Valley, California was an intimate 65 person celebration that took place in late Summer. The property is overflowing with beautiful Italian inspired landscaping, French garden designs, and European influenced spaces that will make you feel like you’ve stepped foot into a far-off land. When you first enter the property, you’ll drive through a majestic sycamore grove with almost 150 sycamore trees lining the driveway.

The bride’s blush gown was designed by Monique Lhuillier and featured a stunning strapless bodice with a full ballgown with layers upon layers of tulle. Her rose gold Jimmy Choo wedding shoes were the perfect fit for such a lavish gown, and her bouquet was made of nothing but lily of the valley.

The ceremony took place in the sunken garden - a multi-level landscape design that includes a European pool with lily pads, a cherub fountain, Italian Cypress trees, roses, English boxwood, yew trees, and jasmine. Guests sat in sophisticated rose gold chairs with white velvet cushions. Meredith from Meredith Law Design created and built a copper floral arch to match the chairs.

The cocktail hour took place in the Italian Garden. Guests spent their time on white lounge furniture, enjoying custom cocktails and unique hors d'oeuvres.

The reception took place under an arbor fully draped with lights. The tables were arranged in a “U” setting with the multi-tiered white cake adorned with greenery at the center. The tables were set with gold flatware, long runners made of ferns, white florals and a variety of greenery, blush linens embroidered with white flowers, candles, gold-rimmed glassware, gold chairs, and amethyst geode table numbers with gold lettering. See how beautifully all these elements came together below!

Janine Licare
Italian Villa Wedding Inspiration at Sunstone Villa

As seen on Once Wed.

This beautiful Italian Villa inspired styled shoot took place at Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez, California. Inspiration was drawn from the light tones of the imported limestone which beautifully complemented the shades of peach and mauve of the tablescape and whole lemons used as accents.  In the bouquet and arrangements, you'll see blush pink zinnias that were grown locally, assorted pink and orange ranunculuses, lisianthus, dahlias, and roses.

The reception space was set outside, beneath high wood beams that had been reclaimed from a 19th-century lavender factory. The clean lines of the modern table decor was a perfect juxtaposition to the old world architecture of the villa. The white acrylic tabletop helped emphasize the minimalistic design of the tablescape, and the Renaissance-inspired medallion back chairs added style and texture to the overall aesthetic. The table's minimalist aesthetic featured gold accents, which can be seen in the flatware, the edge of the glass charger, and the rim of the pink glass wine glasses.

The bride's beaded dress, designed by Carol Hannah, combined both vintage and boho vibes. The groom's velvet goldenrod suit jacket popped against the limestone facade that surrounded them. The ceremony altar was built under an oak tree in front of the Sunstone Winery vineyard. It featured an asymmetrical disconnected arch with bright yellows from the yarrow and solidago. These florals were the perfect pop against the neutral tones of quicksand roses, textural coxcomb, and lush greenery, which tied their entire look together.

A combination of dried straw flowers, lisiathus and roses were used to adorn the all-white wedding cake. The invitation suite was hand calligraphed and has soft pastel tones with gentle brushstrokes that could also be seen on the menus. The bride wore beaded Bella Belle shoes.

Janine Licare
French Wedding Inspiration at Kestrel Park

Featured on Wedding Sparrow.

This French-inspired romantic Santa Ynez wedding at Kestrel Park was filled with intricate details and the perfect color palette. The soft peach tones and dusty blues were sprinkled with pops of lavender and pink, which added to the romantic and whimsical feel of the day. Designed by Kaleb Norman James for the Le Collectif Workshop, with host photographers Amanda K Photography and Maria Lamb, every detail was styled to perfection.

The invitation suite by Grey and Cake set the tone for the day. The entire suite was packaged in a dusty blue parcel box with a gold wax stamp and pale pink address card, all wrapped in natural twine.

The reception table was set with four stand-alone centerpieces. Each centerpiece was created using several types of roses, included Koko Loco, Distant Drums, Amnesia, and Cafe Latte. Branches of lilac accented each arrangement, creating an asymmetrical aesthetic that gave the centerpieces character and a romantic feel. The table chairs were inspired by the golden age of French furniture design and featured soft peach velvet and silver-studded upholstery.

The ceremony was set in the sycamore grove. The ceremony chairs mimicked those of french cafes and were draped in jasmine vines. The altar featured two large arrangements with a variety of roses, orange and yellow ranunculuses, branches of lilac, and several types of greenery, mirroring the centerpieces from the reception table.

The bride’s dress was designed by Alexandra Grecco and had delicate floral appliques from top to bottom. The groom’s herringbone jacket was a perfect complement to the herringbone brick pattern on the front of the Kestrel Park mansion.

The cake was embellished with sculpted edible flowers and petals that paid homage to the florals of the day.

At the end of the day, the bride and groom rode off in a vintage 1958 Porsche Speedster that had been adorned with gift boxes wrapped in oversized satin ribbons.

Surrounded by golden hills, the grounds of Kestrel Park were the perfect setting for this romantic wedding.

Photographer: Janine Licare
Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab
Stylist / Planner: Kaleb Norman James
Floral Designer: Kaleb Norman James
Dress Designer: Alexandra Grecco
Rentals: Theoni
Accessories: All About Romance
Venue: Kestrel Park
Cake Designer: Lele Patisserie
Hair & Make-up Artist: Jen Lagers

Photography Hosts: Maria Lamb & Amanda K Photography

Workshop: Le Collectif

Videography: Our Story Creative

Invitation and Paper Goods: Grey and Cake

Styling Surfaces:  Locust Collection

Shoes: Bella Belle

Getaway Car: Santa Barbara Speedster

Janine Licare
Rangefinder Magazine: 30 Rising Stars of 2019

In November of 2019, I was named one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars. I’ve been following this list since the beginning of my career and never expected to see my own name on it. It’s such an honor to cary this title along side so many incredible photographers in the wedding industry. Below is the gallery of the final 30 images I included in my submission:

Janine Licare
Intimate All-White Summer Wedding at Meadowood Napa Valley

This Meadowood Napa Valley wedding was an intimate 50 person celebration in the middle of Summer. The guests wore all-white, played croquet, and brunched under a canopy of vines at tables resembling Japanese mirror ponds.

The bride’s ceremony gown was designed by Oscar de la Renta and featured a stunning floral lace with 3D appliques - a perfect fit for an outdoor wedding. Her bouquet was made of nothing but stephanotis. Her bridal clutch featured white ostrich feathers which added to her classic, yet slightly edgy, look. Her second dress was a strapless sheath which she later accessorized with a wide-brimmed sun hat to keep her cool in the almost 100-degree heat.

The greenery ceremony hoop crated a minimalistic yet elevated design. At the base of each row of the wooden cross-back chairs was an arrangement of green hydrangeas. The three flower girls wore matching dresses with tulle layered skirts, and the ring bearers wore white suits with matching boater hats.

The reception space was a tunnel of greenery that was designed and built exclusively for this wedding. Underneath it, sat two long tables, that instead of having a solid surface, were each a pond of water, adorned with marble place settings and hydroponic centerpieces. The water was so smooth and glassy that it reflected the canopy overhead.

Come brunch time, the food was an event in itself and each course came with its own wine pairing. The first course was made of two parts: the Meadowood Garden, an edible garden in a glass, and Toro Tartare topped with caviar and gold leaf. The Toro Tartare was served over a glass fishbowl, inside each and every single one was a swimming Betta fish. The bride’s bowl was the only one that featured a white Betta. The fish were all later gifted to members of the staff to take home to their families. This course was paired with a 2015 Matthiasson Ribolla Gialla.

The next course was a three-part entrée. It was served on 5-foot wooden planks that each held entrées for four guests. Each guest was served King Salmon with béarnaise, Kobe Beef with edamame puree, and Maitake mushrooms with piquillo. This course was paired with a 2008 Promontory, Napa Valley. Cake and pastries were served with Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé.

Since it was almost 100 degrees that day, the bride ended the brunch and cooled off with her guests by running through the sprinklers on a lawn nearby.

Janine Licare
Melody & Michael | Winter Wedding in Paris

Featured on Carats & Cake.

Melody and Michael's winter wedding in Paris was the perfect New Years’ celebration for their guests. Their ceremony and reception were held at Hôtel Le Marois in the 8th Arrondissement, a few blocks from Pont Alexander III along the Seine. They both live in San Francisco, so this was a destination wedding for them and all their guests.

Melody started her day by getting ready at Hôtel Alfred Sommier in one of their suites. Harold James did her hair and makeup and created a sophisticated and elegant look that perfectly complemented her sleek Pronovias gown. Her cathedral veil had hand embroidered lace appliques and she paired her look with simple pearl studs and a classic tennis bracelet. Melody created and hand-calligraphed each and every invitation suite herself. Once her hair and makeup were done, we went to the venue so she could put on her dress in the Grand Red Salon, which featured red brocade-inspired designs from floor to ceiling and gold moldings throughout. Her Maid of Honor wore an ox-blood red velvet gown and helped her get dressed. This room was the perfect spot for Bridal Portraits. The grandiosity of the salon was the perfect contrast to the simplicity and elegance of her bridal look.

Melody and Michael did their First Look in the Bolivar Salon in front of an antique water-gilded, gold leaf framed mirror, with a crystal chandelier overhead. From here, we walked down the Grand Staircase to exit the building and go to Pont Alexandre III. We took portraits on the bridge and the Eiffel Tower was the perfect backdrop. Since it was winter and it was chilly outside, Melody paired her look with a white feathered stole. Michael wore a black velvet tuxedo.

Their ceremony took place on the Grand Staircase of Hôtel Le Marois, lit by candlelight. The altar was halfway up the staircase and her cathedral veil draped beautifully as she walked up the aisle. On their way to Paris, Michael's suitcase got lost, and their wedding rings were inside! With only days to find stand-in wedding bands, they opted for miniature handcuffs instead. When they put on their "rings", they handcuffed their fingers to each other and celebrated by raising them high above their heads with glasses of champagne.

The cocktail hour was in the grand lobby of the venue. They had an assortment of hors-de-oeuvres, including cubed salt pork topped with caramelized grapes and black and white polka-dot feathers. They also had a live pianist playing in the center of the room to set the mood. In lieu of official bridesmaids, Melody's closest friends chose their own gowns and all dressed in jewel tones.

Their reception took place in the Washington Salon. This room is the most lavish of them all at Hôtel Le Marois. This room was adorned with floor to ceiling gold moldings and a ceiling painted blue with scenes from the sky. In the center of the room was an oversized crystal chandelier. Instead of having typical centerpieces, Melody and Michael chose to have glass domes in the middle of each table, inside of each was a combination of delicate white florals and coral - reminiscent of their home by the sea back in California. Melody hand-calligraphed the table numbers and escort cards atop each table, which they placed within a glass and gold frame that was a perfect match to the gold moldings that decorated the room. Dinner was a 3-course meal that started with Poached Lobster Ravioli with Coconut Kaffir Lime Broth. The entrée was Truffle Roasted Beef Tournedos with Seared Foie Gras. The servers poured au jus for each guest. For dessert, each guest received their own "chocolate caviar box" with crème brûlée ice cream served on a 6x6 block of ice.

For their First Dance, they danced to Beyond by Leon Bridges, their favorite artist. On the day of their Civil Ceremony in San Francisco, they saw him perform live at a private show at The Battery.

Janine Licare
Art Nouveau Inspired Parisian Elopement | Paris, France

Featured on 100 Layer Cake.

At some point in time, any girl may dream of getting married in Paris. Nothing is more romantic than the idea of jetting off to France in the spring with your loved one, spontaneously getting lost in the winding streets, dining in eclectic cafes, and saying your vows in the City of Lights. Although these are all moments, they become memories that fuel a desire to return to Paris after having left. Hemingway said it best when he wrote: “Paris is a city, yes, but also an experience that one holds onto long after one’s Parisian visit has ended.”

The Art Nouveau movement was at the heart of the inspiration for the shoot. Considered a style of modern art and architecture, it’s best known for promoting art and design as a part of everyday life. Art Nouveau upholds that no object is too utilitarian to be beautiful. This is exemplified in Laure Lalliard’s floral designs and styling of the day. From the floral embellishments on the high-top bar stools and the mini-floral arrangements adorning each wine glass, to the highly elaborate mosaics covering the cafe walls from floor to ceiling, every detail was purposeful and embodied this stylistic ideal.

This elopement shoot took place at a Parisian cafe in the 1st Arrondissement called Poulette, known for its light and airy architecture and Art Nouveau signature aesthetic. The tile work served as a perfect starting point for the color inspiration for the shoot. All across the walls, you’ll see muted greens and yellows with pops of living coral and periwinkle. Laure embraced these colors when designing the tablescape and selecting the florals for the day. She used sweet peas, hellebores, clematis, several varieties of ranunculuses (including cappuccino - very appropriate for a cafe elopement), anemones, sweet violet, Iceland poppies, and eucalyptus.

The highly-embellished custom invitation suite from Atelier Prezburger added a touch of sophistication with the beautiful hand-drawn monograms in a shade of teal that perfectly complimented the groom’s suit jacket. The handwritten love letter was a romantic addition to the suite.

Instead of opting for your typical bouquet, Laure wanted to create something unique that would match the personality and aesthetic of this fashion-forward bride. She designed an arrangement more closely resembling a high-fashion couture handbag than a bouquet, with a gold hoop handle and asymmetrical composition for a modern touch. She also perfectly framed one of the mosaics with hanging floral arrangements made of eucalyptus and a variety of these fresh blooms. She took an asymmetric approach to this design as well and chose florals that would blend seamlessly into the tile, making it appear as though it was part of the mosaic.

The table places were set with chargers that complemented the sweet violets and eucalyptus, coral napkins that matched the mosaic, gold cutlery, and charcoal blue ceramic plates, all set along the high-top bar of the cafe. This setup up feels most authentic to the Art Noveau inspiration and what a real Parisian elopement would look like: minimalistic but inspired and purposeful.

The bride’s edgy and eclectic style is exemplified in the two dresses she wore. The first, a Viktor and Rolf gown with a dramatic, over-sized bow on the back. The second, a stunning Sylwia Kopczynska two-piece ensemble, feature a lace long sleeve top with matching lace bottom and an overskirt with layers upon layers of tulle. This outfit took a more playful approach to couture for this fashion-forward bride. As for jewelry, she wore long gold-treaded earrings with multi-colored stones. Instead of opting for a single ring, she wore five stackables - each ring slightly different from the next. The Mrs. Box provided five velvet ring boxes, one for each ring. Her glamorous white stilettos had a modern feel with the lace-up front and satin body. The illusion lace added a romantic touch. Matching her edge, the groom wore a teal suit jacket with a monochromatic tie, shirt, pocket square, and pants.

For the portraits, we started in the cafe, which embodies the side of Paris that is more spontaneous than the typical Parisian romance.  We then explored the winding streets of the 2nd Arrondissement, keeping true to the authentic Parisian ideals that inspired the shoot.

Janine Licare
Payal & Vince | Wedding at the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Featured on Martha Stewart Weddings.

Payal and Vince's wedding took place over 3 days in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico over Thanksgiving weekend. When it came to planning their wedding, they were set on putting their own spin on tradition and opted for a fusion of cultures and blending of traditions, integrating their Indian Heritage and American lifestyle with Mexican wedding customs. 

On their wedding day, they wore two separate custom outfits. Instead of wearing the traditional red to her ceremony, Payal chose to wear green in a custom lehenga by Sabya Sachi, designed and made in India. Her veil had large red roses that perfectly complimented the green. Vince wore a hand-printed sherwani with custom made gold shoes and a necklace adorned with hundreds of pearls. 

The wedding venue, Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, naturally grows Pampas grass all around the property, so it was also used to decorate the ceremony and reception space. As with a typical Indian wedding day, the events were split up between morning and night. Their ceremony took place at 10:00am. Leading up to it was the Baarat, where Vince traveled to the ceremony site on a white horse. Guests danced to the beat of the Dhol (drum) and were led from the Baarat to their seats by the Dhol performer.

At the ceremony, the Mandap was decorated with bright roses, orange mums, pampas grass, and Mexican tin stars. The bridesmaids (and bridesman!) wore shades of mauve that were a perfect compliment to the warm tones of the hotel. The deeper tones perfectly matched the mauve roses in Payal's bouquet. 

During the cocktail hour, guests were offered a choice between 4 types of Tequila at the Tequila Shot bar. Guests mingled on the patio in front of the tent, sporting their own outfit changes. The cocktail hour had a lounge area for seating and Mexican inspired hors d'oeuvres, such as mini tacos to go with the tequila. 

For the reception, Vince and Payal changed into their second outfit. He wore a velvet tuxedo and she wore a beautiful red outfit with detailed beading throughout. Hundreds of Mexican tin stars were hung from the 40-foot tent which gave the reception an elevated yet whimsical feel. The centerpiece of the reception was a fountain made of hundreds of roses and pampas grass. Each guests' plate featured a custom hand-painted tile with their name on it. Off in the distance, the guests had a perfect view of the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel. 
Payal and Vince entered their reception with fireworks - a special touch that set the tone for the fun events ahead. Throughout the evening, they sat on a throne surrounded by arrangements of roses that appeared to be bursting with pampas grass (a nod to the fireworks during their Grand Entrance). From here on out, they enjoyed performances by many guests, including younger cousins and other family members. Their first dance was a medley of the Narcos theme song and Nat King Cole's "Love". They took 7 dances lessons and performed it perfectly.

Janine Licare