An Intimate Italian Inspired Wine Country Estate Wedding
When Ellen Yin approached us with interest in being her planners back in 2022, we knew from the start that her event was going to be one of class, personality, and flare. From Ellen’s online presence, both through her personal channels and her thriving business Cubicle To CEO, it is easy to see what she’s all about - celebrating + supporting others and having fun while doing it. Well, it was with that energy that she + Dustin’s wedding weekend kicked off at the stunning Italian chateau-inspired, Del Mar Villa, nestled in the rolling hills of Willamette Valley wine country.
Getting Ready In Style
Ellen + Dustin rented the villa for the entire weekend so there was no rush when it came to wedding morning. They had their closest friends and family stay on the property with them as well so it was a celebration from the moment the alarm went off in the morning! From breakfast to hair and make up with Hair By Olgs & Allelu Beauty, it was all smiles all morning (just how we like it!). One of our favorite shots from the day actually lies in this section of photos - the moment of Ellen’s sisters perfecting every detail before the first look. The emotions of this precious memory were perfectly captured by Zhanna Schvets.
While the entire wedding party was enjoying their morning in the villa, our team was hard at work outside preparing for the celebration to come. This is the perfect moment to mention why you should invest and trust in your wedding planner. By doing so, you allow yourself & all of your favorite people to enjoy the momentous morning of your dreams without a thought as to how many salad plates there are or how to move tables across a lawn or how to… well, you get the idea.
A Cozy Ceremony
As guests began to arrive, they made their way from the Villa to the back lawn. Across the green expanse was a perfectly intimate ceremony awaiting. Guests were greeted with stunning views overlooking the Willamette River in this tucked away garden overlook. Ellen & Dustin wanted only their closest people to join them in their celebration so the ceremony felt closer to an exciting family gathering than anything else. The ground meadow florals by Patricia Danilson Designs served as the perfect compliment to the grand panorama surrounding the moment. And just like that, the two walked back to the villa, gleefully taking on the title of husband and wife.
Scenes Around the Villa
As you take a look around Del Mar Villa, there are a dozen picture perfect spots to take in. It was important to the couple (and to us) that we incorporated as many as we could into this wedding day. We start with the grand piano under the staircase moment between our bride & groom. Ellen was classically trained in piano and fully took advantage of the few minutes she had before saying “I do” to serenade her soon-to-be husband. Then, we turn to the grapevine covered pergola for cocktail hour on the far side of the property. Guests enjoyed the short walk to the new space where hand-crafted cocktails from Amaro PDX and live music from John Ross Music were waiting for them. During the reception, the newlyweds couldn’t stop themselves from sharing a kiss on this epic balcony overlooking all of their favorite people.
Did we mention the rose garden yet? Ellen + Dustin strolled through a romantic garden of roses during cocktail hour to take a moment to reflect. Whether they were dancing to the beat of their own music on the lawn or walking through the hazelnut groves surrounding the villa, these two knew how to enjoy every square inch of this day together.
A Cozy Game Night Style Welcome
As the celebration moved from cocktail hour under the pergola to dinner on the lawn, guests were met with a living room-style escort wall. This wall was custom made by our team featuring handmade Monopoly cards, each with guests’ name & assigned table. But, here’s the catch - rather than opting for the traditional 1,2, 3 table numbering system, each table name was inspired by favorite travel spots of the happy couple. Among these were Paris, Dublin, Athens, & London - what fun memories these two have already created all around the world! At the start of this project, we knew we wanted to find a way to incorporate those memories in a fresh & unique way while also nodding to their love for at-home game nights with friends - thus, the custom monopoly cards were born.
Family Dinner On The Lawn
Moving to the main course, guests found their seats amongst a bright and inviting tablescape set & designed by our team. There were several elements to this dinner that were intentionally chosen to incorporate the feeling of a cozy family gathering while also creating an elevated experience for guests to remember. Two rows of white lacquer banquet tables from Lily & Cane spread across the shaded corner of the lawn, inviting guests to join in on the feast. This was not an every day wedding meal in which guests were about to partake. Our couple worked with Chef Zack of Adventure Catering to create a menu from around the world that portrayed their love for diverse cultures & palettes. The meal was family style which meant the spread was laid in front of guests to try all of the unique & detectible flavors from the kitchen of Chef Zack.
Every piece of this tablescape from Arden Event Rentals was chosen to represent the couples’ lively, yet classy personality. In fact, it still remains one of our favorite place setting stylings to date. But, not only was there intention down to the napkin fold, but the table’s very location on the villa’s open lawn was purposefully placed as well. Our team calculated the location of the sun come dinner time & chose this exact spot for guests to be comfortably shaded by the nearby oak tree as they enjoyed their meal. These are the kind of details that our team thrives in bringing to life.
From Escort Wall to Living Room Shelves…
As day turned dusk, the monopoly filled shelves of this custom build were transformed to mimic those of a living room photo gallery. Ellen & Dustin toasted to forever with some of their favorite memories together as a backdrop to the bright future ahead of them. Guests were also able to take a much needed breather from the dance floor in this comfortable lounge space as the night went on. Creating stunning details that can serve a dual purpose of both lounge & photo op is what we are all about!
A Night To Remember
It’s might be hard to believe, but even after all of those highlights there are still key details about this event that have yet to be mentioned. After a quick dress change, this bride planned a flash mob dance routine with her girls to kick off the party in style. Talk about a memorable moment! If there is one thing we know for certain, it’s that this day was planned with guest’s experience in mind and it showed. Ellen laughed the night away with her best girls. Guests left laughter-filled voicemails on the After The Tone guestbook. Sugar Cloud Cart made an appearance to supply guests with some cotton candy dancing fuel to keep the party going all night. Ellen & Dustin’s pup was present for all of the festivities which always makes for a guest favorite and a conversation starter. The first dance was magical, Taylor Swift made lots of appearances on DJ Andrew’s playlist (upon the bride’s request), and guests danced the night away in pure wedding bliss.
This event & this couple made for a perfect reminder of why we started this business - to help people in love take the next, actually the biggest, step in their journey together and to make sure they do it with a genuine smile on their face. We wish everyone could experience this perfect night at the villa because if you did, you would understand why we are not just in the business of weddings, but of creating unforgettable experiences that last a lifetime.
Vendors
Planner & Designer: Have & Hold Events // Photography: Zhanna Schvets // Venue: Del Mar Villa // Catering: Adventure Catering // Cocktail Hour Catering: Chubby Bao House // DJ : DJ Andrew with John Ross Music // Bartender: Amaro PDX // Videography: Corvallis Video // Cotton Candy Cart: Sugar Cloud Cart // Florals: Patricia Danilson Designs // Rentals: Arden Event Rentals, Lily & Cane, & Danner & Soli // Guestbook: After The Tone // Hair: Hair By Olgs // Makeup: Allelu Beauty