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Amador Cellars Wedding in California

Amador Cellars Wedding in California

By TBC on February 7, 2020

We’re so excited to share Emily’s stunning Amador Cellars wedding! Keep reading to learn more about her love story, her wedding planning process, advice for brides and some gorgeous photos.

Where it all began

Emily and Matt’s love story is the ultimate modern-day romance. It all started on Hinge, an online dating app. After a few weeks of talking, the two decided it was time to meet in person for a date. Unfortunately, Matt’s nerves got the best of him. As a result, the date wasn’t everything Emily hoped it would be. Luckily, it didn’t end that way. As she was getting into her Uber, Matt grabbed her and kissed her! They both knew there would be more to their story. A few weeks later during their second date, sparks were flying. It was the beginning of what would be the rest of their lives together!

During the weeks that followed, Matt and Emily introduced one another to their parents. Then, they planned a romantic first trip together. The destination? The Amador County wine region in California (the place they ended up getting married!). While they were on this trip, it became clear they were meant for one another. They knew they would spend forever together. Now it was a matter of waiting for the proposal.

After Matt heard how Emily’s dad proposed to her mom (in a baked potato), Matt decided he wanted to pay homage and propose with a potato. He insisted she would never see it coming. For months, he planned elaborate scavenger hunts, potato-grams, and various potato-themed gifts to throw her off.

How he asked

When Emily’s birthday came around, Matt suggested a trip to New York City. He once lived there, and she’d always dreamed of visiting. Matt succeeded at making Emily think this trip was solely for her birthday – not a proposal. On the second day of their trip, the plan was to visit a special coffee shop. However, they missed the alarm and overslept! Since they were in such a rush, Emily didn’t even notice how nervous Matt was.

When they arrived at a coffee cart in Greenacre Park Manhattan, there wasn’t a soul around. Although Emily was confused, she just went along with it. They walked down to a waterfall. Next, Matt pulled out a french fry from last night’s dinner and asked her to hold it. Then, he got down on one knee while professing his love and devotion to Emily. Placing the french fry through the ring, he asked her to marry him. Of course, she said YES! Time to start planning their wedding which would be eleven months later!

Wedding dress shopping in Denver

Shopping for a wedding dress was one of Emily’s favorite parts of wedding planning. When she looked at bridal shops in Denver, she made sure to be selective about her entourage. She brought her mom, future mother-in-law and sister-in-law. It was important that her group would be supportive and appreciate the experience (we’re with her on this one!) During the initial stages of wedding planning, Emily had heard great things about The Bridal Collection. She even found a Justin Alexander wedding dress that she was obsessed with! However, months passed before her family was able to join her.

Finally, it was time to say yes to the dress! Emily and her crew visited five Denver bridal shops and found a handful of dresses she liked. “[H]owever, NONE compared to the selection and customer service at The Bridal Collection. Jenny was my consultant and she really listened to me and helped me pick several options as well as re-trying on the favorite Justin Alexander. My gut was not wrong and none of the dresses compared when put on the Justin Alexander dress. It embodied exactly what I wanted to look and feel like on my wedding day.” – Emily

Amador Cellars wedding

As with all weddings, the planning process had its ups and downs. Overall, however, Emily had an incredible experience. Because she has planned weddings professionally for over 11 years, she was beyond ready to plan her own! She and Matt had a pretty cohesive overall vision for a classy, beautiful and reverent ceremony. They wanted to follow it with a fun, laid back reception filled with the ones they love most. Without a doubt, they wanted to get married in the Amador wine region, where they had their first trip together.

Matt gave Emily the reins for most of the design decisions but was very involved in the others. When they planned the reception, they wanted it to represent them as a couple and their favorite things. As a result, they had pizza, wine, and a killer dance party! As they chose vendors, they were careful to pick businesses that matched their overall aesthetic and vibe. Emily spent hours browsing Pinterest, Amazon, and Etsy choosing all of the details. Of course, they had to incorporate potatoes! Their escort card holders were potatoes and Matt wore french fry cufflinks (a gift from Emily). When the day finally arrived, it was perfect. Everything came together and the bride and groom had an incredible time with their guests!

Advice for future brides

“Remember to make this day reflective of you and your soon to be spouse. Don’t let anyone pressure you into doing anything that you may regret later. Just enjoy the process as this is (hopefully) the only time of your life where you get to do this so have fun! Also, do a private vow reading and first look with your dad as well as your spouse, it is incredible.” – Emily