Rava Wines 2020

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​“Shaping Up” with an Elegant, Shape-Inspired Mini Wedding!

With the widespread impact of COVID-19, we wanted to share some hope, and remind couples that they can still plan a spectacular day with all the details they originally envisioned, even if it is on a smaller scale. So many couples are facing financial hardship during this difficult time, and the bright side of a more intimate wedding is that they can elevate the extravagance factor without stretching their budget! With fewer seats, tables, place settings, floral arrangements, meals, drinks, and favors, they can allow more space for their loved ones, and the elements that are most important to them. This elegant, shape-inspired mini wedding portrayed exactly how couples can pivot their pandemic-affected weddings to still reflect all the love and style of their dreams!

Just as countless small businesses in our wedding industry are shifting their models and collaborating to support each other during this difficult time, we are fascinated by how different shapes can work together to create something beautiful. This concept sparked our creativity, and we chose to emphasize different shapes throughout every aspect of our design. We kept the color palette neutral with white and beige, in order to highlight the pale pink elements of our design, while holding true to a soft, dreamy vibe. Our Design & Planning perfectionists at Elyse Events, with the collective efforts of our talented team of vendors on the Central Coast of California, curated and executed this vision beautifully.

The Central Coast of California has become a prime wedding destination for couples seeking a slice of paradise. San Luis Obispo county is appreciated for its variety of scenic settings, and has been consistently ranked over the years as one of the happiest places in the United States. It’s no wonder couples come from near and far to be married here! Within SLO County lies the renowned wine country of Paso Robles, and at the heart is Rava Wines, where this stunning celebration took place. Rava Wines is the perfect retreat for couples seeking a modern and romantic wedding venue, complete with a crystal clear lake with duel water features, an olive grove, spacious green lawns enclosed in stone pavers, an expansive white ballroom, and an old-world courtyard with European-inspired architecture. The Villa at Rava Wines provides luxury accommodations with a private three-bedroom, two-bath home, which overlooks endless miles of lush vineyards and ancient oaks on their 505-acre estate. With all-encompassing amenities, Rava Wines is the perfect location to create beautiful memories with family and friends, and it was the perfect location for our mini wedding!

We had a blushing bride with glamourous, pink-toned makeup by Jessica Blanco at Central Coast Beauties, and a fabulous up-do cascading down into a sideswept braid by Sarah Carlson at Gemini Hair Salon. Our bride wore the showstopping Darby ballgown from the Studio E Designs collection at Epiphany Boutique in San Luis Obispo, showcasing a deep V sweetheart neckline and intricate lace appliques, consistent with our theme of shapes. Her gown was complimented beautifully by embellished, handmade, pointed-toe heels by Bella Belle. Dazzling jewelry by Serengeti West Fine Jewelers tied in her look, featuring a dramatic diamond-shaped wedding ring, kept secure in velvet ring boxes by The Mrs. Box. Our groom wore a sleek tuxedo from Patrick James in San Luis Obispo, complete with a clean white jacket, black bowtie, and sharp black accents.

Fete & Quill incorporated various shapes into a modern invitation suite, welcoming close friends and family to the intimate ceremony on the terraced lake lawn. Guests took their seats in diagonal rows of staggered white wire chairs from All About Events, which comprised of rectangles and created symmetrical triangles on either side of the aisle. Our picture-perfect ceremony was complete with extravagant blooms and parallelogram pillars, constructed by our incredibly talented Florist, Ricardo at Elegant Details Floral & Event Design. The glistening lake and whimsical trees set the perfect backdrop for our happy couple to say “I do.”

After the ceremony, our guests gravitated towards the delicious charcuterie display in the courtyard, hand-crafted by Jill at Farm & Harvest. Not only were her ingredients locally sourced, but she also conceived the idea of a COVID-friendly display. Guests were able to take their own individual charcuterie-filled plates, in an effort to keep the everyone as safe as possible. We were blown away by Farm & Harvest’s display of California cheeses, cured meats, fresh seasonal fruit, dried fruits, nuts, and crackers. Guests found their seats at the escort display with Himalayan salt-filled hexagon jar favors, finished with guests’ names on white acrylic circles. Matching the name tags were the white escort display signage with gold decal, all provided by our artistic Calligrapher, Fete & Quill. The staggered white shelving and decorative rugs were provided by Avenue Twelve, the impressive specialty rental company who also furnished our dreamy lounge space and supplied various white dining tables with geometric bases. These pieces were all made complete with lavish florals consisting of neutral tones, large blooms, extravagant orchids, and painted pale pink palms. These arrangements elevated our design that much further and tied in the details of our modern place settings on the long, elegant dining tables. Our tablescapes were made up of lace chargers, stoneware, and glassware from All About Events, pink and gold flatware from borrowed BLU, hand-dyed gauze runners from Snassy Crafter, pale pink velvet napkins from BBJ Linen, and parallelogram-shaped menus by Fete & Quill. Our long dining table was framed by tall, white pillars with cascading florals, reflecting those of our ceremony. After some warm-hearted toasts, the newlyweds continued their soiree with a custom, diagonally spiraled, 3-tiered cake by Autumn Cake Design. And who could forget the staggering champagne tower, featuring a Sparkling Grenache Rose, by none other than Rava Wines?! The intimate outdoor dining experience, amidst the European-inspired stone structures in the courtyard, was everything we could have envisioned and more.

This special day was captured beautifully by our amazing Photographer, Kelley at Kelley Williams Photography, and by our wonderful Cinematographer, Chelsea at Stories Told By Film. We are so grateful to them for lasting memories of the shape-inspired mini wedding of our dreams!

Design, Planning, & Coordination: Elyse Events
Photography: Kelley Williams Photography
Venue: Rava Wines
Florals: Elegant Details Floral & Event Design
Charcuterie Display: Farm & Harvest
Cake: Autumn Cake Design
Calligraphy & Signage: Fete & Quill
Rentals: All About Events
Specialty Rentals: Avenue Twelve
Flatware: borrowed BLU
Linen Napkins: BBJ Linen
Table Runners: SnassyCrafter
Cinema: Stories Told by Film
Makeup: Central Coast Beauties
Hair Styling: Sarah at Gemini Hair Salon
Bridal Gown: Epiphany Boutique SLO
Bridal Shoes: Bella Belle Shoes
Tuxedo: Patrick James
Jewelry: Serengeti West Fine Jewelers
Ring Boxes: The Mrs. Box
Bride & Groom: Carli Dugan & DeAngelo Dean