A Romantic Outdoor Wedding at Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa, California

Kaitlyn Van Elslander and Josh Ridener’s love for food and the scenery brought them to Napa Valley for a romantic outdoor wedding. “We knew that we wanted to have a whimsical yet moody design,” Kaitlyn says. “We both have pretty similar tastes, with Josh's being a bit more modern and mine a bit more traditional, so we created a cohesive blend of the two.” The ceremony took place under a large pergola, which provided picturesque valley views. As guests transitioned to the reception, they found a display of quilts in honor of Kaitlyn’s late grandmother. “She was a master quilter," Kaitlyn says. "We included them so that guests could use them to keep warm once the sun went down." The tented reception was decorated in deep burgundy shades as a nod to the wine country setting, and soft white chiffon created a romantic feeling, while pops of marble china and black glassware elevated the dining experience. As a late night snack, guests ate Chicago-style and Detroit-style hot dogs as shout-outs to the couple’s home states. 

Our favorite #MakeTradition moment: The couple had a very small, intimate Catholic church ceremony with their parents the day before the larger wedding in order for the marriage to be recognized by the church.