1. Real Weddings

Raquel & Brian: A Weekend Wedding in Angwin, CA

Raquel and Brian's weekend wedding was a stately affair -- but that didn't keep the bride and groom from letting loose and partying, both before and a

Raquel and Brian's weekend wedding was a stately affair -- but that didn't keep the bride and groom from letting loose and partying, both before and after the wedding. THE BRIDE Raquel Pilar Rubin, president of an executive search firm THE GROOM Brian de Lemos, software executive THE DATE August 31 Raquel Pilar Rubin had taken the day off and was lounging on the couch watching television when the telephone rang. It was her boyfriend, Brian de Lemos. He had borrowed Raquel's car for work that day and was calling to report that the vehicle had overheated, stranding him on Vista Point overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Vista Point is not a bad place to be stranded but it was pouring rain, so Raquel raced over to rescue Brain. She found him standing by the car, holding...a sheet. It turns that Brian had brought the sheet to spread on the ground so that he could get down on one knee without ruining his suit when -- much to Raquel's happy surprise -- he proposed to her.

Raquel wore a strapless satin A-line gown with a pale blue sash by Amsale. Her bridesmaid wore glacier blue peau de soie satin two-piece ensembles by WTOO.
Raquel and Brian gave their guests jars of cabernet sauvignon jelly with labels designed by themselves and hand-tied with a glacier blue ribbon.
The Centerpieces
The early-evening wedding ceremony began when the groom and the rabbi stepped beneath the huppah. A disc jockey played a special mix of Van Morrison's Tupelo Honey for the procession. The ceremony was sweet and simple, and ended with Brian breaking a glass with his heel.
The Escort Cards
The ceremony and reception were held at Sylvan Lake Estates, a private, Tudor-style estate in the Napa Valley. The layout reminded us of the movie Sabrina, when Audrey Hepburn is dancing under the stars with Humphrey Bogart, says Raquel.
The celebration that followed was full of dancing and toasting to the newlyweds. After the party, Raquel and Brian spent the night in their cottage at the Estate, but the festivities were not over: The next day, Raquel's mom and dad were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and the wedding party and guests got together one last time for a celebratory brunch.