Real Weddings: Ashley & Adam

Ashley and Adam’s love story began like many a modern one: the pair met using the dating app Hinge while both were living in Boston. They are each other’s perfect balance – their personalities and skills complement one another, they found as they continued dating. Something fun the two have bonded over is golf, which Adam, who is a financial advisor, taught Ashley, a manager of diversity, inclusion and belonging at HubSpot, how to play. So to bring everything full circle, Adam planned to propose to Ashley on the first hole at their golf course. There was much persuading to get Ashley onto the greens however. It had been raining all day, so Ashley wasn’t exactly up for golfing when Adam chose to propose. He convinced her the sun would appear once he had gotten off work and that they should go hit a few. Luckily for Adam, the sun did come out at just the right time, so Ashley had to go along with his plan. First, Adam sent a ball soaring down the fairway on the first hole. Ashley was teeing up her ball for her second try at a swing, not noticing Adam was already crouching behind her, on one knee with a ring. Because she was still clueless, Adam advised her to keep her head down, which allowed her to then realize he was ready to propose. She said yes and noticed friends cheering back at the clubhouse. Champagne was quickly swapped for clubs. For their nuptials, Ashley relied on the expertise of her friend, event planner and owner of Pinch Me Planning. The couple wed under the picturesque shade of a California oak tree at a farm and winery, where Ashley’s mother walked her down the aisle. Being that she is an only child and that “my mom raised me and gave me everything she never had,” Ashley said, “this moment was just as much hers as it was mine.” Another sentimental touch: Ashley’s life-long family friend and minister, Joan, officiated. After the outdoor ceremony, a farm-to-table cocktail party and reception took place, where guests dined at one long table, reminiscent of an intimate family affair. The magic of their wedding culminated in drinks and toasts, laughs and dancing into the moonlit night. 

Wedding Details

LOCATION:  Sonoma, CA

TIME OF YEAR:  Fall

WEDDING STYLE: elegant, radiant, cheerful

CEREMONY & RECEPTION: Beltane Ranch

MENU: The reception began with a cocktail hour that featured a large grazing station of charcuterie, an assortment of cheese and ranch-grown jams, honey, and pickles. Then the first course consisted of greens. There was Beltane Ranch’s signature heirloom tomato salad with feta cheese, and a strawberry salad garnished with mint and arugula. This course was followed by a choice of three options for the guest’s main entrée: smoked paprika and coffee-rubbed wood-grilled beefsteak cowboy chop with a Zinfandel reduction, lemon and herb-roasted chicken breast served with sweet marjoram, or a vegetarian option of baked zucchini layered with herbed ricotta and ranch tomato ragout. All entrées were served with garlic and sweet onion-roasted gold potato, roasted mushrooms with garlic and herb butter, and Beltane Ranch garden fresh green beans. 

DESSERT: We aren’t huge cake people so we decided instead to do a pie bar, which consisted of ranch blueberry, sweet potato, butternut squash, and banana cream pies, as well as apple-pear crisp and peach cobbler.

FIRST DANCE SONG:  “The Man in Me” by Bob Dylan

INSPIRATION: The bride and her planner worked to create an atmosphere that was cheerful and bright, yet causally elegant, earthy and a bit whimsical

SPECIAL FEATURES: one long Tuscan-style table seating set-up where all 55 of the couple’s guests could sit together for a farm-to-table dinner; a pie bar featuring crumbles, crisps, berries, vanilla bean ice creams and other toppings; favors were shawls and customized drink koozies; instead of traditional place cards, Ashley and Adam placed wine rings with the guest’s names on them at each place setting, and they also had guests’ names printed on wine glasses so they could find their seats; guests were welcomed to the ceremony with drinks located in the flatbed of an Old Yeller vintage truck parked in front; 

HONEYMOON: postponed due to the Covid pandemic

COLORS:

Vendors

• Photographer: Natalya DeSena Photography
• Florist: Venn Floral
• Wedding Planning Services: Pinch Me Planning
• Ceremony & Reception Venue: Beltane Ranch
• Officiant: Joan Priest
• Caterer & Desserts: Beltane Ranch
• Lighting & Rentals: Encore Event Rentals
• Transportation: Sonoma Sterling Limousines
• Music: Heart of Gold DJs
• Print Materials: Louise York for Paper Trousseau
• Makeup & Hair Stylist: Hair and Makeup by Elyse
• Bridal Gown: Suzanne Neville at A Little Something White
• Bridal Earrings: Jennifer Behr
• Bridal Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
• Maid of Honor Gown: Zimmermann
• Groom: Tommy Hilfiger
• Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan