We will be celebrating our five year anniversary this August, so what better time to finally put together our vineyard wedding recap! There were so many elements that went into making our wedding an amazing day.

We planned every detail ahead of time. While our wedding venue was in Ohio, we were living in California, which meant a lot of planning had to be done from afar. Luckily, one of my bridesmaids is a WEDDING PLANNER and she totally stepped up in the weeks leading up to it. If you live in the California area, you should check her out at SMASH Weddings & Events.

Even though there were a LOT of things that went into making the day special, these are the things that I believe gave us the “vineyard wedding” vibe - keeping things the right amount of casual yet timeless.

And I’ve linked all the sources at the end of this post - happy planning!

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THE VENUE

My husband and I grew up and met in Cleveland, Ohio. But at the time of our engagement, we lived in Southern California and needless to say, we became huge wine lovers. When we started thinking about what we wanted our wedding to look and feel like - a vineyard just felt right. But for the majority of our family and friends to attend, we knew we had to choose somewhere in Ohio….enter: Gervasi Vineyard.

Guys, this venue has it all. From the moment we set foot on grounds, we knew we had to get married there. I had to keep reminding myself that we weren’t back in Cali. Nope, this place exists in Ohio - and it’s fabulous. After we set our date, we were assigned a wedding planner from Gervasi - Kendyll. I must say, this was such an added perk. I always felt confident things at the venue would go smoothly because we had Kendyll! She handled every request, from using wine barrels as cocktail tables, to serving “family style” salads at dinner, she found a way to make it all work.

Lesson learned: start asking about dates as soon as you think you like a venue. The good ones tend to book up quickly, as was the case with Gervasi. Our only date options for that summer/fall were August 8th (the day after my birthday!) and Halloween - you can guess what we chose!

THE ACCOMMODATIONS

Once we chose our venue and date, the hardest part was finding accommodations for all of our guests. Our wedding date (August 8) happened to be the busiest weekend in Canton that summer. We knew we would have a lot of out of town guests and hotels were booking up fast. We got creative, notified our guests to book hotels early, and utilized our venue’s on-site villas. We made it work, but it was the hardest part to figure out.

Lesson learned: book your hotel accommodations as soon as you book the venue. That way, you know you have rooms available for guests and you aren’t scrambling last minute.

THE BRIDE

When it came to the dress, I knew I wanted something simple. I went with the Nicole Miller Jamie gown. The dress had some “eyelash” lace elements around the bust and back, which made it feel delicate. The dress was also not very heavy – which was important for me getting married outside in the middle of August. I wanted to stay cool!

I kept accessories minimal. I didn’t use a veil, but my florist made a beautiful hair-piece out of greenery. I truly loved it and didn’t get to see it until the day. She made my bridal look unique and memorable! I hadn’t expected to like it so much and I ended up completely changing my hair style to highlight the hair piece.

Lesson learned: I never had my “bridal moment” while wedding dress shopping. I knew what I wanted and this dress fit the bill. I liked how I looked in it, but I never cried or anything. Don’t be concerned if you don’t have an emotional reaction to the dress. At the end of the day, (and when your hair and make up is done) you’ll look great in anything as long as it reflects your style!

THE BRIDESMAIDS

I wanted the girls to pick out their own dresses. The only guidance was it could be blush or nude palette and floor length. I loved how they ended up choosing a mixture of beaded materials and other fabrics, different necklines, and a variety of shades. I really thought the whole look came together great! The girls also got inspired by the venue and most of them had “boho” hair styles. It really helped keep the wedding feeling relaxed, yet special.

Lesson learned: Since the girls were able to choose their own dresses, they ultimately got something in their price-range. The dresses ranged from $350 to $60!

GROOM / GROOMSMEN

For the Groom and Groomsmen look, we loved the navy blue suits. It felt very Italian vineyard. We were careful not to get a midnight blue suit – that really dark color felt too formal for the venue (and might have been hot in the sun!). We paired the navy suits with light brown leather accessories, white button ups, and light grey slim ties. I loved how the look came together. I thought the bridal party looked cohesive, yet not too matchy, and it took minimal effort!

Lesson learned: The guys ended up purchasing their suits, so they were able to tailor the suits to fit their variety of body types. I would encourage all grooms to gauge their groomsmen’s interest (and budget) on buying vs. renting. We found that the guys were quick to buy, knowing the suit would last them a long time.

FLOWER GIRLS / RING BEARERS

For the Flower Girls, we decided on cream dresses that were a mix of boho (the top was crochet) and fancy (the bottom was made of tulle). The mix was perfect for the venue. We actually went shopping with both of our families and both flower girls in tow one evening. We had a mini fashion show as we picked out dresses and had both girls try them on at the same time. It was adorable! The girls ultimately chose the dresses – they really wanted to look like princesses, so tulle was necessary. On the day, the dresses were light-weight, easy to move in and comfortable. We paired the dresses with flower crowns and gold gladiator-style sandals. The girls had a blast carrying huge balloons down the aisle at the ceremony!

Lesson learned: Give the little ones a “task” that’s not too difficult and they will feel important, but not overwhelmed. Carrying a balloon down the aisle was perfectly age-appropriate for our girls!

For the ring bearers, the boys wore their own navy blue pants/shorts and paired it with a white button up. Grey suspenders and straw hats completed their looks. We had our eldest nephew pull the 10-month-old down the aisle in a wagon. We thought he may wiggle out, but he stayed put and loved the attention! The outfits were super easy for the kids, but still went with our overall Groomsman look.

THE FLOWERS

I wanted to keep the flowers very simple, with lots of greenery. I don’t really care for roses, which you see a lot of in traditional bridal bouquets. My florist was amazing in helping me come up with my own look for the bouquets. We ended up going with a mixture of greens (seeded eucalyptus was a common theme in our wedding), anemones (I loved the white with pops of navy blue to echo the groomsmen’s suits), and white ranunculus (which I thought looked boho!). To keep it earthy, the florist also added some lavender and rosemary sprigs (rosemary sprigs were incorporated to the design on our wedding invitations!) - I loved the bouquets! The Bridesmaids’ bouquets were the same as mine, but smaller. For the boutonnieres, we just did prigs of rosemary and lavender, wrapped with twine. Super simple but elegant.

Lesson learned: simple can sometimes be best! You don’t need to spend a ton of money on florals.

THE TIMELINE

We really wanted to adjust the structure of the day and formality from the traditional wedding timeline. We wanted the day to feel comfortable and fun, not too stuffy. We never felt the need to do something “just because”. Some examples: we didn’t do a bouquet toss or garter toss. We didn’t have a cake, so we skipped the traditional cake-cutting. We also never enjoyed line-dance songs (cupid shuffle, etc), so our DJ didn’t play any. Those little changes made the day feel like something we created. It also helped to add back some time into the already jam-packed wedding day schedule.

Lesson learned: Don’t feel pressure to follow any traditions too closely. It gives you a lot more freedom to create and design the day around YOUR personalities.

CEREMONY DECOR

We had the ceremony at the Tree Grove. Large oak trees served as a backdrop for the ceremony. We had our friend officiate the wedding. We wanted the ceremony to be intimate and short and sweet. We put a white doorway at the end of the aisle and draped it with some greenery – it served as our “archway”. We didn’t decorate the ceremony with any other flowers. Our program was displayed on window panes, in lieu of paper programs. The flower girls carried big blush balloons down the aisle, with streamers attached. The ring bearers came down the aisle in a wagon, wearing straw hats. That was the extent of the décor! It was super simple, but that helped the focus stay on our bridal party and on us!

Lesson learned: we saved money on paper ceremony programs by instead using a glass window pane and a calligrapher to write out “who’s who” of the bridal party and the ceremony schedule.

RECEPTION DECOR

The reception décor kept with the neutral theme, too! The reception took place in the Pavilion – a beautiful permanent structure on site, with stone and wood accents. Since the reception was open to the elements, I was careful not to choose anything that would blow away or topple over if it was windy. We went with greenery garlands and votive candles down the long tables. The venue lighting was kept dim. A family friend painted white numbers on green wine bottles that served as our table numbers. The seating chart was also made of window panes with white calligraphy.

One element I was able to save money on was the “farm table” look. I really wanted to use long, reclaimed wood farm tables at the reception but the cost was getting to be expensive. I found a way to compromise – we used long tables covered in white linens. I was then able to bring in wooden bistro chairs for reception seating. In the end, I had the long tables with wood “look” without the expensive price tag. We chose to sit the bridal party with their dates and we sat with our family. This simple change helped every couple enjoy the romantic vibe we set up! We (bride and groom) sat in a cream settee draped with a green garland and ribbon. Making our seat a bit different than everyone else’s felt special and made for some great photos.

Lesson learned: if you’re hooked on a certain look for your wedding, look for ways to achieve that look for less. You don’t have to go with the first recommendation or the most expensive - get creative and ask for help!

THE FOOD

The menu was one of the best parts of the venue! We wanted the food to be good, but we also didn’t have a ton of preferences. Gervasi hosted a Tasting Event at the venue where we got to taste almost every main and side dish. We landed on the unforgettable Tuscan Beef Shortribs, plus a chicken and fish option. We also tasted what felt like 100 appetizers, desserts, and wines (I remember loving the crab cake, fried risotto balls, and canolis) . My husband and I brought our parents and it was an event in itself - we all had a great time and left feeling confident about our menu decisions. Knowing what my guests would eat (even if I didn’t have time to sit down and eat on the big day) really helped! We ended up having the appetizers, salads and desserts served family-style at the long tables. It was a unique touch that didn’t take much extra effort and added to the vineyard vibe!

Lesson learned: We loved the food, but the focus for us wasn’t on the menu. We chose some house specialties and trusted the chefs. I saved my brain-space for other things I cared a bit more about and left the menu to the professionals!

THE DRINKS

To really enhance the vinyeard vibe, we kept the cocktail hour (happening outside) to wine and beer. Once the reception started, we offered the full bar. We also did signature drinks. Bride’s Choice: Italian Sangria Groom’s Choice: Maker’s Mark, Soda, Lime and Mint. And since my favorite drink is champagne, we offered that ailll night long!

Lesson learned: if you’re worried about the bar tab, stick to beer and wine. Or just keep to beer and wine for a portion of the night (for us, that was cocktail hour). Most guests won’t even notice the difference!

THE MUSIC

For the ceremony, we had a live trio of cello, violin and guitar. We both love acoustic music, so the trio was a natural fit. We had them learn to play a few songs: Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve while the parents and grandparents walked down the aisle. Next, they played Viva la Vida by Coldplay for the Bridal Party processional. Finally, they played This Year’s Love by David Gray for the Bride processional. It’s one of our favorite songs so it was the perfect choice for us.

For the reception, we had a DJ and worked with him ahead of time to make sure his song choices fit the vibe we were going for (classy yet fun). We ended up cutting a lot of the traditional songs, but kept the “anniversary dance” to see who has been married the longest. It was great! For dinner, we played songs like “Sunday Kind of Love” by Etta James, Zac Brown Band, “Angel” by Jack Johnson. For the dance portion of the evening, we mixed it up with songs from Frank Sinatra to Justin Timberlake.

FINAL THOUGHTS

There were so many elements that went into making our wedding an amazing day. Dancing the night away with our friends and family, under the glow of the pavilion, with vineyards surrounding us…that will always be my favorite memory.

Last piece of advice! Go with your instincts. Pick out the things you’ve liked (and disliked) from weddings you’ve been to in the past and try to incorporate those into your day. Don’t be afraid to go against tradition and nix something (or add something) where you see fit! At the end of the day, you want the wedding to reflect your style and personality as a couple. After all, it is a celebration of you two!

VENDOR DETAILS

Ceremony site: Tree Grove at Gervasi Vineyard https://www.gervasivineyard.com/

Reception site: Pavilion at Gervasi Vineyard https://www.gervasivineyard.com/weddings/

Coordinator: Smash Weddings & Events http://www.smashweddingsandevents.com/

Officiant: Patrick Cassidy – friend of the Bride and Groom

Bridal gown: Nicole Miller - Jamie gown https://www.bhldn.com/products/jamie-gown

Hairpiece by Heather McCoy, owner of Fair Rarity Flowers https://fairrarityflowers.com/

Jewelry: Gorjana, Taner Cuff & Topanga Necklace http://www.gorjana.com/

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Binnie Platform Sandals in Sandbar (no longer available)

Hair: Victoria McGregor (Bride), Allie Wachholz (Bridal Party) of Do or Dye Salon in Amherst, OH

Makeup: Moira Cavell of Karen Siat & Associates https://www.karensiat.com/bridal/

Bridesmaids’ dresses: I let the bridesmaids choose their own in a color palette of nude and blush. The most popular dress was Adrianna Papell Beaded Gowns and both Maids of Honor and Mother of the Bride wore it. http://www.adriannapapell.com/

Groom’s attire: Tommy Hilfiger Blue Sharksin Slimfit Jacket and Pants - Macy’s

Groomsmen’s attire: Tommy Hilfiger Blue Sharksin Slimfit Jacket and Pants - Macy’s

Florist: Fair Rarity Flowers, Heather McCoy (owner) Noteable arrangements: Bride’s hair piece, table garlands, settee garland, doorway swag, etc. https://fairrarityflowers.com/

Invitations: Simple Sprigs Wedding Invitation from Minted.com – you can mix and match colors, designs, envelopes. The best part was they address the envelopes for free! https://www.minted.com/

Guest book: Amanda G Designs via Etsy – we loved our guest book! It was the “Wedding Guest Book Alternative Wood Board –Wine Glass Stain Design” and it went with the vineyard perfectly! It is something we can display in our home forever https://www.etsy.com/shop/AmandaGdesigns

Music Ceremony: We chose a trio with guitar, cello and violin from Suite Elegance for our Ceremony https://www.suiteelegance.net/

Music Reception: We had DJ Eli Cohen for our reception, via Cleveland Music Group https://clevelandmusicgroup.com/

Catering: Provided via Gervasi (they have a restaurant on-site)

Cake / Dessert: We did not have a cake. Instead, we had cannolis and chocolate covered strawberries served family style at each table. Provided by Gervasi

Rentals: The Bentwood chairs (reception), the white wooden doorway (ceremony), ring bearer wagon (ceremony), and various chalkboards and window panes (signage) were all provided by Borrow Rentals – an awesome company in Cleveland! https://borrowrentals.com/

Transportation: First Class Limos http://www.firstclasslimos.net/

Accommodations: Staybridge Suites Canton, OH

Photographer: Amy Galon Photography (and for all photos in this post) https://www.amygalonphotography.com/

Flower Girl Balloons: One Stylish Party via Etsy, Peach, Ivory and Gold Jumbo Confetti Balloon with Tassels https://www.etsy.com/shop/onestylishparty