Durham Ranch Wedding
Durham Ranch is one of my all time favorite wedding venues. It’s so me. Or at least the “so me” that lives in my very chic imagination. So when you add a bride and groom that are positively glowing, a design by Kathleen Deery and planner Laurie Arons that mimics the modern but classic, chic but laid back style of the space and photography by the fabulous Meg Smith, well…you basically have my dream wedding all wrapped up into one perfect blog post. Oh and see if you can spot the celebrity in the crowd. Here’s a hint. He’s adorable and he can cook.
From Laurie of Laurie Arons Special Events… Jenny and Jordan’s love story was a modern day fairy tale: boy sees girl in crowded cafe, girl flashes him an unforgettable smile, boy posts ad on Craigslist Missed Connections to find her, and girl, with a little convincing from her friends, sees the ad and contacts him. But this seemingly modern couple chose a beautifully classic wedding when they wed two years later.
The venue they selected, Durham Ranch in St. Helena California, has a fresh, preppy feel with its clean white barn and pool deck, complete nautical stripes and life-savers. In keeping with this fresh, relaxed tone, the bride chose a soft palette of gray, taupe and white, kissed with a just little color from the pale pink florals. Kathleen Deery Designs created blushy arrangements in the bouquets and centerpieces, and Deery’s own custom furniture collection Urban Parlour outfitted Durham Ranch with taupe vignettes and patio umbrellas. Wedding planner Laurie Arons presented the couple with new gray and white linens from La Tavola. The print, strands of charming polka dots, brought just the right tone of fun for the wedding dinner.
And as for the wedding dinner, well, they don’t get much better than this. The groom’s brother-in-law, celebrity chef Tyler Florence, crafted a custom, late-summer menu based on Jenny and Jordan’s favorite recipes of his. A Bibb lettuce salad with Florence’s signature green goddess dressing was followed by a family-style feast, including juicy fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, black-eyed peas and summer vegetables. This Southern menu couldn’t have been more memorable for the 120 guests who attended, and hardly a bite was left unenjoyed. Rock-inspired dance band Notorious then hit the stage to bring the night home, while guests nibbled on sweets from the pretty-in-pink dessert buffet by Paula LeDuc Fine Catering and PS Paper.
