As a California girl, who met her future husband on the East Coast, I had one requirement for our wedding. It had to be at home in California. And while home is technically in the East Bay, we wanted to treat our friends and family to something special in the wine country. And so, on a warm sunny day in August, in front of 100 of our nearest and dearest, we signed up for a lifetime together at a private home in Sonoma, CA.

It looked a little something like this:

(all photos by Traci Griffin unless otherwise noted)

After a morning spent brunching with my closest girlfriends, it was time to get down to business. My mother, sister, mother-in-law and I were all given the celebrity treatment by Patty and Maria of BBY Pin Hair and Makeup. They were fabulous.


(photo by LB)

My sister (already glammed up) checks in on progress.


(photo by LB)

Suddenly, it was time to get serious.





I wore my grandmother's crystal earrings that day. And my mom wore the matching necklace. I put them on and suddenly felt like a bride. They were my favorite detail that day.





My husband and I decided not to see each other before the ceremony. But we both took some family portraits before the ceremony started.





I was greeted by my favorite little people. These girls made my day.





Matt arrives for pictures with his "little" brother.



And his mom sneaks a shot with her two boys.

Our wedding party was family only, but Matt did make sure to get some pictures with his oldest friends before the photographers abandoned him for his bride.





And then our amazing photographers made me feel like a star.

(photo by Lisa Blake via BV Weddings)

The guests arrived. And got a drink.

And a yarmulke.

(photo by BL)

And their seats.

My family is Episcopalian. My husband's is Jewish. Neither of us felt comfortable being married by a clergy member. So we asked a close friend of my family and Matt's dad to officiate the ceremony. It was really special to be married by people who know us and love us so much. We wrote most of the ceremony ourselves, and finding the right words to express what we were feeling and the magnitude of what we were doing that day was my favorite part of wedding planning.

We got married under a chuppah covered by my great aunt's table cloth.

We shamelessly mined the musical talent of our friends and family for the ceremony. A father/son pair of accomplished French horn players, who have known me since the day I was born, played our processional. Insert Trumpet Voluntary here.

Matt's brother/Best Man

My first loves/flower girls

My sister/Maid of Honor

And then the horns struck up Pacabel's Canon. And I was so excited that I practically ran down that aisle. It was such an honor to be escorted by my parents, who have married for more than 40 years. I think they liked it too.

After welcoming words, our officiants read a modified version of the traditional 7 Jewish wedding blessings in Hebrew and in English.

Our officiant shared words of wisdom with us.

And then our friends recited 5 wedding wishes for us and our future together.

Apparently the reactions were universal.

We declared our intent to marry. And then we recited the vows we'd written together.

After we said our vows, we signed our ketubah.

And then we exchanged our rings.

And then finally, finally, after 7 long years we were pronounced husband and wife.



Matt made sure to break every last bit of glass.

We recessed to "I Will" by the Beatles. Sweetly performed by friends who'd only met the day before.

(photo by LB)

Everyone smiled.

And then there was a lot of this.

And this.

And looking at each other like this.