Photographer Mike Larson's "A Lovely Creation workshop" is a Central Coast retreat for wedding creatives and photographers looking to increase their creativity and personal growth. Mike says, "This is a workshop overwhelmingly full of artistic insight to increase your creativity. The goal is to help you strive to keep things simple, to redefining success for each person individually, and to stay profitable, so your business will be rewarding for years to come."
On-hand to carry through the design direction and styling was wedding planner Jill LaFleur of LaFleur Weddings & Events. She tells us, "The beauty of California's Central Coast is unparallel and Greengate Ranch & Vineyard showcases everything that makes this place so stunning--the rolling hills, vineyards, gorgeous sunset vistas, and even the barn and horses. Not to mention, the beautiful accommodations they offer when staying on property, which is such a wonderful bonus for our wedding parties getting married there! When styling this photo shoot for Mike Larson, I wanted to showcase the most beautiful aspects of this incredible area and property. I chose to soften and romanticize the venue to play off of it's natural rustic beauty. To do so, I teamed up with Laurel of Adornments Flowers and Archive Vintage Rentals to bring in softness, elegance, and romantic beauty in my design."
"For the Ceremony, I envisioned a hanging altar coming from the beautiful trees overhead. A wooden structure that we could hang vintage crystal chandeliers and beautiful blooms from. I had never seen such a thing so I sketched out the design and sent it to Mike Larson, who in turn created it for me in his woodworking studio! He is not only a photographer, but a craftsman! It was perfect hung from ropes and looked as though it were floating in the air above the gorgeous couple!
"The cocktail hour was my favorite part...we decided to pair the wines from local vineyards with a bread bar! Field to Table Catering pulled it together beautiful...bountiful breads of all shapes and sizes and flavors on boards paired with oils, vineyards, cheeses, olives, tapenads and salsas, etc. It's truly what every guest would dream of in a venue like this! "
"The bride's gown by Delphine Manivet was so soft and romantic...flowing along with her bouquet's streaming silk ribbons in the breeze!"
" The beautiful lush romantic blush and champagne flowers paired perfectly with the vintage china, gold flatware and brass goblets and candle holders! I am in love with Archive's incredible collection of wooden farm tables and tufted benches and the charcoal greys and natural light wood tones were a perfect pairing with the elegant, romantic touches we added in. The ivory embossed runners and napkins from La Tavola Linen are some of my favorites from their new collection as well!"
"And what I love most about dining at this venue are all of the options you have for a view and scenery...you can dine in their beautiful rustic barn, on the lawn of the estate under the trees overlooking the hillside and grape vines in the distance, adjacent to their pond, or in the vineyard itself. I couldn't resist and had to display this beautiful tabletop in various spots to showcase the beauty of this place! Of couse, hanging chandeliers are a must in my book, so we hung them over the dining table at the estate and over the beautiful soft grey-toned simple yet elegant fondant cake created by Slo Cakery."
Photography by Mike Larson Private Estate Wedding Photographer | Design by LaFleur Weddings & Events | Floral Design by Adornments Flowers | Props & Furniture by Archive Vintage Rentals | Linens by La Tavola Fine Linen | Catering by Field to Table Catering & Events | Cake by Slo Cakery | Invitation Suite by Honey Paper | Groom's attire by J.Crew suit | Gown by Delphine Manivet | Shot on location at Greengate Ranch & Vineyard
Leave A Comment