alex + jyri’s wedding at harvest inn
Our couple:
Alex and Jyri like so many had big plans for their wedding before the pandemic changed all that. Their dream of a destination wedding in Hawaii came to a halt and for Alex, the excitement of wedding planning was a bit shattered. Jyri is from Finland and with the European borders closed for some time and his family unable to travel it made an already tough situation even more challenging. So they opted for a legal ceremony in 2021, just the two of them at their local city hall…next in line was a gentleman getting his fishing permit.
When Alex reached out to us we could tell the spark for her wedding was wearing a bit. They had decided to plan a local destination wedding in the heart of Napa Valley and it was our job to create that excitement that was lost but also tread carefully with the ever evolving mandates and changes in the pandemic.
When sourcing venues for them we wanted to find a property that had lush gardens and an abundance of outdoor beauty. It was a vast difference in scenery from Hawaii but we wanted that same feeling of natural beauty as their canvas. We also took into consideration Jyri’s upbringing in Finland and their admiration of European architecture and style. To see their faces light up at the prospect of their wedding at Harvest Inn was just what we were looking for.
The setting:
Harvest Inn, a storybook resort in St. Helena.
mood board:
color palette:
Indigo, Cream, Apricot, and Terracotta
Final Result:
Alex had a very calm morning getting ready in a beautiful suite at Harvest Inn with a balcony overlooking the vineyards and Mayacamas mountains. It couldn’t have been a more perfect May day with a nice cool start in the morning and ideal temperatures until the very end of the evening. Their pup Muppet was hammed it up with Jyri and his family and of course had some matching accessories for his parents special day.
They opted for a first look to calm any nerves and it was just such a special moment to see them really embrace their wedding day and be so present with each other. Alex’s bouquet was lush and romantic but contemporary in composition with touches of whites, creams, taupe, apricots and terra cotta. The ceremony was held in the rose garden, providing an ideal backdrop. It was intimate and intentional, exactly what they wanted. Floral designer Max Gill and his team hand crafted a fragmented arch full of lush branches and fresh blooms that just took your breath away.
Guests were welcomed into the Vineyard View Terrace with signature drinks cleverly named “About Thyme” and “Crazy Gin Love” and passed Hors D’oeuvres of goat cheese toast, butter lettuce cups, and grilled pork loin. There is so much charm in the architecture of Harvest Inn, with cobblestone pathways, cottage style buildings, and views of not only the vineyards but of the Mayacamas mountains.
Our design was inspired by an old European setting and Jyri’s roots in Finland. We used a soft natural linen as the base of the color palette paired with a mix of indigo vintage European stoneware. The asymmetrical floral centerpieces were impressive yet delicate. Max Gill Design incorporated footed ceramic vessels for a more natural aesthetic to compliment the tabletop so seamlessly. The dining chair from Theoni was incredibly intentional not just for offering a more elevated final touch but because the wood spindle has been in European furniture dating back to the 17th century. They chose Michelle Walker as their photographer for her talent and warm and bubbly demeanor. She can make anyone feel relaxed and comfortable…and she just happens to be Finn which was just the surprising cherry on top!
Guests enjoyed a delicious family style dinner of Spaghetti Squash Risotto, New York Strip Steak, Broccolini, Mac n Cheese, and choice of Guava Passion Fruit or Olive Oil Meyer Lemon cake from the delicious Flour and Bloom Cakes. The cake design was so sweet and sentimental. Growing up on opposite sides of the world Alex and Jyri both had birch trees in their childhood homes. They had recently purchased a home in the Bay Area and it also had a birch tree in the yard which was their very own invisible string.
Exactly one year to the day of their legal ceremony Alex and Jyri were able to celebrate their wedding on a gorgeous spring day that included Jyri’s parents and immediate family from Finland. Alex and Jyri proved that patience is rewarding and that when you leave your heart open to pivot your dreams, it can turn out better than you ever expected!.
Planning + Design: Plan to be Wowed // Venue + Catering: Harvest Inn // Photography: Michelle Walker Photography // Floral Design: Max Gill Design // Beauty: The Powder Room // Gown: Anthropologie BHLDN // Linens: Napa Valley Linens // China: Frances Lane // Rentals: Theoni Collection // Cake: Flour and Bloom Cakes
