Cynthia and Chuck knew when they saw Grand Island Mansion that their dreams of a vintage wedding had come true. For the ultimate Old Hollywood-style gala, New Years Eve was chosen as the date, and they started planning one awesome bash!

From the bride:

“The vision is Old Classic Hollywood. Would love to factor in black and white photos as well as the sepia look to give that vintage flair. We want the wedding to feel like Chuck and I are having a grand ball at “our home” with our family and friends and give a more relax feel versus a typical wedding where you are given an assigned seat and awkwardness.”

Grand Island Mansion is full of fabulous old-school detailing, like these beautiful columns and ornate fireplace mantel that frame the room Chuck and Cynthia chose as their ceremony space.

The outside of the mansion was already decorated for the holidays – a nice perk to having a winter wedding!

Cynthia and Chuck decorated with a lot of personal details and romantic photos. Ooh la la!

Cynthia was fortunate enough to have a friend be her stylist, and she looked gorgeous! Vintage curls were a must for their themed event. We always recommend that you have your beauty team come to you on your wedding day; it takes away so much stress!

A bride has to have her bling! A vintage-style brooch and sparkly shoes finish off Cynthia’s ensemble.

The Grand Mansion’s tallest room really feels grand! High feathered centerpieces and moss-covered chandeliers take you back to a different era.

Chuck certainly looked dapper in a tuxedo and bow tie; he even accessorized appropriately!

Cynthia’s birdcage veil and white satin gloves fit right into her Old Hollywood Theme. 

A beautiful ceremony and very sweet vows!

What an elegant place to tie the knot!

Their unique cake is so fabulous and different from what we normally see! Who would have thought tulle could be somewhere other than the wedding gown?

The newlyweds make a grand entrance back into their reception room. 

Guests counted down to midnight and danced the night away! This picturesque Delta gem is not easily forgotten. Congratulations Chuck and Cynthia!

xo – Milou and Olin

I can’t believe we finally found a venue, after all the hunting we did in Monterey and Carmel, and the Central Coast, but somehow we managed to end up at the right place! Before revealing where the main event is taking place, I’ll have to fill you in on our last venue hunting adventure.

Fiance and I  decided to venture out on our own and take venue hunting by storm, but the very weekend we were supposed to go traipsing through Half Moon Bay and the Silicon Valley, both of our cars took a nosedive. Mine got stuck in a teeny parking garage, four floors down, in San Francisco when the clutch died, and fiance’s lost all torque and started smoking on the freeway coming back from a work trip. Fortunately we both have amazing families who loaned us cars and helped us through repairs, but our venue hunting weekend had been severely dampened.

The next weekend we lined up a few places by the coast in Half Moon Bay, a few Berkeley spots, and a little hotel in San Jose. I made reservations at a fabulous little Peruvian Restaurant at the end of the day so we’d have something to look forward to if none of the venues panned out. We took our rental car to downtown San Jose, and pulled up next to a gorgeous 1920′s hotel called the Sainte Claire. Immediately I spotted the black and white striped valances over the windows of Il Fornaio, the hotel’s conjoined restaurant, that had caught my eye in a photo while putting together inspiration boards. We walked in, looked at each other, and smiled. The hotel is beyond beautiful. The detailing and meticulous restoration on the interior is breathtaking. There are hand painted panels on the ceilings, gilded frames on the elevator doors, and beautiful chandeliers. Wandering into the foyer, complete with grand piano, giant fireplace, and multiple lounge areas, it felt as if we’d found someplace special. Catering staff was busy setting up for an event in an adjacent room, and we snuck a peek into the hotel’s gem: the atrium. Uncovered in a recent restoration project, the glass-covered room is flooded with beautiful light, and there I got my first look at our future ceremony space. We barely needed to see the stunning ballroom next door before asking for an information packet, and were quickly e-mailing  Yelena (our coordinator) to see if it was in budget.

After getting an eyeful of this beautiful place we didn’t even need to see any other venues. We walked happily down the streets near the hotel, and to our surprise we stumbled on something unexpected: the location of our first date! Seven years ago the fiance and I traveled to San Jose for his birthday for some winter ice skating, and solidified the mutual attraction we’d felt since we met a few short months before. The pavillion is only two blocks away from the Sainte Claire! The entire day was meant to be. We drove off toward Half Moon Bay with the windows down, breathing in the sea air, completely contented. After a perfect Peruvian dinner by the sea, we rushed home to tell my parents the news that we’d found our venue!

Now that the venue is chosen and contracts signed, we can start focusing on the really fun stuff! So many beautiful florists, so many amazing cake makers – it’s going to be a whirlwind!

The exterior view of the Sainte Claire Hotel in San Jose. Its 1920′s style exterior and interior make it stand out in downtown San Jose’s eclectic mix of old-world buildings and modern high-rise hotels and art museums.

The foyer is just beyond the check-in desks and is a beautiful, welcoming, detailed space. 

The atrium is full of light and is a wonderful blank canvas for decorating! I can’t wait to see how Yelena transforms this room for the wedding!

The ballroom is spacious and full of beautiful chandeliers! A little lighting and floral arrangements go a long way.

So the word is out! I’ve found my venue! Thanks for tuning in on this beautiful Monday!

xo- Morgan Elizabeth

Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento

A Venue with a Past

Even though you’ll find me all over Napa, Sonoma, and San Francisco, I don’t talk much about our own stomping grounds, Sacramento. If you’re looking for an affordable wedding spot in Northern California, Sacramento fits the bill for many of my clients. One of my favorite spots is the Crocker Art Museum, the first public museum in the Western United States founded in 1885. It has two wings: the beautiful historical victorian that houses classic art, the Crocker family jewelry and portraits, and amazing architecture; and the slick new modern wing, that boasts art from around the world and exciting rotating exhibitions. Amy and Ken’s modern yellow and white wedding was one of my favorites, as was Leticia and Michael’s purple and white romantic wedding.

What I like about this venue is the variety of places there are to shoot! There are opportunities to use art as backgrounds, to take advantage of the antique facades, and utilize the modern structures that make up the new wing of the Crocker. If you had a vintage or antique-era wedding, the older building would have beautiful touches to add authenticity to your theme. A modern event would fit perfectly in the newer, larger wing with limitless possibilities.

Ceremony and Reception Options

There are two very different spots in the Crocker to have your ceremony, and both are equally amazing. The older building has a ballroom downstairs with carved wood architecture where they hold events and dinners, where Ken and Amy tied the knot. It has an old-world elegance, and is perfect for any style of wedding.

From the Crocker Website:

• The architectural crown jewel of the Crocker’s historic gallery building, the Ballroom is an opulent setting ideal for a VIP dinner or reception
• Warm, intimate ambience
• Views into both courtyards, a ceiling view into the gallery space above, and rotating exhibitions provide a visual feast

The second is the courtyard outside the new, modern part of the museum, with two large fountains, and ample space for guests and decor. If you were planning a modern, outdoor wedding this would also be an excellent spot for a reception.

From the Crocker website:

• Framed by the historic gallery building and the Teel Family Pavilion, the Courtyard’s clean, versatile design is the perfect backdrop to any occasion
• Clear space for wall and light projection
• Large water feature enhances ambience
• Designed for optimum evening shade

Both weddings utilized the indoor Friedman Court in the new museum wing as their reception space.

From the Crocker website:

• Multi-faceted and sleekly spacious, Friedman Court is a dynamic open canvas ideal for large standing or seated receptions and corporate functions
• Abundant art and architectural details provide visual interest and help cultivate an interactive atmosphere
• Flooded with light shimmering through floor-to-ceiling windows that face the historic gallery building

Milou + Olin Crocker Weddings

The new wing of the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento is a modern, white structure that lets in plenty of light and creates a great backdrop for photos.

Amy and Ken chose to take some bride and groom portraits in the older section of the museum before their ceremony in the ballroom.

The beautiful wood inlays, antique bannisters, and sculptures are truly unique at the Crocker. Amy and Ken are lit from its second story windows.

Amy makes a stunning bride! The warm woods in the older section of the museum are perfect for lighting fair skin.

The modern art in the museum is perfect for one-of-a-kind photographs. Rotating art exhibits allow for images that no one else will have.

Amy and Ken goof around in front of a large landscape piece!

The white exterior walls of the Crocker are a great canvas for modern wedding shots.

The Crocker’s downstairs ballroom is an elegant space for a ceremony – it’s attention to detail is unmatched in Sacramento.

Even though Ken and Amy’s wedding had a modern theme, their ceremony fit perfectly in the Crocker’s antique ballroom!

Amy and Ken’s Sacramento Crocker Art Museum wedding palate was white, yellow, and pops of green – all very modern! The Crocker’s stark white architecture worked perfectly with their choices.

Decor and cake at Amy and Ken’s Crocker Museum wedding.

The Friedman court is so spacious – you could fit a giant wedding in here! The tiled floor is ready-made for dancing! 

Leticia and Michael took a different approach to their wedding decor, and went with purple and white in an outdoor ceremony at the Crocker’s outdoor courtyard.

What a gorgeous backdrop! Their ceremony was filled with purple petals.

The Crocker’s clean architecture makes it the perfect backdrop for any style of photo!

Leticia and Michael made a beautiful couple on their wedding day.

The Friedman Court was decked out in purple, white and yellow flowers for their colorful reception.

Be sure to incorporate lighting into your Crocker wedding, because you can do spectacular things at night! Those giant windows and sleek spaces look amazing when the right lighting is applied. 

I’m glad to let you in on our Sacramento gem of a venue! Have a fabulous weekend!

xoxo- Caroline

Natasha and Anthony’s fabulous modern wedding at Carneros Inn in Napa, CA is making a splash over at Modernly Wed! We love how much color there is in their flowers and decor! They used vibrant pinks, oranges, and even purples in their design! Go check out the whole wonderful spread at Modernly Wed!