A Whimsical and Romantic Wedding at Bear Flag Farm
Our friends at Brides magazine recently covered the stunning wedding of college sweethearts Mary and Mark at our exclusive Bear Flag Farm Estate. Not only was the wedding charming, elegant, and unique, it truly picked up on all the reasons we love Bear Flag Farm. From the ferris wheel, lavender fields, and dreamlike decor, Mary and Mark's wedding did everything right!
The Pastel Palette
Mary told Brides magazine she, "went for a Versailles-in-the-park feel," which stuck to a blush, gray, and lavender palette with a little bit of sparkle. This palette maintains an air of sophistication but is also dreamlike and whimsical.
Plus, the somewhat muted palette allowed for color play and variation such as the bridesmaids bouquets. Their bouquets consisted of roses, cymbidium orchids, snowberries, berzilla berries, dusty millers, and hydrangeas. This exotic mix still fit the tone of the wedding but provided a nice "pop" of colorful romance.

Florist: Bear Flag Farm
We love the floral team at Bear Flag Farm, which uses locally grown flowers to create stunning centerpieces and bouquets. Because Bear Flag Farm actually is a farm (as its name suggest) the venue provided loads of flowers, plants, and of course lavender, to master a romantic and park-like feel. One of the major highlights of the wedding was the stunning topiary under which the lovely couple said their vows.

Florist: Bear Flag Farm
Chic farm-like details were also expressed in simple decor that doubled as stunning photo opps! Besides the lavender field at the estate, one of our favorites is the rustic truck displaying main elements in the bridesmaid's bouquets.

Florist: Bear Flag Farm
Good Thinking!
Anticipating the needs (and even wants!) of your guests is crucial to a smooth wedding, and Mary and Mark did just that! First, we love the idea of having paper parasols for guests and programs that double as fans to shade them from the heat of summer.

Photography: Carrie Patterson Photography
To assign seating or not to assign seating...that usually is the question. While everyone has a preference, most people prefer assigned seats for dinner, so the question usually comes down to how guests will actually know where to sit and how to avoid one big game of musical chairs. We love the idea of hanging escort cards from a wine rack. While it is still elegant, it also implies a sort of playful casualness.

Photography: Carrie Patterson Photography
Bear Flag Farm's event designer was brilliant with creating tent "walls" made up of organza drapes and topiary hedges to help the overall flow of this picturesque event.

The Defining Details
A memorable wedding really is all about the details. It's fun to surprise guests with unanticipated bar foods or even bright throw pillows in unexpected "mini lounges". For example, these sequined pillows on love seats add a nice touch of color and glitz, staying true to the "touch of sparkle" requested by the bride.

Linen Rentals: Tavola Fine Linen
Intriguing textures were also carried into the linens used for the chairs and tables at the reception. These bold textures really made the reception look almost dream-like.

Linen Rentals: Tavola Fine Linen
Finally, food is one of the best ways to express personality at a wedding. Mary told Brides magazine, "We had a sit-down dinner with dessert stations...the best part was the late-night snacks. The mini burgers, fries, and root-beer floats were a nod to my childhood favorites." Of course, they also included much loved S'mores!

Catering: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering
The finishing touch to the event was the stunning ferris wheel which actually came as a last minute surprise to the couple. The ferris wheel is fun, exciting, and oh-so romantic. Couples could take a ride on the ferris wheel and rekindle flames with smooches up in the air!

Photography: Carrie Patterson Photography
Whimsical, sophisticated, and romantic are just a few words that can be used to describe the latest wedding at Bear Flag Farm. Cheers to the couple and cheers to always making fun a part of marriage!
Special thanks to brides.com for highlighting one of our favorite venues and Carrie Patterson Photography for the fabulous photos!
Your turn...
We love Mary and Mark's wedding, what is your favorite part?