There are so many things I love about this beautiful wedding: the venue, the dress (oh the DRESS!), the darling school theme… Says Amy, the stunning bride:
Naveen and I met in elementary school, so we were inspired to do a school theme. We chose the Carneros Inn in Napa because it upscale yet rustic – like a modern barn. We wanted to consider our guests that were traveling from India, Europe and other far away places, so we chose a place with soul, but where you could also get a spa treatment and brilliant meal and wine pairing.
Amy gave Naveen a pair of clover cufflinks in a silver box engraved with, “You are my lucky shamrock forever.”
Amy carried a bouquet of peach garden roses and dark chocolate calla lilies. She wore a peach cymbidium in her hair. And isn’t that dress stunning!? It looks like it’s blooming!
In lieu of a traditional guest book, guests were asked to leave “love notes” on pages printed to look like binder paper. A chalkboard and elementary school portraits finished off the table.
Instead of seating cards, guests’ names were printed on little tags attached to a classic yellow No. 2 pencil. Tables were numbered by grade (“1st Grade,” “2nd Grade,” etc.).
How cute is this bake sale dessert table! Cookies, brownies, rice krispy treats, and of course little cartons of milk. Guests were invited to take treats home in little brown paper bags stamped with Amy and Naveen’s names and wedding date. The two tier wedding cake was white cake with lemon curd filling and lemon icing. Yum!
Amy’s advice for couples? Make things as easy as possible for yourself – if you can, hire a great coordinator and a great photographer. Outsource everything you possibly can so that you are surrounded by a great group of designers and vendors – your only responsibility on the day of should be to breathe and enjoy and look beautiful.
Photography: Meg Smith
Venue: Carneros Inn in Napa, California
Event styling and design: Emilie Kate Style + Design
Bride’s dress: Carolina Herrera
Hair / makeup: Betten Chaston
Bridesmaid dresses: Banana Republic
Groom’s suit / shirt: Prada / Paul Smith
Shamrock cufflinks: Cufflinks.com
Flowers: Gilly Flowers
Ceremony music: Lawrence String Group
Reception music: DJ Morty Coyle
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Linens: La Tavola Linens
Cake: Sweet on Cake
Transportation: Napa Valley Tours & Transportation
Congratulations Amy and Naveen! And a huge thank you to Meg Smith for sending over these beautiful photos – it’s always such a treat to have Meg’s work on Snippet & Ink.
I pretty much love any Napa wedding, but this one’s cute school theme adds such a sweet dose of charm!
Oh my!! I love all the little details here!
Thankyou, for always inspiring me. It´s great to see other wedding photographers!
How sweet…to meet your life partner in grammar school! And so many nice details in this wedding…love the apples hanging on the back of the chair.
So sweet… and such a sophisticated way to incorporate the school theme!
Brilliant! I love the details that made the wedding so unique to their story.
Thank you so much for your beautiful layout and sweet words! I loved photographing this wedding — the couple absolutely radiated. I’m so glad to be able to share this, thank you Amy and Naveen, and thank you Kathryn!!
This is simply amazing! All of the fine details are perfect – A+! Love the escort card table and the use of clip boards to signify table names. Wonderful!
Stunning!
Every Napa wedding I love but this one is truly stunning! Gorgeous styling and colors!!
There is nothing about this wedding I don’t love! What a unique and meaningful theme! I don’t think I’ve ever come across a “school” themed wedding and I really can’t imagine running into one who did it better than this couple. And oh, as you mentioned in your intro… that DRESS!!! oh, that dress! <3
This is such a cute play on when and where they met. I want to be at this wedding
I love looking at US weddings – here in the UK, brides are only just becoming comfortable with spending a little more here and there to create amazing looks with really personal little details!
This is the perfect example of how small things make such a difference!
I love the photos! The couple looks so happy. And the dessert table is so adorable!
SUCH a cute theme! The bake sale dessert table is adorable! And the yellow pencils…so cute. Very creative!
love the centerpieces and the theme for them!
I love weddings with a theme. Gorgeous centerpieces!
That classroom reception theme is absolutely adorable! Such a cute idea!
What a beautiful wedding! The dress is totally amazing!!!! love love love.
What a handsome couple
That dress IS amazing. Today must be the day of amazing dresses, everywhere I turn I see another one.
Awww, this is such a lovely wedding! Love the implementation of the bake sale, notecards and pencils…makes me actually want to go back to school!
I adore this wedding and all the thoughtful little teacher related touches!
how sweet the details, and what a STUNNING dress!!!!
Great wedding. Loving all the details. Love her dress & the color palette.
There’s something so wonderful about a wedding that isn’t so matchy-matchy, and yet still has a lovely theme and a beautiful palette. Well done!
Oh wow! This is SUCH a beautiful wedding and the details are so well styled! Love the “grade” table #s, the bake sale with the cute pinwheel decor, and the apple garland on the back of the chair!
I’m planning a couple’s shower for two school teachers, and this gave me a few new ideas! Such a fun and memorable event. Beautiful!
Breathtakingly beautiful! What a darling couple, too. And the dress **swoon**. ‘Tis a work of art!
Beautiful photos! Love the school house theme!
Looooove the dress and the venue! Did you two go to Chandler in Pasadena? It looks like you did from your elementary school photos. My brother went there about 18 years ago. What a coincidence!
What a wonderful Wedding this was to work on!Lovely pictures, great, thoughtful and sweet styling.Amy and her Bridesmaids were as beautiful as they looked.Thank you for publishing this Wedding.