I file this one under my personal boho dream wedding.

Maddie and Jake’s wedding was a three day affair at the Straus Home Ranch in North Bay. They had full use of the property, including a beautiful house for the bride and bridesmaids, a cafe-light-strung patio, several smaller buildings, a massive barn, and the greatest overlook of Bodega Bay.

We leaned into the Golden Hues of California for her October wedding and utilized everything from bouquets to bud vases, huge Boston Ferns to dainty boutonnieres, and — my personal favorite — a massive growing install on the Chuppah. Long tables in the barn were lined in italian ruscus + eucalyptus garlands & spotted with bud vases for the reception.

It’s been over a year since this outstanding wedding, and I still look back so fondly at what we built.

Flowers: Ida Blooms Full Service Design // Photos: Kindred Weddings // Planning: Cotton & Oak // Venue: Straus Home Ranch // Makeup: Lips n’ Lashes By Elise Bigley // Hair: A Jane Designs // Dress: Kinsley James // Suit: Ted Baker London

Ida Blooms - fall wedding on the norcal coast

Emily & Greg didn’t intend to have a backyard wedding. For nine months leading to their big day, we planned and prepped the most “organized-chill” three day event at Triple S Ranch in Calistoga. It was a huge wedding for Ida Blooms, with floral components at the Friday night rehearsal/welcome party, the Saturday wedding and reception, and the Sunday farewell brunch.

But, Mother Nature had other plans. The week started off with brutal news that a wildfire was ravaging Calistoga and the surrounding area. We marched on, hoping the fire would divert away from the venue. & it did! Until Saturday morning, that is.

Just after our floral set up was complete, about an hour before the ceremony was about to begin, the Fire Marshall arrived to evacuate everyone. Emily’s amazing planner (Heald Weddings) immediately pressed go on Plan B, & Jake and I packed our car with as many flowers as we could fit. We relocated to a family friend’s backyard, about 20 minutes away in St Helena. I directed as groomsmen and guests unloaded our car, placed bud vases on the deck, made an aisle of ferns in the dead grass, flipped on flameless votives, and turned that backyard into the ultimate wedding venue.

Sure, the bridesmaids forgot their bouquets at Triple S; the dads boutonniere box didn’t make it out of their cabin; we ate tacos off the steps instead of the beautifully laid family style table… but Emily & Greg got married. & gosh if it wasn’t the craziest & coolest experience of my career.

Bride: Emily Merrell // Photos: Jodee Debes Photography // Planning: Heald Wedding Consulting // Catering: LaSaison // Alcohol: Winc & Neft Vodka