North Bay Woman

46 NORTH BAY WOMAN | S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 to Thursday. Balatti finds that many couples go online for information and don't realize how expensive weddings can be in the North Bay. "I always have a ballpark figure for what it's going to cost," she says. "Part of my job is to help them. I have ideas as to who would be a good match for them." She also visits vendors with couples to help them make decisions. Ferrell helps a couple decide how to make the best use of their budget, and she might suggest a restaurant rather than a venue with a fixed rate. She also recommends that couples allow a 10 percent cushion for unexpected expenses, such as alternations or extra tips for bartenders. What do you recommend for making a small wedding special? Ferrell suggests a beautiful garden for a small ceremony and then dinner at a nice restaurant. "We are known for great food and wine in Wine Country," she says. "I suggest they go to restaurants," says Balatti. One of her favorites is Servino Ris- torante, a bayside restaurant in Tiburon that can accommodate up to 125 guests in the upstairs Bellavista Room. "The view at sunset is beautiful. You can make it really special," she says. McLeskey-Dolata presents her clients with options and helps them make choices. "Our job is to educate the client," she says. What are the current trends? "It's all over the place," says Ferrell, who sees high-end weddings having a taco truck or barbecue for an informal rehearsal dinner. "A lot of brides like the rustic look," she says, and barns are popular for wedding cere- monies. Marsala, this year's Pantone color, is prominent, and she sees flower arrangements that are whimsical and less than perfect with loose, beautiful flowers, a pop of color and lots of greens. Cakes are also more casual, especially naked cakes, which are unfrosted or have white frosting with a little of the cake showing through. "Black-tie weddings are back with a ven- geance," says McLeskey-Dolata. "People who come to this area want to have an outdoor wedding," she adds, and they are seeking a romantic look. For colors, "metallics are in," she says, and blush is also popular. "People love the gourmet food trucks," she adds, and couples hire them for welcome parties, rehearsals and late-night snacks on the day of the wedding. Balatti sees a continuing trend in vintage weddings and the emergence of bold colors. "Jewel tones are coming back," she says. For wedding planning, "Pinterest is a huge driving force for my clients," she reports, and she directs them to her site, which contains themes, colors and concepts. "It really helps them solidify ideas," she says. What are your favorite locations? Balatti prefers off-premises venues, which don't have catering included, because couples can book the space for the wedding and then do whatever they want. "Outdoor spaces are definitely my favorite," she says. McLeskey-Dolata finds that local wineries and gardens make "the quintessential Wine Country wedding, at Annadel, you get married in the barn...It's just lush at Beaulieu," she says. "We love doing weddings at Chalk Hills Estates," says Ferrell, and the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, with its Estate Cave, is one of her favorites. What is the most unusual wedding you've planned? "We had an Elvis impersonator once. He did a song and dance for the guests before the ceremony," says Ferrell, adding that he also officiated. "Everyone was just thrown for a loop. It was one for the books," she says. "It was a Russian wedding," says Balatti, explaining that Russian weddings usually include vodka, and the couple wanted a wedding in Wine Country, but wineries only allow wine, beer and champagne. She found a suitable venue at Copia, the now-defunct culinary center in Napa, but it was still a wedding with many challenges. At the last minute, the 18-piece band informed her the stage wasn't big enough, but the vendor was prepared to expand it on short notice. "That's what I look for in my vendors, they can turn on a dime," she says. McLeskey-Dolata recently planned a wed- ding for a couple with a groom who has a Greek and Chinese background. The festivities started with a Greek ceremony for the families on Thursday. Another event featured Chinese lion dancers, and tennis and bocce ball This destination wedding by Bella Celebrations was held at Hans Fahden Winery, with a glamorous reception held in the romantic wine cave that was graced with touches of pink and an abundance of candle glow. – Photo by Jay Kelly.

• Cover