Jamie and Kerry’s Luxury Private Vineyard Wedding in Napa Valley
The luck of the Irish smiled upon Jamie and Kerry on Saint Patrick’s Day in 2007, when they were introduced by mutual friends who had started dating. “We became inseparable from that moment on,” Jamie says. A few years later, they traveled together to Ireland and visited the peak of Dun Aengus Island to explore a prehistoric fort. “Unlike most days in Ireland, the weather was sunny and perfect,” she remembers. “The area was crawling with tourists, so Kerry had me scale a couple of rock walls and run past a few ‘Do Not Enter’ signs until we found a quiet place.” There, he proposed with a ring that he’d kept in his jacket pocket for the journey.
“Following the proposal, we took the ferry service back to the main land and drove up to our favorite hotel in Ireland, Ashford Castle, where four years earlier we’d had our very first conversation about marriage and a future together. It was such and beautiful and perfect day,” Jamie says.
The couple spent a year planning for their wedding, which actually consisted of two separate events on different days and at different locations. “We approached the weekend as a fantastic celebration and didn’t want to be tied down to the typical traditions that surround weddings,” says the bride. In search of something unique, the couple selected Hills Estate, a private residence in Napa Valley, for their intimate ceremony. “While the house is spectacular, it was really the outdoor setting that we fell in love with,” Jamie notes. For the larger reception, the couple expanded on what they describe as a “Napa Valley Elegant” theme, working with innovative event designer Scott Corridan.
For her wedding day, Jamie chose a beaded A-line halter dress by Jenny Packham & Temperley London, which she paired with shoes by Jimmy Choo and her own accessories. Her hair and makeup were styled by Julie Morgan. She also decided to observe a classic wedding tradition. “My ‘something old’ was a bracelet given to me by my mother-in-law— a gift she received from Kerry’s father. My ‘something new’ was my wedding band from my husband, and my ‘something borrowed’ was Kerry’s father’s class ring, which was tied to my bouquet. My ‘something blue’ was my post -wedding dress,” says the bride.
The couple hosted a small ceremony for thirty guests atop a knoll at the base of the Stags Peak Palisades and overlooking a vineyard. The officiant was William Moore, a friend of the couple, and music was provided by Geoff Hawkins. At an elegantly appointed olive grove on the property, the ceremony was immediately followed with a five-course dinner. Chef Kevin Miller from The Vintage Estate personalized the meal by incorporating the couple’s favorite foods into the various courses. “It was intimate, beautiful, and so special to share that moment with our closest friends and family. It felt like we had the Napa Valley all to ourselves that night,” says Jamie.
The following evening, celebrations shifted to The Vintage Estate for a big party with 350 friends and family. With so many guests, the couple decided to have numerous bars and dining stations located throughout the property, so that people could freely move around and mingle without having to wait in a line. Scott Corridan extended the theme of Napa Elegance into this celebration, with rough wood furniture, natural linens, rustic fabrics, lanterns handing from every surface, and plenty of beautiful flowers in fall colors.
After a short honeymoon in Cabo San Lucas,Kerry and Jamie have now settled into life in San Francisco with their dog Buddy and cat CC. “We are blessed with an amazing group of family and friends, and our wedding weekend was simply perfect in every way,” says Jamie. “We look forward to a very happy life together.”