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Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Couple's Magical Napa Wedding Felt Like a Fairy Tale Come to Life
Sarah and Marcel's love story began in the early hours of April 19, 2014, outside a club in Austin, Texas, when Marcel boldly cut Sarah in line. Though it the experience could have been a deal-breaker—Sarah admits she was initially annoyed—the two actually sparked an immediate connection and spent the night dancing together. Five years later, on June 8, 2018, Marcel proposed on a beach in Bali at sunset. The couple quickly began planning their wedding and selected a venue in Napa, California—unfortunately the original property they chose burned down in the devastating Glass Fire in late 2020. Instead of panicking, they decided to pivot: The two set out to find a new wedding venue, and they prioritized touring properties with plenty of nature for guests to enjoy. Filoli Historic House & Garden in Woodside, California, fit the bill. 'When I came across Filoli, I loved how floral and whimsical it looked,' Sarah remembers. 'We knew it was the one.' The couple invited 142 guests to join them on May 14, 2022, for a secret garden-inspired wedding. With help from their planner, Stephanie Cole of Cole Drake Events, Sarah and Marcel transported their guests out of the Golden State and into the couple's very own interpretation of a fairy tale. 'For our wedding day, we drew from fantasy motifs, flora, and fauna,' the bride says. With those thematic ideas in mind, they selected a complementary color palette of soft pastels with rose accents and included tons of natural elements throughout the day's décor. The result was a wedding ceremony and reception that felt as if it was set in an enchanted forest, not a California town just north of Silicon Valley. 'We wanted our loved ones to be able to celebrate with us in a way that felt fun and out of the ordinary,' Sarah says. Here, a closer look at their wedding day, as captured by Larissa Cleveland Photography. Related: 11 Rules for Choosing Your Wedding Venue, According to the Experts Sarah and Marcel designed their wedding invitations with Ceci New York. The suite included a custom illustrations of the couple and a map with watercolor imagery of their wedding weekend venues. The invitation designs included flowers, leaves, vines, and dragonflies as a nod to Sarah's wedding dress, which was inspired by 'the fragile wings of woodland faeries.' The dragonfly motif reappeared later in the wedding. The bride worked with the team at Paolo Sebastian on a custom wedding dress, which was designed via Skype meetings (the team is based in Australia). On those video calls, Sarah showed the designer elements of gowns she loved, and they came back with ideas for a lace wedding dress featuring leaf and vine beaded designs, 3D flowers, and dragonfly appliqués. The form-fitting number also featured a plunging neckline and a dramatic train. Sarah accessorized with three pieces from Jennifer Behr: a pair of mother of pearl earrings in a flower shape, a floral headband, and flower-studded bobby pins. Though the stunning pieces all complemented her wedding dress and overall vision well enough on their own, when Sarah's friend Anjali invited her to borrow a few items from her collection of antique jewelry, she jumped at the opportunity. 'This unexpected moment was incredibly touching and special for me,' the bride remembers. 'It's a lovely memory from my wedding that I will treasure forever.' After reviewing all of her pal's stunning options, she chose an 1880s dragonfly brooch with plique-à-jour enamel, ruby eyes, and diamond dusted wings, a vintage citrine bee pendant, and a Caysie Van Bebber Victorian-inspired emerald ring. Emily's bridesmaids, including her matron of honor, wore matching tulle gowns from Needle and Thread, which featured beaded details, a faux-wrapped bodice, and short sleeves. Each woman carried a loose, romantic bouquet of peonies, roses, hydrangea, tweedia, and more. Marcel wore a navy made to measure suit and shirt from Zegna, which he paired with a pin dot silk tie from Eton and Paul Stuart leather shoes. He accessorized with an IWC watch and finished his look with a rose and thistle boutonnière that was further embellished with a gold bee pendant. 'Our cats' favorite toy is a bee, so when we found the bee boutonnières we felt they were perfect and on theme,' he says. Sarah and Marcel wanted to make the most of their wedding day, so they planned to share a first look before the ceremony. 'We wanted to experience our cocktail hour, so doing a first look and pictures ahead of time enabled us to join,' the bride says. 'It was special because it was an intimate moment that we got to share with each other before being surrounded by everyone.' Sarah and Marcel's ceremony took place in the venue's Sunken Garden. 'Edgar from Flowers by Edgar and Macio from Fine Linen Creation really went above and beyond to help us create our vision,' the bride notes. To transform the space into a ceremony venue that could accomodate the couple's 142 guests, they built a custom aisle and bridge over a water fountain. The aisle was decorated with lush floral arrangements leading to an elven-inspired rose arch at the altar. Garden-style iron chairs were lined up for guests to sit in. The couple hired Natalie Cox Harp Quartet to perform at the ceremony and cocktail hour. They played Drake's 'Started From the Bottom' for Marcel's processional and 'Scarborough Fair" for Sarah's walk down the aisle with her father. Sarah and Marcel got emotional as they exchanged personal vows. 'This was the most important aspect of the wedding, our vow exchange,' the bride says. 'Our ceremony was not traditional and we believe that the promises we made to one another are what bind us as partners.' During cocktail hour, guests mingled and enjoyed two signature drinks inspired by the couple's cats. Sarah and Marcel served 'Sakura's Blossom,' a gin, blueberry, sage, amaro, and lemon concoction, along with 'Tomoyo's Dream,' a tequila, blackberry, peach, cordial, and lime drink. They also asked Ceci New York to paint their portraits of their cats that would be used as signage on the bar. The pink bar was decorated in keeping with the day's secret garden theme. Beautiful nature-inspired paintings were added behind the bar and in five sections on the front. Guests found their seating assignments at an escort card display arranged on a moss-covered table; branches, grasses, and petite arrangements of flowers further enhanced the secret garden theme. Mini wooden rounds held each floral card. Though the space largely served as a transitional one, the couple made sure that the décor was impactful. Potted plants were arranged all around the room and an oversized flower arrangement in a gold urn served as the focal point. The reception took place outside, but the Flowers by Edgar team built a custom pergola and covered it in vines to frame the space. 'This created a more intimate environment eliciting that secret garden feel to it all,' Sarah says. 'The Fine Linen Creation team helped us create a color scheme that flowed, found great furniture, and added elements such as vintage plate settings, candelabras, and terrariums to match the vibe.' They also added hanging crystal chandeliers, a spring-inspired floral dance floor, and pastel floral centerpieces to further reinforce the theme. On long tables, a blooming garland of fresh flowers in pastel hues spilled onto the ground. Place settings featured vintage dishware, gold cutlery with intricate white handles, and pink velvet napkins. Along with passed appetizers, Sarah and Marcel served a three-course plated meal for dinner. The menu started with an artichoke and caramelized onion tart, followed by an asparagus and burrata dish, and a choice of beef tenderloin or grilled sea bass. At golden hour, Sarah and Marcel explored the property with their photographer, Larissa Cleveland Photography. They snapped photos throughout the gardens, taking advantage of stunning spaces that they couldn't use for the wedding itself. Sarah's friend Anjali didn't just lend her jewelry: She also created created the couple's tiered wedding cake, which she embellished with pressed flowers that her daughter foraged from her grandmother's backyard. The blooms picked weren't just pretty—some were also extremely meaningful. 'Japanese maple tree leaves were included to honor the years Marcel spent living in Japan,' Sarah notes. The cake was displayed on a hanging structure and included chocolate chip yellow cake with passion fruit curd, coffee frosting, and chocolate crumbs, along with tiers of chocolate and coffee cake. Along with the wedding cake, the couple had an ice cream bar and served sfogliatelle for dessert. Later, they brought out late-night snacks like mini cheeseburgers and shrimp po-boys. The couple spent their honeymoon in Bora Bora, staying in an overwater bungalow. To couples planning their own weddings right now, Sarah and Marcel recommend working as a team. 'We were both involved in every aspect of the planning and always made sure to consult with each other to make decisions,' the bride Photographer Larissa Cleveland Photography Wedding Planning Cole Drake Events Bride's Hair and Makeup Carrie Aldous Flowers Flowers by Edgar Invitations and Paper Goods Ceci New York Rentals Fine Linen Creation Music Natalie Cox Harp Quartet, DJ Brian B Catering Paula Leduc Fine Catering & Events Favors Kellie's Baking Co. Accommodations Rosewood Sand Hill Videographer Elysium ProductionsUp Next: The Top 10 Wedding Planning Mistakes That Cost Couples Thousands of Dollars Read the original article on Brides
San Francisco Chronicle
01-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
A fire nearly destroyed this famous Napa winery. Then a hedge fund took over
In the past five years, a devastating wildfire, multiple legal battles and a bankruptcy filing put the future of one of Napa Valley's most storied wineries in jeopardy. But now, an ambitious, $100 million revitalization from Spring Mountain Vineyard's new owners — New York City hedge fund MGG Investment Group — could bring the sprawling, downtrodden estate back from near death. 'It's going to look like a national park by the time we're done,' said Paul Goldberg, the president of Bettinelli Vineyard Development & Management, which is leading Spring Mountain's vineyard redevelopment efforts. It's best known as the scenic backdrop of the popular 1980s soap opera 'Falcon Crest,' but Spring Mountain Vineyard, located in Napa Valley's Western hillsides, is a shell of its former self. First responders managed to stop the 2020 Glass Fire a few feet from the winery and its caves, but most of the massive, 845-acre mountain estate was engulfed in flames: 19 structures, including La Perla, a historic, 1870s winery, were destroyed and over 100 acres of vines were severely damaged. Today, the property is a work in progress, a patchwork of ruins and burned trees, fresh growth, stacks of ripped out vines, fallow land and newly planted vineyard blocks. From certain vantage points, one can see the remains of Spring Mountain's neighbor, Newton Vineyard, which burned down in the fire and announced its permanent closure in February. For the past year, there's been a near-constant whir of chainsaws at Spring Mountain as a crew of 20 people works tirelessly to remove dead trees. A dozen construction vehicles, including a 250,000-pound bulldozer, are congregated in front of a towering landslide, one of several that need to be repaired before new vines can go in. Fresh piles of milled redwood, recycled from 200-year-old trees that burned, await construction permits from the county. The most encouraging sign of renewal: The forested property is once again teeming with wildlife, and it's not just the 4,000 goats and sheep assisting with fire mitigation. 'Early in the morning, it feels like we're at a zoo,' Goldberg said. A full vineyard replant totaling about 220 acres over three years is at the center of MGG's Spring Mountain revitalization, which also includes plans to build back some of the lost structures and renovate the winery, caves and hospitality spaces. Spring Mountain CEO Peter Ekman estimated that the total effort will cost roughly $100 million and finish in 2028. It's an incredibly complex undertaking. The team started by 'Swiss cheesing' the property with excavators, which dug hundreds of pits to help them 'understand on a very granular level what was going on with the soil,' Goldberg said. They'll plant over 150 individual vineyard blocks one by one, each with customized rootstocks, clones, vine trellising and row orientations. The goal isn't just to replant, but to 'modernize' it and 'future proof' it for climate change, said Spring Mountain viticulture consultant Garrett Buckland of Premiere Viticultural Services. 'It's really a unique opportunity to fix a lot of the things that weren't looked at as important from an environmental protection standpoint,' he continued. 'One hundred years ago, they didn't think about that.' Spring Mountain is one of the most 'fascinating' and versatile sites in Napa Valley, according to Goldberg. There are dozens of soil types and microclimates, a result of its extreme elevation range from the bottom of the mountain in St. Helena to 1,700 feet. Winery estates of this scale are almost nonexistent, but Spring Mountain was originally four separate properties known as La Perla, Chateau Chevalier, Alba and Miravalle, which were all founded between 1872 and 1884. The original owners of these estates were some of the first to cultivate grapevines in the rugged Spring Mountain District, a subregion of Napa Valley. La Perla was the site of the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the district, planted in the 1870s. Chateau Chevalier was first planted by Jacob Beringer, co-founder of the famed Beringer Vineyards, and is home to one of the earliest gravity-flow wineries in the region. The Chevalier winery and Miravalle's Victorian-style mansion — the main setting for Falcon Crest' — both survived the fire. (They're also both rumored to be haunted.) The four estates weren't combined for over 100 years. In the 1970s, a developer named Mike Robins, who established Spring Mountain Vineyard as a winery at another property a few years earlier, purchased Miravalle and moved it there. Soon after, Spring Mountain's Chardonnay competed in the famed Judgment of Paris, but the winery did not rise to the same level of fame as other California participants like Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and Chateau Montelena. The wines ultimately took a backseat to the 'Falcon Crest' fervor; Robbins even produced wines from a separate 'Falcon Crest' label. In the early 1990s, he declared bankruptcy. It was the winery's next owner, secretive Swiss billionaire Jacqui Safra — the chairman of Encyclopedia Britannica and a member of the powerful Safra family — who bought Spring Mountain Vineyard and its three neighboring parcels, finally uniting them as one. The property is roughly the size of New York's Central Park. Under Safra's reign, Spring Mountain began to experience a bit of a revival. But after the fire caused more than $35 million in damage, according to court filings, the winery seemed to reach a standstill as Safra became embroiled in two legal battles. In 2022, he sued one of his insurance carriers for refusing to pay his $10 million wildfire claim; the insurer countersued, claiming it wasn't obligated to pay. Spring Mountain had also defaulted on a $185 million loan from MGG and sued the lender to stop it from taking control of the winery. A forbearance agreement dictated that if Safra didn't sell the winery and massive wine inventory, a nearly 80,000-case cellar dating back to 1979, he'd have to sign over the deed to MGG. Safra filed for bankruptcy in the fall of 2022. MGG acquired the property for a $42 million credit bid through the 2023 bankruptcy auction. But given the outstanding debt of the loan was much more than that, MGG 'probably paid twice what it was worth,' Ekman said. Spring Mountain is MGG's first winery acquisition, and it's one in a long list of classic Napa Valley wineries to lose independent ownership. In January, Italian firm Generali Investments announced it will acquire a majority stake in MGG for $320 million, pending regulatory approval. Ekman said he's 'planning on business as usual.' Outside owners, like foreign corporations and investment groups, are controversial in Napa Valley, where the region's pool of family-owned wineries is rapidly shrinking. Many in the wine industry believe these acquisitions ultimately degrade wine quality and tarnish the legacy of historic estates. In some cases, as with Heitz and Stony Hill, wineries have undergone flashy, multi-million-dollar rebrands and renovations that include big price jumps and alienate longtime customers. This month, the first of Spring Mountain's new vines were planted: 40 acres on the Miravalle Ranch and 12 acres at Chateau Chevalier. But after the 2024 vintage, which Ekman claimed is 'the best wine ever produced from this property,' is released, it'll be years before Spring Mountain will release new wines from its estate and reveal the true impact of the ownership change. (In the interim, the winery will purchase fruit.) When those wines do launch, likely not before 2030, Ekman said, they will look and taste different. Elkman has hired Napa Valley's most sought-after wine consulting duo, Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky, to work alongside the winery's longtime winemaker Barrett Anderson. The goal is to mostly maintain Spring Mountain's classic and minimal intervention winemaking style, but the wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, will have the newly-launched labels, featuring the 'Falcon Crest' mansion's cupola, and be more expensive. Ekman said his goal is to produce a 100-point wine. Spring Mountain's production will also be a small fraction of what it was before: 2,000 to 3,000 cases a year versus upwards of 10,000. In a historic turn of events, 90% of the fruit will be sold to other wineries. 'That's a big change,' Ekman said, adding that the decision could help boost the reputation of the Spring Mountain District, which he feels is underrated. 'These are some of the best grapes in Napa Valley.'
CBS News
05-02-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Mudslide buries portion of Santa Rosa home, trapping residents
A mudslide cascaded onto a home in Santa Rosa Tuesday evening, trapping residents inside until rescue crews were able to reach them, authorities said. The Sonoma County Fire Protection District said the slide happened around 5 p.m. Tuesday on Deer Trail Court west of Wallace Road and just east of Rincon Ridge. The slide severely damaged the home, collapsing part of its walls and roof and causing the home to buckle with the second floor separating from the bottom portion of the home. District spokeswoman Karen Hancock said the slide trapped residents inside the home for a time until firefighters safely rescued them. No injuries were reported. The house, perched against a hillside, had been rebuilt on the burn scar after the 2017 Tubbs Fire, making it especially vulnerable to heavy rain, said Hancock. The Press Democrat reported residents of the home had previously evacuated during the 2019 Kincade Fire and 2020 Glass Fire, both of which narrowly missed the home. The home was the second to be damaged or destroyed in Sonoma County on Tuesday because of the effects of the atmospheric river-fueled storm. Earlier during Tuesday's downpour, a slide pushed a home into the swollen Russian River in Forestville, where it was completely washed away. No one was in the home at the time.
