After asking for Bess's parents' and grandmother's blessing, Kristin (below left) proposed at a ranch and working farm owned by a close friend. "When we were then offered the ranch for the wedding, we were delighted!" says Kristin. "We couldn't imagine getting married anywhere else." Kristin wore a vintage French lace dress by San Francisco designer Suzanne Hanley of Atelier des Modistes; Bess wore Vera Wang trousers and a Vince blouse.
The morning ceremony was held on the back porch of the farmhouse, where the couple exchanged rings from Sonoma County-based Dawes Design. Afterward, folk and bluegrass duo Anne & Pete Sibley played a song called "Will You Walk With Me" while everyone proceeded to the main lawn for a tree-planting ceremony. "We planted a crab apple tree, as both a gift to the ranch and a way to involve our guests in the ceremony," says Bess.
The guest list included 50 of the couple's closest friends and family members—along with the couple's dog, Bodhi, and the ranch owner's Springer spaniel, Rosie.
Lunch was held beneath a tent; guests found their seats using escort cards from Wedding Paper Divas. Picnic tables were covered with checkered tablecloths and featured arrangements of wildflowers from the property's gardens and local nurseries. "The ranch gardener is a friend of ours, so we trusted her with all the floral design," says Kristin. The tableware was from Classic Party Rentals.
The menu was prepared by the couple's friend Ali Ghiorse, who owns Savory Thymes, a nonprofit catering company. The buffet-style meal featured locally sourced food from nearby farms, and the couple and their guests sipped viognier and pinot noir from local wineries. Cupcakes from Sibby's Cupcakery served as dessert.
Photos: Stephen Hughes Photography
Bess's 94-year-old grandmother, who flew in from Florida, gave a heartfelt toast. "She said how happy she was that she'd lived long enough to attend her granddaughter's wedding," says Bess. "Her love and support for us was so profound and moving."
Kristen's Wedding Dress: Atelier des Modistes || Rings: Dawes Design || Music: Anne & Pete Sibley || Escort Cards: Wedding Paper Divas || Catering: Savory Thymes || Tableware: Classic Party Rentals || Cupcakes: Sibby's Cupcakery || Photographer: Stephen Hughes Photography
See more details from Bess and Kristin's wedding in the full slideshow, and visit our Real Weddings page to find more casual style inspiration.