Rehearsal Dinner: Chrissy & Alex

Today's feature is actually a rehearsal dinner, but I think it could just as easily be a really fun wedding, and it felt like a really fun theme for the Fourth of July weekend. Laurie Arons created this retro hoedown party for a bride and groom in Calistoga, and Thayer Allyson Gowdy captured it all in these great shots...




The wedding took place at a private home in Northern California.




During the cocktail hour guests enjoyed a full bar, including the signature drink of whiskey sours, as well as mesquite grilled prawns and chipotle deviled eggs, provided by Daniel Ripley Catering. Dinner included buttermilk fried chicken, barbecue ribs, biscuits, cornbread and coleslaw.


Hats and bandannas from Oriental Trading Company.


Everyone came dressed in their cowboy gear! Welcome baskets included the classic children's book This is San Francisco, old fashioned peanut brittle, Popchips, sunscreen, a San Francisco/Napa Valley Zagat guide customized with the couple's wedding date (a gift from the Zagats, close friends of the couple), a tin of roasted almonds from Torn Ranch, Calistoga mineral water, and a detailed welcome letter listing the weekend's activities.



A bluegrass band, booked through Innovative Entertainment, serenaded the cocktail hour, and played after dinner.








PSPaper created the table names - each one named after vintage western movies and shows.


Guests enjoyed a country western themed movie about the bride and groom!






After dinner there was square dancing, complete with a caller.


The bride loves cake, so she had Perfect Endings make a display of home-style favorites, including devil's food, banana, spiced pecan, and red velvet. There were also s'mores (with organic dark chocolate, and homemade marshmallows and grahams - of course!) to end the evening. Guests were sent home with small burlap bags filled with retro candy.

If this doesn't look like a fun time, then I don't know what does! Congratulations Chrissy and Alex, and thank you so much to Laurie Arons and Thayer Allyson Gowdy for sharing this wonderful party with us. You can also see some of Thayer's pics of the actual wedding day over on Laurie's blog.

Related Site

Decoracion para Matrimonios y Bodas
Organizacion de Matrimonios y Bodas
Regalos para Matrimonios y Bodas

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