What Matters Most?

Sure. It's the biggest and most important party you'll ever throw. You've got tons of ideas and want to use them all. You want your wedding to be the one people talk about for years to come. That's all OK. But...work hardest to keep your focus on what really matters. At the end of the day, marrying the one you love is truly what matters most... 

Vintage rentals?

Are you looking for one-of-a-kind accents for your big day?  Do you want lots of vintage touches but don't have the time or money to invest?  Are you interested in being 'green' by using recycled and re-purposed elements at your event?

Check out our newly developed sister company, {storehouse}rentals.  As the saying goes, "Find a need and fill it!"  That's what {storehouse} does for Northern California brides, event planners and photographers.  It's a one-stop shop, making it simple and affordable for you to incorporate fabulous vintage and eclectic details into your event or photo shoot.

Summer Sherbet ~ John and Brenda's Storybook

As a child, Brenda's family spent many happy summer days in Nevada County, so when she and John decided to marry she knew it had to be at the Empire Mine State Park in Grass Valley.  With both families and most of their friends being from the San Francisco bay area, it became a destination wedding. Planning from afar can be tricky, but being a librarian, Brenda was well acquainted with research and begin sourcing local vendors via the internet. Being from out of the area, she and John were wise to choose all local vendors who had experience at the site and with each other through the local wedding professional association, NC Weds.  She also did quite a bit of DIY to pull together her vision of ivory and pale sherbet colors to accent the abundant greenery of the park. Storybook stepped in to handle the rehearsal and the wedding day, seeing that the couple's vision was carried out perfectly...telling their love story, their way.

What is the goal?

There is an ancient Chinese saying that goes like this..."A leader is best when people barely know he  exists.  When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves."

A good wedding designer will make sure you get the glory.  Storybook won't set business cards out by your guest book or use our logo on your favors. Instead, you will find us behind the scenes, quietly making sure everything is perfect for your day.  Our aim is that your family and friends will be amazed at how flawlessly "you've" pulled it all off...they will only see your love story, your way.  

View Forever ~ Stephen and Lauren's Storybook

An outdoor, spring wedding in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is always an iffy affair...it could be in the 80's or it could snow. The weather for this wedding changed hourly from sun to snow to rain, so the plans had to change accordingly. The actual wedding, held at the Bride's family vineyard, had no rain but was very cold - thank goodness for the early morning IKEA run to get fleece throws for the guests. Stephen and Lauren's ceremony was intimate, personal and beautiful.  The Bride and Groom served at the buffet which became a kind of receiving line where they could personally talk to each guest. The rain/snow came and went during cocktails and began in earnest as the last guest was served dinner. Due to the weather, we moved the reception into the family home and the atmosphere became very uptown-cocktail-party...we were shoulder to shoulder but it couldn't have been sweeter. Toasts & (cheese)cake cutting continued as planned. The massive coffee table became an impromptu location for the first dance, accompanied by a composed-as-she-went piano solo by a dear friend. Plans changed but the dream of a 'perfect' wedding was fulfilled ~ Stephen and Lauren's day certainly told their love story, their way. (Many of the photos were taken by their friend, Lara Choma)

Autumn Gift ~ Kelly and Anna's Storybook

Kelly and Anna put their marriage plans in high gear when they realized her father had only a short time to live.  We were able to quickly secure the venues - the wedding, at their church and the reception, at a friend's lakeside home - and were able to plan the whole affair in about three weeks.  The late fall weather was in the 70s and the autumn leaves were at the peak of their color, but the best thing about the day was that the bride's father was well enough to attend both the wedding and reception.  He walked his eldest daughter down the aisle only three weeks before his passing. After the ceremony, the wedding party and the family took outdoor photos at a nearby state park. Even though the autumnal palette was an obvious choice for this mid-November wedding, the scheme was far from cliché.  Anna's gown, gauzy draping in the church, the pumpkin centerpieces and the abundance of candles were all in creamy ivory, adding an elegance to the look of the day. Muted green linens covered the tables and unexpected metallics of bronze and copper were also introduced in the painted pumpkins seen on the buffet table. Dinner included chicken marsala and herbed salmon with roasted vegetables, several salads and homemade breads. Kelly loves pumpkin pie, so the autumn favorite stood in as the Groom's 'cake' while chocolate dipped caramel apples served as the evening's favors. The special gift of her father's presence certainly helped Kelly and Anna tell their love story, their way.  

Country Sweets ~ Andrew and Callie's Storybook

Some couples have lots of great ideas and lots of help in the months and weeks leading up to their big day and don't need a lot of professional help.  But, come wedding day, every bride and groom (and their parents) should be able to relax and feel like guests because someone else has stepped in to see that all those great ideas are executed to a tee. That was the situation with Andrew and Callie's wedding...they simply needed someone behind the scenes to carry out their vision. The wedding and reception were beside a pond in the meadow of a working ranch; it had the feel of an old-fashioned country social as guests arrived bearing their special desserts to be added to the table of sweets. Country touches like a horse drawn carriage, vintage pick-up trucks, field flowers in mason jars and vintage family place-settings helped to set just the right tone. Much of the wedding's charm was due to it's handmade nature, including the bridal gown made by Callie's mother and the cake by her sister-in-law.  Being surrounded by family and friends, a table full of sweets and dancing under the stars on a warm summer night ~ the perfect way for Andrew and Callie to tell their love story, their way. (Photos by Single Frame Cinema)

Why do I need a Wedding Planner?

The simple answer is so you can enjoy your wedding day rather than stressing about the vendors, the guests, the timeline, etc.  In more detail, the reasons are...

• It will save you time.  On average, it takes about 250 hours to plan a wedding.  You probably don't have the luxury of that much expendable time, but a wedding planner does.  At Storybook we concentrate on one wedding at a time so you have undivided attention to your needs and desires, making sure nothing is overlooked.

• It will save you money.  Most wedding planners have long-standing relationships with vendors and are often able to negotiate the best prices.  You will have an advocate who knows what's what so you'll know exactly what you're paying for and you won't get talked into things you don't really need or want.

• It will save your sanity. Weddings are all about details...so many little things need to come together to create the big picture.  A wedding planner will make sure nothing is overlooked so your wedding day will run smoothly and look exactly as you envisioned.

• They can offer advice.  Having designed and managed a number of weddings, they know what will and won't work.  They can take your basic concept and develop it into a cohesive vision.  A planner can point you to just the right sources and vendors after having done extensive research, again saving you valuable time and money.

• They can help to manage relationships.  Planning a wedding can be very stressful and cause tensions to rise between bride and groom, parents, attendants and/or vendors.  A wedding planner can act as a mediator, advocating on your behalf ~ they work for you and will do whatever it takes to ease your stress and get you to the ultimate goal.

• They can prepare your timelines and review contracts with vendors. No matter how simple or over-the-top your plans may be, none of it will happen on its own. A wedding planner will prepare detailed timelines to make sure every aspect of your day happens in the way and at the time you want.  To make it all happen, the planner needs to review all your vendor contracts, making sure everything will happen as planned and that everyone involved understands their part in your big day.

• They will manage your rehearsal and wedding day.  The success of your ceremony is based on your rehearsal; a planner can be sure everyone is on the same page and knows their personal "where, when and what" so the ceremony runs flawlessly.  They will be sure your reception site is set up precisely as you planned and then manage the vendors and events during the party, ensuring you don't incur costly overtime charges.

• They will be your voice on the big day.  The last thing you need on your wedding day is for vendors, guests or family members to be asking you questions.  Your planner will be there to field all questions, handle all crisis (often, without you even knowing they occurred!) and make sure you feel like a guest at your own party.

It is no longer considered a luxury to hire a wedding planner...even the most organized DIY bride needs somebody to be where she can't come wedding day.

Every wedding is as unique as the couple it unites and the same is true for the services needed. Whatever level of assistance you need, Storybook will be able to provide.  We'll work together to design a plan that meets your specific needs and fits your budget.  

Classic Tahoe ~ Kyle and Kailee's Storybook

Kyle and Kailee, students in Chicago, decided on a Lake Tahoe wedding over the Christmas holiday. They picked the venue on-line and then called for some West Coast help; together we planned all the details via phone and email in just one month's time. The couple, their families and close friends arrived the day before the wedding in a snow storm but by the next morning the weather was gorgeous, with snow on the ground and the sun shining brightly. The venue's stunning lake view served as a backdrop to their ceremony. Cocktails were served in the fireside lounge while the room was reset for the buffet dinner and champagne reception for 60 guests. The couple's goal of understated elegance was achieved with beautiful linens, fresh flowers and an abundance of candlelight in the classic palette of black and white with red accents. Surrounded by those closest to them and dancing the night away, these long-time sweethearts created an intimate affair that told their love story, their way.

Woodland Dream ~ Alyosha and Sarah's Storybook

I ask all my couples for a few words to describe how they want their day to look and feel...vintage and whimsical were the words Alyosha and Sarah used. Inspiration for the 'look' of their wedding built over the course a few weeks as we began looking around.  She spotted her wedding gown from across the store and knew it was the one even before trying it on...the ivory chiffon was embellished with pewter beading so the color scheme began with shades of gray and silver.  They wanted to use a single color of flowers but weren't sure which color until Sarah found an apple green paper she adored for the invitations and programs.  Next, in downtown San Francisco, she fell in love with a bunch of King Protea at a corner flower stand and pink entered the scheme. Other elements helped capture the old, collected feel they were going for, including a vintage typewriter with custom stationary for the guest 'book', an antique birdcage (with apple green parakeets) at the ceremony aisle, 'crystal' chandeliers above the cake table and a 1930's car for their getaway. The green flowers weren't used just for centerpieces and bouquets...the ring bearer's 'pillow' was a bed of button mums, the escort 'cards' were spider mums with names attached by a pearl pin and more button mums accented the menu cards. The couple choose mojitos and local wines for their cocktail hour and a creative menu of kabobs - chicken, beef and shrimp - with roasted vegetables and assorted salads for the warm summer evening.  Since the couple had spent many hours talking (and falling in love) over cups of tea while students in Chicago, we decided to include that history...vintage silver teapots were used as centerpieces and loose leaf tea from their favorite Chicago source was given as favors. Alyosha and Sarah's woodland wedding perfectly told their love story, their way. (Photos by Luke Ewing, plus Lana Puckett and other friends)      

WhereIDo.com

Check this out if you're looking for the perfect outdoor venue...WhereIDo.com has many private residences available for your special day.

Winter White ~ Daniel and Rachel's Storybook

Daniel and Rachel planned their wedding for a Saturday in January...it just happened to be the weekend of one of the worst storms the county had seen in years. When there was no power at either the wedding or the reception site, a quick trip to the store yielded dozens of extra candles. The mood at both locations was cozy and intimate due to the forced, but ultimately delightful, lighting changes. In honor of her late father, Rachel carried his photo on her bouquet as she walked down the aisle on the arm of her brother. After the ceremony, the planned outdoor photos moved to the interiors and porches of the Bed and Breakfast they had booked for their wedding night, with one exception. Rachel had her heart set on a photo in the middle of their quaint town's main street...a vintage umbrella was called into service and the resulting photo is priceless. The couple chose a palette of white, cream and black, with touches of gold that sparkled all the more by candlelight. Black and white photography played a key role in all the paper goods - invitations, programs, menu cards and decorations. Instead of the traditional cocktail hour, the couple offered a hot beverage buffet featuring dark chocolate cocoa with homemade marshmallows, mulled cider with cinnamon sticks and gourmet coffees. They had planned a hearty and rustic dinner menu with a first course of organic greens, followed by a soup and bread buffet which turned out to be perfect for the weather. Rachel and Daniel added many personal touches throughout their celebration including using, as their sweetheart table, an antique that had been given to her parents as a wedding gift 30 years before. At evening's end, the guests boxed up their choices from the homemade black and white cookies and candies at the favor table. The day was full of challenges but nothing deterred the telling of their love story, their way.