WHIMSICAL WESTPORT, CALIFORNIA WEDDING AT SWITZER FARM

northern california brides have quite the range of wedding venue options to choose from. some opt for an urban wedding hub like sacramento or san francisco, while others gravitate towards the great outdoors and the charm of the california coastline. the latter is true for #aandbabe kim and dan. these two almost fatefully stumbled across their westport, ca wedding venue!

switzer farm wedding venue in westport

kim grew up in mendocino and knew she wanted their wedding day to take place nearby. when she and dan began dating, she noticed a stunning white house that was being worked on when she would travel between laytonville and fort bragg. upon getting engaged, kim looked up this home, happy to discover it was a wedding venue! she shares, “it was our luck that gary wiess had restored the home and had begun using it as a wedding venue. we had locked in our venue”.

much to kim and dan’s liking, switzer farm wedding venue was the perfect blend of rustic charm and romance. this stunning historic farmhouse venue felt homey, but also majestic with the addition of the stunning ocean views and lush gardens. much of kim and dan’s love story involved falling in love while exploring the remote wilderness together. this outdoor wedding venue in northern california with rugged ocean views, felt like a nod to their adventurous past, mixed with a celebration of the new memories they would be creating as a married couple!

relaxing wedding morning

while every moment of their wedding day was memorable, kim perhaps felt the most at ease during the morning. “we had a relaxing morning as we prepared for the day ahead. i will never forget how everyone surrounded us that morning, it was truly a core memory in the making.”

once ready, kim and dan met in the garden for their first look. both kim and dan decided to surprise each other with their wedding outfit choice, which added another element of surprise to their already special first look.

floral bridal gown with texture

dan was in awe of kim’s floral bridal gown! kim found this textured lace wedding dress at a&bé sacramento. kim knew she liked the look of flowy a-line wedding dresses with texture, but it wasn’t until she tried on made with love’s ‘louie flowy’ gown, that she fell in love. kim’s aunt, who supported kim throughout her bridal shopping experience, agreed that this made with love gown was phenomenal. the perfect mix of whimsy with elegance, louie flowy was practically made for their coastal wedding ceremony in california!

remote coastal wedding ceremony

with the rugged coastline as their backdrop and 22 acres of meadows by their side, kim and dan’s serene ceremony spot felt so intimate. dark wooden benches lined either side of the aisle with vibrant grounded floral arrangements at the end. guests sat with welcome cocktails in hand, some holding white parasols while witnessing kim and dan commit their life to one another. standing in front of a worn, driftwood fence, kim and dan exchanged their “self written vows though smiles and tears”.

foraged wedding flower inspiration

much of the flowers seen at the ceremony included natural elements like wildflowers, ferns, and greenery. these foraged-inspired flower arrangements decorated their wedding ceremony space and the reception. reception tables held bud vases with delicate flowers that appeared to be freshly picked for this occasion. larger arrangements, brimming with color, could be seen in flower pots accented by disco balls to add a party-like pop to the reception aesthetic.

floral-inspired wedding drinks

kim and dan’s botanical wedding theme didn’t stop at the arrangements. they even garnished their wedding cocktails with edible flowers! each floral wedding drink contained a pink or blue floral cocktail garnish. matching their natural wedding details, these fun flower beverages were a fun twist to the typical signature wedding drink!

at the end of the night, the fog rolled in and kim put on a fuzzy bridal jacket. the heat lamps flickered on and everyone made their way to the dance floor. celebrating in the glow of the bistro lights above, the weather and limited visibility resulted in a film-like appearance to every evening wedding photo. eventually creating a soft and ethereal ambiance much like the aurora of the moment itself, the wonder of this day and night was undeniable. kim adds, “i had a fun and relaxing wedding filled with love, light, and little bits of magical fog!”

dress designer: made with love / bridal shop: a&bé sacramento / photographer: nik z photo / venue: switzer farm / planning and styling: zoe braga events / bar: mendocino outland / catering: dalen anderson / officiant: pema