Rustic & Elegant Chalkboard Signage

As a San Francisco based wedding planner, I covered a lot of territory, over 250 miles to be exact. During high wedding season, you can find us up in Napa executing a wedding on a Saturday, only to find us in Carmel-by-the-Sea or Big Sur the following Thursday preparing for a large rehearsal dinner. With that said, we plan and execute weddings in many different types of venues and environments.

Regardless of the region we're in at any given time, one beautiful theme seems carries through in "most"  outdoor affairs - simple, rustic elegance.

Rustic elegance doesn't mean that it's more casual, less formal or cheaper than another style, it just means it's more relaxed, not overworked and nothing too perfect. It also allows for a more creative approach to many traditional elements that many brides are leaning towards because it's simple beauty, not overly fussy and allows for elements that work with an outdoor or unconventional space.

A good example of an element that works beautifully is elegant chalkboard signage. We execute this detail a lot in our rustic ranch, vineyard and garden weddings. If done right, the statement can be as beautiful as receiving letter press invitation.

We've used chalkboards in place of menus, escort card tables, seating charts, table names and ceremony programs. It can really be used in any place that you're providing a directive to your guests. The sky is the limit.

To create elegant signage using chalkboards, I have "go to" vendors who design and create it for us. I use always use my network's top calligraphers to draw on the content and then it goes to our floral designer for a floral or organic touch to finish it off.

Enjoy the following images of gorgeous signage inspiration.

Happy planning!
~simone

Bob & Natalie {Real Wedding} Cavallo Point, Sausalito, CA

Jerry Yoon Photography

As a wedding planner, my team gets to plan and execute close to twenty weddings per season. Even though we have a special connection with each of our couples, there are a handful of clients that really move us beyond the norm. It's weddings and people like these that reaffirms why I love my job as much as I do, and is the sole reason why my team and our vendors work so hard on every detail. It's just pure wedding magic. I feel this way about Eileen and Stephen from 2010, Ashley and Dave from 2011 and Bob and Nat from this season.

I first started working with Bob and Natalie sixteen months before their wedding date. When I first met Nat for lunch, we immediately hit it off. Natalie is one of the coolest girls with the coolest diction. She's just a fun and delightful person to be around - witty, funny, drop dead gorgeous, AND has no idea. Bob is more reserved than Nat, but is her perfect compliment - disarming, funny and very charming. Together, these two are a blast and we had an amazing time planning.

One of the most special moments was being with them during our site tour at Cavallo Point. I loved watching them fall in love with the property and having their "ah ha" moment together on the ceremony lawn overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. They hugged and looked over at me with excitement and said, "we love it".

Over the next month or so, we put together an all-star team of vendors who each shared the same connection and style with our couple.

The next several months were spent in constant design collaboration between myself, Yasmin of Floral Theory and Natalie. Together we came up with a gorgeous color palette of peach, ivory and sapphire blue with rustic and organic, yet elegant touches. Nat is super artsy and relaxed so it was important to her that nothing was too fussy or overworked but was still beautiful and understated.

Cavallo Point was the perfect environment for it all.

The ceremony was held in Cavallo's Mission Blue Chapel where a twenty foot ivory tulle wall was custom made from inspiration of Natalie's gorgeous Amsale gown. It played an amazing backdrop to their simple ceremony where we lined the aisle with water and pillar candles, tons of ivory Rose petals and white Phalaenopsis Orchids.

The cocktail hour, which was held on the Mission Blue lawn, had a more rustic feel with dark wood lounge furniture and custom wine barrel bars and kiosks.  We loved the deconstructed floral treatments of ivory Hydrangea, Juliet garden roses and white Parrot Tulips. The space boasts an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge which was a special sight for a heavily East Coast guest list who all took advantage of the natural photo-opp.

The dinner reception in Cavallo's Callippe Room echoed the rustic romantic feeling again featuring dark wood farm tables and delicate sheer ivory runners flush with floral and lots of natural candle light. The guests dined on three delicious courses - a citrus salad with uni, heirloom potato bisque, and a duo of roasted Petrole Sole and braised short ribs. For dessert, three flavors of the best wedding cake created by Perfect Endings.

It was a magical and flawless day with an amazing couple with their very special friends and family. I wish we could do it all over again every year.

Congrats again, Bob and Nat!

Enjoy this gorgeous portfolio by the dynamic team of Jerry and Ingrid Yoon, Jerry Yoon Photography.

Cavallo Point wedding - Natalie & Bob from IQvideography on Vimeo.

Vendor Credits: 
Wedding Planning & Design: Simone Lennon, Soiree by Simone Lennon
Floral & Event Design: Yasmin Zialcita Ali, Floral Theory
Photography: Jerry & Ingrid Yoon, Jerry Yoon Photography
Videography: Alex Kohn, IQ Videography
Venue & Catering: Cavallo Point Lodge
Event Rentals & Specialty Linens: Hartmann Studios
Wedding Cake: Perfect Endings
Photo Booth: Gary Sexton Photography
Photo Booth Backdrop: Allison Silber, Engaged & Inspired
Invitations: Dauphine Letterpress
Menus & Programs: Union Street Papery
Bridal Hair & Make-up Team: Michaela South, sHe Beauty by Sarah Hyde
Contributing Designer: Erin Borges, Erin Borges Event Design

Bride's Attire:
Wedding Dress: Amsale via Marina Morrison Bridal Boutique
Sparkly Peep Toe Pumps: Stuart Weitzman
Flats: BHLND
Vintage Diamonds & Jewelry: Fourtane Jewelers, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Engagement Ring: Tiffany & Co.

Bridal Party's Attire:
Bridemaids' Dresses: J. Crew
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Groom & Groomsmen's Suites: Men's Wearhouse