A Wintry Wedding at Cavallo Point
An intimate elopement, breathtaking views, and soft, wintry blooms at one of my favorite Bay Area venues — Cavallo Point Lodge in Sausalito.
Cavallo Point Lodge in Sausalito is easily one of my favorite venues in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California overall. Breathtaking views of the Golden Gate bridge, the bay, the San Francisco skyline, AND the Marin hills -- all from one spot. The setting is historic, and accommodations are pure luxury (I love that couples and their guests can spend the night here, so convenient). All of this to say, this was a super sweet spot for Maria and Matt’s intimate elopement celebration.
For Maria’s bridal bouquet I started with panda anemones (her favorite!) as a focal flower, then incorporated softer wintry tones. I used autumn eucalyptus as an ode to the many eucalyptus trees found around the Cavallo Point property, brown lisianthus, white sweetpeas, scabiosa, and a pop of berry-like elements for texture. Light and airy bud vases and centerpieces in warm metallic pedestal vases added the perfect amount of warmth to their al fresco candlelight dinner.
California elopement photographer Natalie N captured their day so well. Scroll tot see some of my favorites!
VENDORS
Photography: Natalie N
Floral Design: Anastasia Andenmatten
Venue: Cavallo Point Lodge
Anastasia Andenmatten is a floral design studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area with a modern approach to customizing florals for weddings, businesses, and events.
Flower Guide: Winter Wedding Flowers
A roundup of my favorite unexpected and overlooked wedding flowers for the winter season.
A roundup of my favorite unexpected and overlooked wedding flowers for the winter season.
Fritillaria
The snake’s head variety, in particular. This checkered bell-shaped lily is super delicate and whimsical. Ideal for petite arrangements, like in a shallow ikebana dish in a tablescape, or a bridal bouquet. Fritillaria kind of marks the entrance to Spring from Winter, and there’s truly no other flower like it.
Heather
We tend to see Heather pop up around Valentine’s Day as it comes in shades of pink, lavender, and white. While commercially it tends to be used as filler, its soft, organic, sweeping texture makes it the perfect fit for a large-scale floral installation, all on its own. Heather has my heart.
Hellebore
These are easy to come by locally in the San Francisco Bay Area, and there’s a window of time in the winter that we find the most beautiful shades — from muted pinks and ivories, to deep moody purples and blacks. These soft focal blooms are delicate yet hearty, and make a beautiful addition to a bridal bouquet.
Sweet Pea
The varieties we see in the winter months are imported from Japan and Holland, versus the shorter, viney varieties found in the San Francisco Bay Area come summer. But they are the most beautiful out there. They come in a range of hues, from muted blush to cool lavender to bright coral. Soft, delicate, and with a sweet scent, these are the perfect fit for the romantic bride. Sweet Pea is a go-to ‘line’ flower in my designs.
Kumquat
Adding any fruit to an arrangement instantly makes it more dynamic, and citrus is especially appropriate for winter. I love using Kumquats for their bright and cheery color, typically placing them low in an arrangement and hanging off the lip of the vase. Ideal for a colorful wedding design!
Amaryllis
Commonly known as a Christmas flower bulb, but with so much more potential. These show-stoppers are bold and long-lasting. Amaryllis stems are upwards of 2’, so they can really shine in tall arrangements or large-scale installations, especially when all on their own. They come in the prettiest winter hues -- creams, pinks, corals, deep burgundies, and mixed varietals.
Lily
I’m cheating a bit with these because they’re generally available year-round, but lilies are long-lasting, come in many varieties, and have a memorable scent. They’re a great option for a large-scale floral installation (like this one by Color Theory Design Co.) used all on their own or with minimal other ingredients, and a perfect fit for an adventurous bride looking to make a statement.
Carnation
Easily one of the most under-appreciated flowers. But let me sell you on these! Carnations are hearty and long-lasting, which is why you often see them used in commercial arrangements (and why they get a bad rap). But they can be found in an endless variety of colors, my favorite being the more muted tones. I love using carnations in a monochromatic palette for added texture.
LET’S CHAT
For more wedding tips, head back to my blog for posts like 7 tips for creating your wedding moodboard. I am currently accepting wedding inquiries for 2022. Schedule a complimentary floral consultation here. I’d love to hear more about your day!
Anastasia Andenmatten is a floral design studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area with a modern approach to customizing florals for weddings, businesses, and events.
A Modern Winter Wedding at Foreign Cinema, San Francisco
Meagan and Kyle got married on the Mayer’s Balcony of San Francisco’s City Hall, quietly, with family by their sides. Then they threw a big ole party at Foreign Cinema to celebrate. The day was a true reflection of the bride and groom: relaxed, contemporary, and fun.
THE COUPLE - Meagan and Kyle got married on the Mayer’s Balcony of San Francisco’s City Hall, quietly, with family by their sides. Then they threw a big ole party to celebrate. It was February, and after what felt like weeks of non-stop rain, the sun had finally come out for the wedding reception.
Ultimately, the day was a true reflection of the bride and groom: relaxed, contemporary, and fun. Meagan looked sophisticated and confident in a silk slip dress by Theia, and Kyle looked classic in a blue suit by JCrew. Their Frenchie pup Penny was the perfect accessory.
THE VENUE - Their chosen venue was Foreign Cinema in San Francisco. The restaurant is an experience in itself, where guests sit in full view of a ‘drive-in’ style film. With friends and family traveling from out of town, the venue was a perfect destination and uniquely San Francisco.
Foreign Cinema’s outdoor heated courtyard lit with market lights, massive fireplace with roaring fire, and art gallery space with modern white walls created a rustic, romantic, but urban atmosphere.
When I first met with Meag, we spoke about her vision. She wasn’t looking for anything that was too traditional or over the top. The couple wanted the venue to speak for itself. And so, their florals were inspired -- modern meets urban meets romantic.
THE FLOWERS - When designing the floral elements for the wedding reception, I focused on dynamic layers of greenery highlighted by a neutral palette of whites, sandstone, and peach. Stand-out blooms included anenomes, butterfly ranunculus, tulips, scabiosa, genestra, and protea. Options for beautiful flowers in Winter are endless! Centerpiece arrangements sat in gray cement vessels that fit right into the urban space.
GRATITUDE - This wedding will always have a special place in my heart, as it happened right after I put in my notice at my 9-5 job to start my own business full time. I am grateful for Meag & Kyle’s confidence in my work and for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of their special day.
I can’t wait to share another project with you. I am currently booking for the 2019 + 2020 seasons! Contact me here to chat about your upcoming event.
Floral Design: Anastasia Andenmatten
Photography: Hillary Jeanne
Hair/Makeup: Painted Ladies
Dress: Theia
Suit: J.Crew
Venue: Foreign Cinema
Hotel: Proper Hotel San Francisco
DJ: Fox Sounds
Day-of Coordination: Tosca Productions
