A Honeybee Inspired Wedding Shoot at a California Winery's New Venue

Nestled in at the top of a hill overlooking the Santa Maria Valley, Presqu'ile Winery is a charming, family-owned and operated vineyard that delivers not just amazing wines but amazing views too. From the top of the hill, you can see all the way to the coastline on a clear day, so it should come as no surprise that this spot is prime real estate for Central Coast weddings. Newly launched brand Embark Event Design recently headed up a real wedding photo shoot at the venue and brought in a gorgeous, relaxed aesthetic to complement the setting.

We recently caught up with Sarah Strausser, owner of Embark, and got all the backstory and details behind the wedding shoot. So, we'll let her explain the honeybee motif, soft color palette and what makes Presqu'ile Winery's new hilltop ceremony and reception space one of the best places for a wedding on the Central Coast.





How did this event come about?

What began as an idea to capture and convey the beauty of Presqu'ile Winery's new hilltop wedding ceremony and reception site through the lens of Amber Lynn Photography and Foxjump Cinematics quickly transformed into an unforgettable creative project.





Tell us about this venue!

Presqu'ile Winery is nestled on a hilltop overlooking the intimate valley of Santa Maria, between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, California. The venue looks over the entire valley stretching from hillside all the way to the Pacific Ocean. 





What went into this design? Any special inspirations?

Our details for the shoot included a focus on honeybees, a nod to our sweet real couple. We played with yellow hues in elements throughout the shoot, and used cool blues to elevate the color pallete. Honeycomb cookies from Pardon My French made for the prettiest treats - and we were even able to incorporate real bees into our flat lay styled images. 

BHLDN bridal lingerie and robes made for the most delicate and cozy getting ready attire as our bride and bridesmaids sipped Presqu’ile bubbly in the spectacular bridal suite. The girls took a moment to exchange gifts from BOXFOX, with elements both luxurious and pampering in the bridal box. After slipping into BHLDN gowns, they picked out accessories from Untamed Petals, including a floor length veil for the bride graced with delicate flowers against her simple, timeless gown. 





Did guests eat or drink anything unique? What went into the reception? 

Over in the cocktail area, the couple enjoyed fresh honey sangria, featuring a Presqu’ile rose, fresh fruit, and the sweetest raw honey. They took time in the The Photo Bus SLO, capturing fun and candid photo strips to take home. The drinks doubled as an escort display, each glass adorned with a calligraphed escort card from Papertree Studio, urging guests to “sip and be seated.” The head table sat at the edge of the hillside, and created the perfect place to watch the sun set behind the rolling hills. The florals featured crisp blooms in soft colors, each flower bursting open and sitting pretty amidst all the details. 

Hand calligraphed name cards fixed on grey flatware guided guests to their seats. The soft stoneware plates and gauzy linen napkins created a contrast in texture, and each setting was graced with a fresh persimmon. In the final moments of sunlight, bride and groom enjoyed a specialty sweetheart cake with fresh florals and delicate blue silk ribbon. 





What was your favorite part of creating this shoot?

We found that a fun pallete combined with graceful, delicate details made for a great balance in this shoot. We loved finding ways to draw out our honeybee motif, and capture the beauty of our setting, our beautiful couple, and endless creative elements.





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Credits

Venue: Presqu'ile Winery | Photography: Amber Lynn | Planning & Design: Embark Event Design | Video: Fox Jump Cinematics | Floral Design: Wilder Floral Co. | Gowns: BHLDN | Accessories: Untamed Petals | Hair: Cassidy Pope | Makeup: Jennifer Souza | Photo Booth: The Photo Bus SLO | Paper Goods: Papertree Studio | Letter Board: Bourbon Blue Cards | Welcome Boxes: BOXFOX | Sweets: Pardon My French Bakery | Drinks: Bottles & Ice | Rentals: Embellish Vintage Rentals & All About Events | Linens: Blush Fine Linens | Styling Blocks: Sourced Co.