Saskia & Mark Donner
...."Winery Wedding in San Luis Obispo, 2008"
Saskia & Mark Donner's Wedding Details
Their Story
Saskia and Mark are a couple from San Carlos, CA (Bay Area) who graduated from Cal Poly in SLO and wanted to have their wedding in the San Luis Obispo Wine Country. They met in 1995, started dating in 2000 and were married in San Luis Obispo, CA on August 16, 2008.
How They Met
Saskia and Mark met as Freshmen while attending college at Cal Poly. They didn’t start dating until their final year at school. Their blossoming romance gave them an opportunity to discover much more about all of the fabulous sights, sounds, tastes that SLO City and County have to offer. They took vineyard courses together and developed a shared love for food and wine. After graduation, they moved to the Bay Area, but took trips to revisit the Central Coast as often as possible.
The Proposal
For the proposal, Mark planned a dinner at one of their favorite restaurants in San Francisco, The Boulevard. Obviously enjoying her life, Saskia commented to Mark, "Wow. I am with my favorite person, enjoying a breathtaking view while eating the best scallops in San Francisco and drinking a phenomenal bottle of wine... it doesn’t get any better." Well, Mark thought it could get just a little bit better and proposed on the spot. Saskia said yes! With their long-term ties with the SLO area from college, their study of vineyards and their love of wine, both Mark and Saskia knew that their wedding just had to be at a vineyard in SLO.
Their Wedding
Ceremony & Reception Site:
Saskia and Mark had visited the Edna Valley Vineyard tasting room years before their wedding and they had a shared vision of one day having their wedding there. Saskia says that "the rolling hills and expansive vineyards, incredible views, and of course, the fantastic wine was the perfect combination to fit our personalities." They so loved the location that without visiting any other potential Venues, they chose the fabulous Edna Valley Vineyard, with the assistance of the site’s event director Tina Hoppe, for both their ceremony and reception.
Photography:
Saskia and Mark decided upon Fitzpatrick Studios for their wedding photographs. You can see why when you take a look at the beautiful photographs that are presented below. Photographer Melissa Fitzpatrick wowed the couple with her great talent, attention to detail and calm demeanor throughout an action-packed emotional day.
Wedding Cake:
The couple met with a few bakers about their Wedding Cake. After consultations and tastings, they chose The Cakery to create their special cake. Their fabulous wedding cake provided not only a incredibly beautiful focal point at the reception, but also a very tasty dessert for their guests.
Other Wedding Services:
Other service/product providers were an Italian themed meal by Trumpet Vine Catering, floral arrangements by Panacea Event Floral Design, music by Bobbie Webb and the Smooth Blues. And Saskia discovered nearby Robbins Family Farm and decided to use their olive oil as wedding favors for her guests.
The Rest of The Story:
The Rest Of The Story: Why did Saskia and Mark return to the Central Coast from the Bay Area to hold their wedding? One of their main objectives was to bring their family and friends to the place where they fell in love so that they could experience why San Luis Obispo is such a special place to them. The underlying theme of their event (more than just the wedding, but the whole long weekend getaway) was a "...Celebration of the Central Coast Culture – the people, the scenery, the flavor – the organic beauty and charm of the area." Saskia and Mark enjoyed taking weekend trips to the SLO area both to plan their wedding and to reconnect with the area. "Every Vendor we interacted with brought their own touch to our day and the event was as much an acknowledgement of their contribution as it was a tribute to the people and place that contributed to our bond." "Going back to the Central Coast now holds a more special meaning to us, as we have memories of our loved ones enjoying our special place as much as we do. We feel more tied to the people we worked with along the way and the places we visited while planning our day."
Congratulations to this new couple as they begin their happily ever after!