Noelle + Bryant by Kelly Brown Weddings - Together Journal

Our design vision was to create a modern, European-inspired celebration…

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

Noelle is an Account Director at LIFT Agency, Inc., and Bryant is a Principal at Atlas Partners. Noelle and Bryant love living in Manhattan with New York City’s seemingly endless list of new restaurants to explore. Each week, they set out to try something new. But as much as they love the energy of Manhattan, their hearts often pull them beyond the city. Noelle and Bryant are dedicated skiers and avid tennis players—two pursuits that aren’t easy to participate in the city. As much as they can, they head to the Hudson Valley, where Bryant’s parents live, to play tennis and spend time outdoors. In the winter, their focus shifts to skiing. Both grew up ski racing competitively, and now they travel wherever there’s snow (and an Epic Pass) to get in as many ski days and vertical feet as they can. Their story really began on a group ski trip to Tahoe back in 2017 when they first skied together. Lifts turned into long conversations, and what started as an acquaintance because their friends were dating quickly became something more. They try to get back to California as much as they can (which is why they chose to have their wedding out there).

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

While living in San Francisco after college, Noelle’s best friend started dating Bryant’s best friend (who would end up becoming their best man and matron of honour), and soon their circles overlapped. They first met at MSB, a tiny, rundown, maybe even infamous sushi spot in the Marina. Although it was not a set-up, they continued to bump into each other in the city and started dating only months before Bryant had to move to NYC for his job.

When did you first realize that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?

Noelle and Bryant’s relationship started off with 2 years of distance from opposite sides of the country (SF and NYC), but it made each date/trip to see each other that much more exciting. Each visit brought them one step closer to realising this was the person they wanted to spend the rest of their life with.

When Bryant was accepted to Harvard Business School, they decided to make the move to Boston together. Noelle arranged to work remotely for her agency—a rare exception, as the company didn’t have a remote policy at the time. But just five months later, the world changed. In March 2020, COVID-19 made remote work the new normal for everyone. The extra time together in their tiny Boston apartment only brought them closer.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

Our design vision was to create a modern, European-inspired celebration, seamlessly blended with the effortless elegance and rustic charm of California’s wine country. The soft whites, lush greens, and warm sandy hues of the colour palette were thoughtfully chosen to harmonise with the natural tones and textures of the venue. In an effort to honour the organic beauty of the property, we also embraced potted herbs in place of florals, adding an earthy, refined touch to select spaces. Everything from the rentals to the signage and florals was intentionally understated, designed to maintain a sense of balance and simplicity, ensuring that the breathtaking beauty of the property and its views remained the focal point.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

Everything from the rentals to the signage and florals was intentionally understated, designed to maintain a sense of balance and simplicity, ensuring that the breathtaking beauty of the property and its views remained the focal point. We loved the way the florals turned out and how they melded right into the venue, so much so that you couldn’t tell where the florals ended and the landscaping started. It was as if the wedding design grew up right from the soil.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

The planning process with our planner, Kristen Nakano, was thorough and a lot of fun! In wanting their wedding weekend to feel special, unique, and authentic to themselves and their relationship, Noelle and Bryant were very hands-on with every aspect of the planning process.

One of our favourite parts of the wedding planning process was the in-person mockup—getting to mix and match tables, chairs, and napkins with the floral design. It was a chance to experiment with bold choices we wouldn’t have considered without seeing them firsthand. And of course, the cocktail and food tasting was a highlight—an experience so good it rivalled some of New York’s best tasting menus (in my opinion). We really enjoyed this extra time with our planner to spend the day together, talk through all of the details, eat hors d’oeuvres and taste wine together, and get so excited for the wedding!!

My advice for couples starting their wedding journey would be to focus on what truly matters to you. Pick the three most important things to you and your wedding day experience – whether it’s the food, music, atmosphere, or venue – and prioritise those. Once you’ve secured what matters most first, everything else falls into place and becomes an easier decision. And this is coming from someone who can be very indecisive.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?

The California sun filtered through the windows of the bridal suite as Noelle slipped into her silk crepe mermaid gown. When she first tried on the ‘Robin’ gown by Ines Di Santo, she could feel it was the one, but she worked with the designer to customise the neckline and lower the back to create this one-of-a-kind piece. Though stunning on its own, the capped-sleeve lace ‘Carnegie’ Bolero from Mark Ingram completed the elegant ensemble. Bryant, with his hair brushed back, looked every bit the part of the happy groom. He opted for a classic black tuxedo with a notched lapel and matching black bowtie from Michael Andrews Bespoke. He paired this with his Rolex Submariner and black velvet loafers from Paul Stuart.

For the after party, Noelle made a grand entrance in a sparkling sequin halter dress from LAPOINTE that she paired with the green suede Prada platforms that she wore to the Welcome Dinner–any excuse to wear them again because the Welcome Party dress was too long to show them off properly!

What was one, or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

They envisioned a design that embodied the essence of a European celebration, and Sunstone Villa proved to be the perfect canvas for their dream. They considered a European destination wedding, but California is where they met and fell in love, and when they saw Sunstone Villa, its classic chateau-inspired architecture and serene, private setting created the perfect escape and intimate and exclusive atmosphere. Coming from a family with a deep appreciation for wine, the surrounding vineyards were an added delight, perfectly complementing the estate’s timeless charm.

Noelle and Bryant were determined to craft an experience that felt less like a typical wedding and more like a cherished getaway for their closest friends and family. With guests travelling from near and far, they wanted everyone to feel completely at ease, able to unwind and savour the weekend. Their carefully curated selection of exceptional wines and signature cocktails set the tone, while live music, dancing, and lively conversation filled the air, ensuring their celebration was as much about connection and fun as it was about love. Each of those elements came together beautifully, creating memories that will last a lifetime and were every bit worth the investment.

Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?

The day was windier than expected, which blew my veil up into the sky right as I was walking down the aisle. I thought it was going to fly right off my head, but thankfully, I caught it just in time. It was supposed to be a warm day, so we bought 100 parasols, worried that people would get hot in the sun during the ceremony. Turns out no one used the parasols because the wind cooled it off perfectly!

Conversely, the forecast showed a sharp drop in nighttime temperatures, leaving us worried that guests might get cold. Just days before the big day, we made a last-minute decision to order 100 sparkly jackets in various sizes from Amazon. We planned to hand them out as the night cooled down to keep guests warm and keep them partying. Deliveries arrived right up until the day of the wedding, creating some stressful moments, but the jackets were a huge hit. Guests loved them, the dance floor stayed packed (and sparkly), and many even took the glittering jackets home as a fun souvenir.

From the weather to the run of the day, everything was just perfect, but there was one fun fact from their wedding that was incredibly touching. Their officiant was Noelle’s high school chaplain at the school she attended from preschool through senior year in Minnesota. He had been retired for a couple of years and had already planned to be out in Santa Barbara for his niece’s wedding the weekend before. The wedding was also the date of his and his wife’s 40th anniversary.