Before Danika + Jonathan tied the knot at their estate in California they’d spent eight whole years building and blending their big family. Both of them had kids of their own when they started dating and they’d welcomed two more together as well. So when they started planning their day they knew they wanted it to be as much of a celebration of the life they’d created as it was the beginning of a new chapter.
“We viewed our wedding as a celebration of how far we have come as a couple,” says bride Danika. “I wanted classic and timeless. I didn’t want to look back 20 years from now and regret anything.” Together with Jenn Robirds Events the couple planned a day that included a stunning outdoor ceremony in front of their barn with a bold checkered statement aisle, a lavish dinner in their wine cellar (where Jonathan proposed!), and lots of timelessly elegant black + white design details.
Hosting the wedding at their home was such a creative way to imbue the whole celebration with the grounded family feeling that was so important to Danika + Jonathan. We actually can’t get over all of the gorgeous photos that Nikki Marie Photography took.
“I knew that my invitations had to be a wow factor,” says Danika of this classic b+w invite suite. “It’s the first thing that your guest will see. This sets the tone for your whole wedding. For us our wedding was about the experience for our guests and making them feel like this moment was about them, too.”
“For our invitations, I had black velvet boxes made. On top of the box was our wedding date. Each box was had delivered by Debbie, the owner of Sentimental Journey. She wore white gloves and presented each guest with a box cordially inviting them to the Celone Estate on October 22, 2022. When each guest opened their box, they were each gifted a mini bottle of champagne to celebrate along with us. Our invitations were printed on black acrylic by Shimmer and Stain. Due to the small guest count, this made our invitations feel very personal.”
Danika originally spotted this long sleeve lace Badgley Mischka wedding gown on Pinterest! “After trying it on, I knew it was the one,” says the bride. We love that train and the high neck/open back look!
How stunning is Danika’s diamond band pear shaped engagement ring?! Look through our pear shaped engagement ring shopping guide if you’re loving the cut.
Jonathan’s groomsmen are crushing the chic + relaxed vibe with this open collar look.
We cannot get over the way the monochrome white roses POP against these gorgeous black velvet and satin bridesmaid looks.
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding Our most memorable moment was watching our little kids walking down the aisle and seeing how excited they were. We had a very intimate wedding, which allowed us to spend valuable time with each of our guests.
Our Musical Choices Processional: "You’re Still The One" by Shania Twain (live piano cover)
Recessional:
First Dance: "Tennessee Whiskey" by Chris Stapleton + a family dance with our kids to "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John
If you’re one the fence about whether or not you’re a veil kind of bride, this iconic billowing veil pic might just make your decision. Find one that fits your vibe on our list of the best wedding veils for every bridal style!
“Our wedding wasn’t just a celebration of us and how far we have come,” say Danika + Jonathan, “but it was also a celebration for our family as a whole and our children. Blending a family isn’t always the easiest thing to do. We wanted to celebrate the hard work that all of our children have put in as well to continue to make our family bond and grow together.”
Cocktail Hour
“We opted for a black-tie event,” Danika says. “I wanted my guests to have the best experience. We have all spent so much time locked in our houses and living in sweats the last few years. I wanted each and every one of our guests feeling like a million dollars for the night.”
A Reception In The Wine Cave
Loving this monochrome matte black and acrylic reception searing chart and the way it was paired with these romantic bursts of baby’s breath!
“I tried on other dresses and fell in love with 2 other dresses that were completely different,” Danika says of how she decided to change it up for the reception with this black strapless plunge neck stunner. Explore our list of 45 elegant black wedding dresses sure to wow to follow her lead with a moody and sophisticated black bridal look.
Dancing the Night Away!
Danika changed into her third look of the night—this floral lace bodice dress with a fun + sexy slit—to boogie to the tunes provided by Better Together Entertainment.
Congratulations, Danika + Jonathan! Your classic + timeless wedding was a beautiful tribute to the family you’ve built. GWS wishes you all the very best!!
photography: Niki Marie Photography // planning: Jenn Robirds Events // florals: The Posh Posey // wedding dress: Badgley Mischka // hair stylist: Alex Brown Hair // makeup artist: Lyndsay Zavitz // videography: Lens of Lenox // paper goods: Shimmer + Stain // catering: Elaine Bell Catering // cake: Ettores // tabletop rentals: Found Vintage Rentals // furniture rentals: Celebrations! Party Rentals and Tents // linen rentals: BBJ La Tavola // specialty rentals: Theoni Collection // music: Better Together DJ // aisle: R n R Tile // espresso bar: Latte Love // vintage car: Sentimental Journey Vintage // ceremony musician: Jason Sia – Pianist