You'll never believe this elegant wine country wedding was "at home"

Elegant and Formal Calistoga Wine Country Wedding – Julie Kay Kelly 1

If you ever find yourself heading to the California wine country, you must consider a visit to St. Helena and Calistoga. North up Napa Valley, the two hamlets exude endless charm with mountain views and warm vineyard vibes. Not only was this the setting of this couples elegant wedding, but Dawn & Gregg hosted their special day at their wine country home.

We can’t believe this is a “backyard wedding”! Filled with elegant & sophisticated decor, lavish floral design and a pristine winery-esque space, you can forget those “casual at-home” wedding stereotypes. Dawn & Gregg, having an eye and talent for design built their stunning home to cater to such a formal event, and we are so impressed.

Aside from the stunning reception, so much of their day was classy and upscale. A beautiful Austrian-style church, vintage getaway car, black-tie dress code and stunning tiara – it’s refreshing to see a Napa Valley wedding in an elevated style photographed by Julie Kay Kelly.

From Julie Kay Kelly

What happens when a woman with a love of design and creating nourishing spaces marries a man who has spent his life designing beautiful homes? He builds their dream house in the California wine country. She designs their beautiful wedding. They host it at their beautiful house, and they live happily ever after.

Dawn and Gregg’s wedding was a treat to behold. Their ceremony took place in a quaint and storied 144-year-old church with an organ built in Austria and an 880-pound steeple bell. Dawn’s father sang a gorgeous baritone hymn that washed over the crowd as Dawn and Gregg stood at the altar. Afterward, Dawn and Gregg made their way to the reception – at their Calistoga home – in a black vintage getaway car.

Their house, across from a vineyard and sheltered by tall, lush trees, hosted a soiree that spilled from wide front yard to back. In front, cross back vineyard chairs surrounded tables with pale peach tablecloths bedecked with jewel-toned florals and ferns. Signature cocktails and later dancing took place around the turquoise pool, festooned with floating flowers.

As the sun set, guests dined on a first course of frog hollow peaches, wild petite arugula, toasted pine nuts, fresh thyme, Parmigiano-reggiano Dijon vinaigrette with a drizzle of Mielbio organic Italian forest raw honey. This gave way to steak with a black fig thyme reduction and seared salmon with nasturtium flowers.

Guest after guest took the mic to describe Dawn and Gregg’s enduring love for one another, all of the things that connected them deeply. As dusk gave way to darkness, guests toasted and celebrated, before heading poolside to dance the night away.