By Allison Hopkins, written for Gino Creglia Photography
Serrano Country Club Wedding and Reception Venue | Love Was in the Air This Valentine’s Day
“Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules, then you must forget the rules and play from your heart.” -Unknown
While the pianist and flutist performed “River Flows in You,” written by Yiurma, Liz and Jeremy Colley took their first steps on the dance floor together. It was exactly as Liz had imagined—perfect lighting embraced the couple, shining down on the custom monogram on the floor while highlighting the ivory undertones in the beautiful room at Serrano Country Club in El Dorado Hills, CA.
Playing from their hearts is how Liz and Jeremy began their lives together. The east coast couple (who recently moved west) were first married in a very small, traditional ceremony in an Episcopal church in Cheshire, CT. Liz is grateful for this simple day because it allowed the couple to focus on their actual wedding and commitment to each other… and then plan a larger party for everyone else to celebrate too!
After eight months of planning and two months of solid physical training, Liz was ready when February 14, 2010 arrived, accompanied by sunshine and 70-degree weather. She had always dreamed of getting married on Valentine’s Day and although she had never revealed this to her fiancé…he ironically proposed to her on V-Day 2009!
As a designer herself, Liz had definite ideas for how she wanted her wedding to look and feel. She chose an elegant dress with a sweetheart neckline; he wore a black tux with a white vest and a white bow tie. It was a non-religious ceremony with heartfelt vows written by the couple…who opted to skip the exchanging of rings and leave “any objections” out. The wedding colors were deep reds, purples, and magentas, although the only place “color” was shown was in the bouquets, floral arrangements, and the hot pink shoes hidden under Liz’s dress. Everything else was draped in white and lit with candlelight.
They opted for a classy cocktail hour (the piano and woodwind duo helped set the atmosphere), and shrimp, chicken, and cheese were catered. Dinner included either salmon, steak, or pasta…followed by chocolate covered strawberries, decadent truffles, and of course, the cake! Three square layers of vanilla cake were stacked with rich chocolate filling in between…all covered in silver details and an abundance of fresh flowers.
In addition to selecting the ideal venue and menu, it was important to the couple to be able to trust all the wedding vendors involved so that they could relax and celebrate with their 70 guests…without micro managing. What made this “wedding team” so successful? According to each of them, working together on previous weddings has built confidence and trust, and they all know what to expect.
It all started….
Robyn Lyn Steward at Philosophia—designed an ultra thick invitation with silver ink letterpressed onto a crisp white card, complemented by modern and bold, purple response cards. As the “official start” to the event, the invitations inspired and evoked the guests’ imaginations for what was to come…
Behind the scene…
Katie Edwards with Ambience Floral Design—developed a deep and romantic feeling by using shades of burgundy, purple, and eggplant, and incorporating candlelight. Liz’s bouquet featured eggplant calla lilies, black magic roses, purple seafoam statice, fuchsia peonies, uhule, and hanging amaranthus…simply gorgeous!
Right out in front….
Marc Tulga (flutist) and Craig Faniani (pianist) from Live Music Sacramento—produced amazing music during the ceremony, cocktail hour, and first dance.
Matt Brys from Extreme Productions—transformed the facility with dramatic lighting and draping; provided exceptional MC services; and ensured that each moment of the reception was filled with songs from the couple’s custom soundtrack.
Making it official…
Reverend Jeri Murphy—created a unique and emotional ceremony…effectively capturing the couple’s vision and setting the tone for the evening.
Proving it was official…
Gino Creglia Photography—discovered the beauty in each element of the ceremony and the reception…creating memories for the bride and groom to cherish forever.
Putting it all together…
Jennifer Galisatus from Serrano Country Club—effectively organized all the details for the event, relieving the bride and groom from any concerns and allowing them to enjoy the day!
And best of all, Liz and Jeremy celebrated a perfect day together, full of happiness and satisfaction. If Liz had to describe how she felt that day in one word: Beautiful. Just like every bride should.
Serrano Country Club Wedding Information
For more information regarding Serrano Country Club or the vendors listed in this article, please visit their websites: