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This Couple Who Met at a Wedding Tied the Knot at a Winery in Northern California

By Shayna Seid | Photography by 

Larissa Cleveland

|Planning by 

Cole Drake Events

Jamin Ruark was at a friend’s wedding when he pulled in every favor he had to get an introduction to bridesmaid Lauren Ratiani. It paid off, and after nine years together, he proposed at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. “I asked her to look at the art in the dome, and as she looked up, I got down on one knee and asked her to do this thing for life,” he remembers. “After that bit of fun, we said we’d go out to dinner to celebrate; what she didn’t know is I had flown in all of her closest friends and family from all over the country to surprise her on a big yacht. We celebrated and sailed the bay the rest of the day and into the evening.”

Once engaged, the couple booked their venue, Campovida winery, replete with multiple outdoor areas for guests to enjoy. A bonus was that it allowed a full bar, which is surprisingly hard to find at most wineries. The two chose a date in July 2021 and hired Sarah Drake of Cole Drake Events to bring their vision to life.

When it came to choosing a wedding dress, Lauren couldn’t decide on just one, so she opted for three looks. The first was Jenny Yoo’s Claret gown, paired with the Paloma veil by Toni Federici, followed by a Berta Couture dress and Chosen by KYHA’s Margot design. On the day of, the bride got ready with hairstylist Joanna of Wash & Brushup Co. and makeup artist Lexi of Brush The Salon, who gave Lauren an elegant bridal beauty glam. And bridesmaids complemented the future Mrs. Ruark in champagne Amsale and Jenny Yoo dresses. Meanwhile, Jamin and his groomsmen wore custom tuxedos from Dandy Detroit—the groom’s was a dark blue, while his party donned black.

On July 17, 2021, the bride walked down the aisle to “Moon River.” “All of our best friends were displayed like Vogue models on a custom-built platform around a 600-year-old oak tree, the sun was dripping through all the foliage, and a breeze whispered over everyone. In a word, it was perfect,” Lauren explains.

After being announced as husband and wife, the newlyweds joined their guests for cocktail hour, as Lauren’s friends from college (Robert Delong, Kyle Neal, Shawn Morones) played swoon-worthy background music. The reception dinner took place under a sprawling floral and candle installation. “The magical lighting and florals by Floral Luxe made everything perfect,” Lauren gushes.

Elaine Bell catered the delicious meal, and every course was paired with wines from Campovida, where the couple’s good friend, Matt Hughes, was a winemaker. Matt was kind enough to provide wine notes for each plate.

Instead of a wedding cake, the couple opted for a “dessert activation” with gluten-free creations by Food Network champion Ora Beth of Flour & Bloom Cakes. And once the plates were cleared, guests enjoyed The Vanity Portrait Studio photo booth and explored the gardens.

The new mister and missus had their first (choreographed) dance to “May I Have This Dance (EMBRZ Remix).” And after dancing with their 16-piece brass band, Vintage Jukebox Orchestra, the after-party kicked off with Josh Dukes of Boutique DJs in the old green barn. Mini sliders and fries kept the energy going as dancing moved on top of tables. Once danced-out, the wedding party retired to their luxury yurts by Shelter Co. The next morning, everyone regrouped for a “survivor’s brunch” with pink breakfast cake bites and Champagne.