A Private Vineyard Wedding in Washington State

“The most important things in our lives are our family and friends,” says Alexandra Callaghan, when talking about her decade-long relationship with Collins Paris. “When we started planning our wedding, we really wanted to make sure our guests had the best night of their lives and walked away really feeling the love.” It all started with the venue: The couple, who got engaged surrounded by friends in British Columbia in July of 2017, were thrilled when a close friend offered his private vineyard in Walla Walla, Washington, for the occasion. “It was so special to share the planning experience with him. He had so many amazing ideas for how we could make the most of the land, and it only added to our own excitement,” adds the bride.

On September 23, 2018, surrounded by 175 of their loved ones, Collins and Allie exchanged vows in an emotional ceremony overlooking the vineyards, followed by a romantic reception with a soft, fresh palette. “Hiring Valley & Co. to plan, design, and do the florals took away any stress we could possibly have had,” Allie says of her planners. “They really understood our vision and brought our dream wedding to life!” Add in O’Malley Photographers, and Allie and Collins agreed that they were in good hands.

Keep reading to see what this spectacular team came up with for this West Coast couple!

The couple made the most of their space for both the ceremony and reception. “We had the ceremony on a hill overlooking the vineyard, surrounded by the most breathtaking view,” says Allie. “We felt so fortunate to get to celebrate in such a beautiful place.”

Allie’s wedding-day look was the epitome of romance. She tucked beaded pins into her loose braid, which she wore with a flowing lace and tulle gown found at the White Dress in Portland, Oregon. “Collins’s cousin’s wife used to be a wedding photographer, and she was the perfect person to take dress shopping,” says Allie. “She knew what would look great on my body and on camera!

The bride complemented her dress with an organic bouquet featuring garden roses, ranunculus, bay leaves, grape vines, and clover.

Collins and the groomsmen all wore navy tuxedos with black lapels and bowties. “We loved the look of a tuxedo, but thought navy would be a little bit softer for our more rustic setting,” says Allie.

The junior bridesmaids wore gathered tulle dresses in a pale blue. “We had the hardest time getting a hold of these dresses as they were from Australia, but they turned out perfectly!” says the bride.

Allie’s bridesmaids all wore Watters dresses in French blue, all choosing a silhouette they loved most. Each woman wore a crown of greenery in her hair and carried a petite version of the bride’s bouquet.

A simple arch of greenery marked the altar, giving guests an uninterrupted view of the area. “Collins and I wrote our own vows, and decided not to share them before the ceremony,” says the bride. “Instead, we wrote a final line together, then both read the same last words to create some cohesion between the two.”

In addition to a selection of the vineyard’s own wines, Allie and Collins served two signature cocktails at their alfresco cocktail hour. “We had a mint julep, to represent Collins’s Kentucky upbringing, as well as a berry cocktail with homemade whipped cream,” Allie describes. “One of our very few regrets is that we didn’t ask for that recipe!”

Dinner was served beneath a gorgeous open-sided tent, making sure guests could still enjoy the view as they settled in for a delicious meal. Says the bride, “We emphasized having a plated dinner (and more bars than we needed!) so our guests wouldn’t have to wait in line for anything all night.” Dinner included cauliflower ceviche, a grilled peach salad, and whole roasted lamb with hummus and grilled vegetables.

Guests were seated at a combination of round and long tables, surrounded by softly worn white Chiavari chairs. Garlands and chandeliers hung overhead, adding another natural element to the reception space. Instead of traditional signage, table numbers were painted onto clear glass wine bottles—perfect for the vineyard setting!

As a gift, the couple gave each guest a fragrance diffuser as a sweet (and practical!) memento for the evening.

“Collins’s best man was his childhood best friend who actually lived with us for four years when the three of us all moved to Seattle,” says Allie. “He has really witnessed so much of our relationship, and his speech reflected the love and history, which made it so special.” After dinner, a live band kept the dance floor packed as they sang everything from blues to Top 40 hits. “Collins and my father were adamant that we have live musicians all night, and it made our reception feel really personal,” Allie recalls.

So how did Allie and Collins pull off the perfect vineyard wedding? According to the newlyweds, they have their planners to thank. “Hiring them was the best decision we made, and almost eliminated our stress from day one,” says Allie. “If you can fit a wedding planner into your budget, hire one who fits your style and who makes you feel comfortable. You won’t regret it!”