Photo: Amy Galon Photography
It was pouring rain the evening Bobby Bott planned to pop the question to Kelly McCready, his high school sweetheart. But rather than select a sunnier night, the anxious groom-to-be simply worked the stormy weather into his proposal. “He strategically placed notes around the house that eventually led to a gift: A pair of Hunter rain boots,” says Kelly, adding that the weather-proof shoes came with yet another note that explained a hired car was waiting to whisk her away. The car dropped Kelly at Orange County’s Crystal Cove State Park, where she walked a long and winding boardwalk straight to Bobby. There, he got down on bended knee and asked her to be his wife. “I was so happy that I said ‘of course’ instead of ‘yes,'” Kelly laughs, “so that has always been a joke with us.”
For their August 8, 2015, wedding, the California residents wanted to bring a little bit of their shared home to their native Ohio. They chose Gervasi Vineyard as the backdrop for their outdoor affair and played off the vineyard’s natural beauty with a neutral-palette. “When the scenery is so great you don’t have to add a lot of other elements to make your day beautiful,” the bride says. And she’s right! The party was captured by Amy Galon Photography, and the pretty details are all seen below.
Kelly donned a head-to-toe lace wedding dress with a plunging back for the big day. “I knew I wanted something simple and delicate,” the bride says. Plus, the dress was neither heavy nor bulky, which meant she could stay comfortable in the August heat.
Rather than wear a veil, Kelly asked her florist, Fair Rarity Flowers, to craft a hair piece made from greens. “I hadn’t expected to love it so much,” Kelly admits, “and I ended up completely changing my hair from what we decided on in the trail appointments so that I could highlight the hair piece.” A gold necklace that dipped in the back was her final touch.
Kelly asked her bridesmaids to pick out their own dresses in shades of gold, cream, or blush. “I loved how they ended up choosing a mixture of beaded materials and other fabrics, different necklines, and in a variety of shades,” she says. As pretty as the final result looked, the mismatched selection of gowns was also a budget-friendly choice. Since her bridesmaids were able to shop within their own budgets, dresses ranged in price from just $60 to $350.
Unlike many brides, Kelly requested that Fair Rarity Flowers not use a single rose in any of the bouquets. Instead, the florist designed organic arrangements made from a mixture of greens, anemones, and ranunculus.
Bobby and his groomsmen dressed in blue suits. “But we were careful not to get a midnight blue suit.” Kelly says. “We felt that really dark color would be too formal for the venue and may be hot in the sun.” Their suits were paired with caramel-colored leather shoes, white collared shirts, and slim grey ties, plus delicate boutonnieres made from springs of lavender and rosemary, all wrapped in twine.
A vintage window pane served as a welcome sign as guests entered the outdoor ceremony area. Once there, everyone picked up cones of petals and greens to toss when the couple recessed down the aisle. To help keep their guests comfortable during the summer nuptials, the bride and groom set up a cold drink station at the entrance.
Two flower girls toddled down the aisle in cream-colored combination crocheted and tulle dresses. “The girls ultimately chose the dresses,” Kelly says. “They really wanted to look like princesses, so tulle was necessary.” Rather than toss petals as they walked, the girls carried peach balloons filled with confetti. “They had a blast carrying the huge balloons down the aisle.”
The couple’s ring bearers also had a fun trip down the aisle, making their entrance in a vintage wagon. “We had our eldest nephew pull our 10-month-old nephew,” Kelly says. “We thought he might wiggle out, but he stayed put and loved the attention.”
Photo: Amy Galon Photography
The bride and groom’s florist decorated the white-washed doorway that served as their ceremony altar with a thick greenery garland. “That was the extent of the décor,” says Kelly. “It was super simple, but that helped the focus stay on our bridal party and on us!”
A friend served as the couple’s officiant, which gave Kelly and Bobby the opportunity to customize the ceremony. They kept it short and sweet, writing their own vows and selecting a few readings. “It was really personal and felt right.”
But when it came time to recite those vows, the bride admits she got nervous. “It was really special, but also nerve-wrecking to say such heartfelt things to each other in front of a crowd. I really loved hearing his vows, but reciting my own vows was tough. In the end, I am glad we did it, but was happy when I could go back to repeating after the officiant.”
Kelly and Bobby’s reception was held a stone’s throw away at an open-air pavilion. With it’s stone and wood accents, the couple again felt they needed little to make their reception space pop. They asked their florist to create long green garlands for their banquet-style tables. A friend painted green wine bottles with the couple’s table numbers. “We sat in a cream settee, draped with a green garland and ribbon,” says Kelly. “Making our seat a bit different than everyone else’s felt special and made for some great photos.”
The menu was one of the easiest things for the couple to plan. They chose the house specialty — beef short ribs with mushroom Chianti sauce — and added a salad and family-style dessert. “We were all sitting at long tables, so it felt really interactive and intimate.”
Photo: Amy Galon Photography
The couple shared their first dance as husband and wife to Jack Johnson’s “Angel.”
Looking back on their wedding day, Kelly is glad they let go of some traditions, such as having a bouquet toss or even a traditional wedding cake. And she would advise other brides to go with their own instincts when it comes to the big day. “Pick out the things you’ve liked and disliked from weddings you’ve been to in the past, and try to incorporate those into your day,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to go against tradition and nix something where you see fit! At the end of the day, you want the wedding to reflect your style and personality as a couple. After all, it is a celebration of you two.”
Venue & Catering: Gervasi Vineyard || Wedding Coordinator: Smash Weddings and Events || Wedding Planner: Blueprint Design & Events || Bride’s Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller || Shoes: Jessica Simpson || Hair: Do or Dye Salon || Makeup: Karen Siat || Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Attire: Tommy Hilfiger || Flower Girl Attire: Macy’s || Wedding Bands: Jared || Florist: Fair Rarity Flowers || Invitations: Minted || Music: Suite Elegance; Cleveland Music Group || Rentals: Borrow Rentals || Photographer: Amy Galon Photography
Did you love this couple’s pretty wedding? Then check out another winery celebration in the video below.