Sunstone Winery + Villa Wedding
Planning/Design - Rani Hoover, Inspired Weddings & Events | Photography: Justine Milton Photography | Cinematography: Blue Kite Cinema | Venue: Sunstone Villa & Winery | Rentals & Chandeliers: Town & Country Event Rentals | Rentals: Archive Rentals | Linen: La Tavola Linen | Floral: The Flori.Culture | Band/Musicians: JP Hunten Music | Lighting: Spark Creative Events | Catering: Catering Connection | MUA: TEAM Hair & Make Up | Calligraphy: Perfect Fête Designs | Cigar Roller: El Cañito Cigar Co. | Steinway Grand Piano: Fields Pianos | Transportation: SB Airbus | Restrooms: Bella Luna Luxury Restrooms|Tuxedos: B.Spoke
A few words from the bride Michelle: My husband and I held our wedding at Sunstone Villa on June 16th, and since AJ is a cancer-survivor, that inspired our idea to host a "Wedding For A Cause." We raised money through our wedding with the help of vendors, friends, and family in support of The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF), and I'm excited to announce that we raised nearly $80,000!
AJ was diagnosed very early into our relationship and it played a large role in who we are today. We wanted our big day to be larger than the two of us, so with the help of LRF and many special vendors, our idea blossomed into more than we could have ever imagined. Based on feedback we've heard from vendors, we are one of the first to structure a charitable wedding like this and raise money beyond just asking for donations in lieu of gifts (which we did as well). In addition, each and every vendor that participated in our wedding made a sizable donation to our cause!
Our efforts aren't quite finished just yet ... AJ's parents are hosting a second reception for us in their hometown on September 9th, and we will be continuing to raise funds through that event and hope to raise over $100,000 ultimately!
Please see below for more details on our story including some photos and video of the wedding! We hosted a very unique event at Sunstone Villa, with special design features throughout each part of the night and I think the photos and video would create a wonderful story in addition to our charitable efforts!
Our Story
Read below for more about the incredible way we met and how the idea for a charitable wedding blossomed. On our wedding website you can also see a list of all of the donating vendors ...
http://www.manasforacause.com/couple
We held the ceremony under an incredible oversized chuppah in the vineyard ... we had a unique cocktail hour in front of the villa featuring a 9 foot concert grand Steinway piano (as my family owns a the Steinway dealership here in Orange County) ... reception has held on the back lawn with our 12-piece band as the backdrop, a round white dance floor in the middle, and special feasting table design tying it all together. We featured a 4-course wine and food paired dinner under chandeliers with lots of special attention to detail! Also of special note, my mother hand-made both of my wedding dresses for the evening!
Donation Page
Here is a link to our donation platform through LRF.
http://support.lymphoma.org/goto/manasmatrimony
Wedding Video: https://vimeo.com/233433705