We had back-to-back weddings this past Labor Day weekend - we were completely exhausted by the end of the 2nd days, but what a gratifying experience it had been!

Mai Thy and Holbrook got married on Saturday at the Stanford Memorial Church, our 2nd wedding at the venue in 2 weeks. After the ceremony, we stopped at a beautiful floral garden right on Embarcadero Avenue for a few photos with the entire bridal party. From the pictures below, you’d probably agree that Elizabeth Gamble Garden is one of those places you’d expect to wander into only in the dreams.

It was absolutely a pleasure spending the day with Mai Thy, Holbrook, and their families. They were caring, supportive, and always encouraging, from the pure joy of marching down the aisle to the emotional first dance. The bridal party was also full of surprises - they were rehearsing throughout the day the big Indian dance number for the reception later that evening!

Congratulations to you two, and thank you for sharing your wonderful day with us!

They couldn’t figure out how to tie a bow tie - what better source of information than YouTube!!

He is Mr. GQ in the photograph!

Is this garden just divine?

The whole family came together to watch the slideshow

My absolute favorite image from this day - the emotion was so beautiful and transparent in her eyes

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Once again, we created an on-site slideshow at the reception. Not everyone made it to the ceremony earlier in the day, and it was great to share with all the guests the emotion and joy of the day. Once again, just click on the “PLAY” button below to start the slideshow.

Vivian and Jason first met in Stanford and they had chosen to go back to where it all started - they were married at the Stanford Memorial Church - one of the most beautiful churches in the Bay Area.

Congrats to Vivian and Jason! And thanks for letting us be part of your day!

SLIDESHOW: Click the “Play” button below

Doesn’t she look absolutely adorable? Time flies, she’s almost two and a half and Branden is coming up to his first birthday soon!

We had an amazing time this weekend up in Napa Valley with Margie and Jim and their friends Steve and Vivian from LA. The food was decadent, the wines were fabulous, and the conversations were lively - the weekend flew by, and it was such an incredible time!

I will blog about the rest of the trip in later entries, but let’s kick it off with food. We made reservations at The Restaurant at Meadowood which had been awarded with 2 Michelin Stars. The chef had changed since the time the 2 stars were awarded, and we didn’t quite know what to expect with the new chef. Our worries quickly subsided when the food started coming - the presentation, originality, and the tastes were amazing - we’d highly recommend the Kobe Ribeye and the Corn Souffle.

It was a challenge to photograph the food as the lighting changed constantly during the 4.5 hour dinner…

Below is the Chef’s Tasting Menu, followed by the current menu:

Chef’s Tasting Menu

Cold Smoked Toro and Osetra Caviar
Crème Fraiche, Spring Onion, Warm Brioche

Foie Gras and Strawberries

Citrus Cured Spanish Mackerel
Yellow Gazpacho Sorbet, Celery

Lobster and Sweetbread
Morels, Turnip, Summer Truffle

Sonoma Poussin
Cockles, Chorizo, Haricot Vert

Slow Cooked Beef Tenderloin
Melted Spring Onion, Thyme

Fresh Andante Dairy Goat Cheese
Peaches, Olive Oil

Dark Chocolate and Cherries
Banyuls, Cherry Pit, Maple Syrup