CAKE-Temecula Valley Wine Country Wedding Newsletter

trash.that.dress!

2nd Verse, Same As The 1st

As CAKE gallivants through our sophomore year, we find ourselves experiencing a joy-headache from the positive feedback we've received vis-à-vis the newsletter.

When we launched CAKE in January 2007, our ambition was a uniquely Wine Country skill set: building the Wedding-buzz one newsletter at a time.

We wanted to provide Brides, Grooms, venues & vendors the de rigueur Wedding lowdown - with a slightly irreverent twist. Thus, our tagline: "2 Inform. 2 Entertain: This Isn't Your Mother's Wedding Newsletter!"

As we chart our course through this second year, we thank our loyal readers for reading, for writing, and for spreading the word. There's plenty of CAKE to go around!

Warning: please view responsibly!
These aren't your Mother's Wedding photographs!

Canon 40D camera, Sigma 8mm 1:3.5 fisheye lens, Canon 580 flash,
Canon 580 off-camera flash slaved, Photoshop post production.

Photographers are invited to send edgy, sexy, dramatic, out-of-the-ordinary
Wedding photographs for CAKE's Photograph Of The Month to:
CAKE

The Wedding dress is traditionally the first purchase made toward your Special Day. Customarily, you're not Betty McBuyalot, but if the dress overwhelms your Bridesmaids with the green-eyed monster . . . let the chips fall where they may.

You've pored through Bridal magazines, dragged your Mom & girlfriends through endless salons, tried on enough dresses to draw beads of sweat, and your final choice hits Dad and his American Express card with alarm and despondency!

You wear the dress through your 20-minute Ceremony, your 4-hour reception, and then . . . and then what? A Wedding dress is a terrible thing to waste. Sure, you could try it on again someday, but then you'd be all dressed up with nowhere to go.

So turning the tables on this state of affairs, today's ever-more-clever modern Brides are raising eyebrows with a final curtain call for their prized garment: Trash The Dress! We're talking going dizzy, in-extremis, crazy-person style! Bowing and scraping, wallowing and worming on all fours through the vineyards. Brides report the experience to be counter-intuitive: dirt, earth worms and fertilizer dripping off the dress somehow leaves them euphoric! And the final act is preserved for posterity with a professional Wedding photographer in tow.

In fact, there's a method to their madness that handily beats the alternative. Brides tell CAKE, "Look at it this way, 25 years from now my daughter won't want to wear my dress to her Wedding." ("Mom! Puhleeze!"). So the masterpiece hangs by its lonesome for years in the back of a closet, then hits the scrap heap in an attic-bound storage box, finally to be mistakenly sold for a song during a garage sale. This outcome is so last century!

Is this a good trend? A bad one? Brides going through a phase? The short answer: its not meant to be understood. Some say Trashing The Dress skirts the edge of appropriateness, so draw your own conclusions. Admittedly, the Fam tends to freak! However, you have to admire the sheer audacity of today's Brides. As for CAKE, we're hesitant to argue for something because its morally correct, or against something because its politically incorrect. We advocate on the grounds its fun and feels good!

2008'S "SAVE THE DATES"

Fridays: 1/11, 2/22, 4/4, 6/6, 8/8/08(!), 10/10, 10/31(!) (Halloween) & 12/12.
Saturdays: 2/2, 6/7/08(!) & 6/21 (Summer Solstice).
Sundays: 12/21 (Winter Solstice).

Saturday: 2/14/09(!) (Valentine's Day).

ashcraft photography
jake ashcraft

Spotted recently in Wine Country, enjoying a well-deserved day-off, were Karon Cartwright (Director of Food & Beverage, Ponte Winery), Lauren-Michele Seals (Wedding officiant nonpareil), Gena Tweed (head Wedding Coordinator, Grand Tradition) & Malinda Burton (owner, Jodee's Bakery). The ladies gathered for lunch at Leonesse Cellars's Block 5 Restaurant, but were disappointed to find it closed. (Note to wineries: [dozens of regional Wedding venues] x [hundreds of Wedding vendors & winery employees] = [a way-huge built-in market!] Wine Country employees tend to dine & drink where everyone knows their name). So the girls journeyed to Vineyard Rose Restaurant at South Coast Winery for some savory fare. Followed by tastings throughout the Wine Country.

The Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association has revamped their Board of Directors, with the line on Wine Country marketing being: Take-It-To-The-Limit! (This is huge, Cup-CAKEs! More Wine Country marketing by the TVWA = more Weddings!).

President, Ray Falkner / Falkner Winery
Vice-President, Bill Wilson / Wilson Creek Winery
Secretary, Jeff Wiens / Wiens Family Cellars
Treasurer, Teri Pebley / Keyways Winery

Claudio Ponte / Ponte Family Estate
Nicholas Palumbo / Palumbo Winery
Jim Carter / South Coast Winery
Mike Rennie / Leonesse Cellars

Dan Pettus Photography announces the launch of 2Hot Studios, a studio, service and website devoted exclusively to high-school senior photography. Be advised: this isn't cookie-cutter senior photography! Check out the complement to DPP's Wedding photography at www.toohotstudios.com.

Jaime Purinton - Wedding Coordinator for Wiens Family Estate - recently learned from CAKE's Vineyard Restaurants special edition that long-lost friend, Randy Rodriguez, was managing the Smokehouse Restaurant next door at Ponte Winery. Years earlier, before going away to college, Jaime worked with Randy when he managed Temecula's Black Angus Restaurant. (CAKE's theory is that sooner or later everyone involved in Wine Country hospitality will end up working together!).

CAKE-pal from the old days - Jason Curl - has been promoted to General Manager of Temecula Creek Inn, whose Stone House wedding venue is one of the most unique in the Wine Country.

Another CAKE compadre - Sarah Zeal - has joined Oak Mountain Winery as their Wedding coordinator.

Yet another CAKE pal - Sheri Alford - has signed-on as Wedding Coordinator for Wilson Creek Winery. Sheri joins former workmate, Mindy Smith, WCW's Director of Food & Beverage.

Wine country alumnus, Becky Downing, has taken the lead as head of the Wedding department at Leonesse Cellars.

Megan Klepacki has been appointed as the Grand Tradition's newest Wedding coordinator. She formerly worked for several years as one of the Fallbrook facility's Bridal assistants, then went away to college to take a degree in business, before eventually finding her way back to the GT. In addition, Megan was married in June of last year. Gee, we wonder where she got married? (Does the name Arbor Terrace ring a [Wedding] bell?!).

We were pleasantly pleased to recently stumble across Touring & Tasting Magazine. As well as gorgeous portrayals of the length and breadth of California vineyards, T & T shines their love-light brilliantly on the Temecula Valley Wine Country.

While CAKE's focus is the Temecula Valley Wine Country, we've been exchanging pleasantries with Mark V. Marino, wine blogger for Napa Valley's Winery_Times. Mark has a natural style certain to be appreciated by all wine lovers - North & South. The gentleman was born, raised and weaned-on-wine in Napa, delights in sharing his haunts by limousine-ing wine trekkers throughout his neck of the woods, and keeps his radar trained on wine regions outside his home base - alerting his No-Cal readers to So-Cal's CAKE, Ponte Winery's blog and La-La's Risqué Sommelier.

Speaking of which: in the last-is-way-not-least category, CAKE was intoxicated to come across the wine bloggings of the Risqué Sommelier. If you're in for fun, Risqué's take on the world of fine wine, fine art & fine food-for-the-soul makes it just a bit easier to rise from bed each morning and face living in a society. Think humor. Think insight. Think risqué. Thank the gods & tune-in to this new CAKE friend!

HUMPHREYS ESTATE

Its difficult to know where to begin with Humphreys Estate. Ours is one of the chosen-few Wedding regions, playing home to unique venues that leave other Southern California locations in the rear-view mirror. The Grand Tradition, the Stone House, Oak Meadows & the Castle Inn come to mind. The English-style grounds of Humphreys Estate rise to the top along with this crème de la crème.

wedding site at humphreys estate
yankee caulfield photography

Although Humphreys Estate doesn't exactly qualify as a "you-can't-get-there-from-here" location, its still not easily stumbled across. Which makes for an ideal private Wedding setting. Situated at the base of the eastern range of mountains forming the Temecula Valley, the Estate presents one of the most intimate settings in the Wine Country.

One point to drive home about Humphreys Estate is their awareness of the summer heat in Wine Country. (The same heat that brings wine grapes to the ideal level of sugar & flavor). As can be seen in the photograph above, shade cloth is flown over the guest seating at Humphreys' Ceremony site. Beyond this, discreet fog-fans waft a refreshing mist over guests. To our knowledge, no other Wedding venue in the Wine Country offers these comforting amenities.

Proprietors Bob & Holly Humphreys (Dad & Daughter) are professionally - & playfully - dedicated to your Special Day. Ring them up and begin planning your singular Wedding in an elegant-yet-natural setting.

the castle inn
temecula valley wine country

THE CASTLE INN

Wanna see CAKE tickled pink? Simply tell us of a new Wedding venue in Wine Country. One of our editors has a saying, "More is more!" Although the rest of us aren't exactly sure what that means, we know its akin to the Food Court theory at the Mall: stage all the eatery's together, draw the hungry crowds, and then let the people make their choice.

The parallel to be drawn here is the more Wedding venues in Wine Country, the more Brides that are attracted. Rather than venues looking at one another as competitors, they'd be wise to network with each other as brothers-in-arms, cultivating this virtuous cycle.

The Castle Inn has now come on the scene, throwing open their iron gates for fairy tale Weddings from another era. CAKE had the pleasure of being invited recently to The Castle for an evening of local wines, hors d'oeuvres and a tour of their rooms. Each room is decidedly unique, with its own tale the staff will graciously share with you.

Between the rooms for members of your Wedding party and family, plus the proximity of neighboring Ponte, Wilson Creek & Wiens wineries, in addition to Ponte's Smokehouse Restaurant and Wilson Creek's Creekside Grill, your guests and you may find the most difficult decision of the Wedding weekend being when to depart!

CAN-DO PRODUCTIONS
Victor Cannon, DJ

Victor Cannon - patron saint of Can-Do Productions - serves as a legendary Wine Country & Fallbrook DJ whose joie de vivre calls to mind: Professional. Class act. Gentleman. Merry maker. Fred Astaire re-visited!

Can-Do serves at the pleasure of some of the more prominent Wedding venues in the region, including Ponte Winery, the Grand Tradition & Pala Mesa Resort.

victor cannon
arbor terrace grand tradition
photo by rk green studios

But beyond the traditional DJ tasks, such as "introduce the Grand Entrance," "announce the 1st Dance," "announce the Bouquet Toss," this Lord of the Dance launches into foot-grooves that defy even the younger generations to keep up with him!

We're telling you in no uncertain terms, if your aim is to have the rave reception you, your family & friends will tongue-wag about for years to come, hire this tour de force!

Girl, put your records on! Before the evening ends and Can-Do Productions lets go of the reception, the Bride's stilettos and the Groom's boogie-kicks will be smokin' like Victor's! [see below].

victor cannon can-do productions
arbor terrace grand tradition
photos by rk green studios

SHADOWCATCHER IMAGERY

CAKE's relationship with Shadowcatcher Imagery began as one of those quixotic chance encounters that give all of us chicken skin. Although we'd worked regularly over the years with their primary shooters - Heather & Skip Middleton - at Fallbrook's gorgeous Wedding venue, Los Willows, we only recently had the opportunity to observe several of their haunting Bridal photographs and our reaction was - grab something to hang onto! - their work tends to induce swooning! (See above: Photograph Of The Month).

Shadowcatcher has a penchant for shooting outside the box, not being shy about setting logic aside if it results in a unique photograph.

They seem to suffer no shortage of ideas, their strong suit being to encourage Brides & Grooms to get in the zone, approaching the camera with a rare abandon that lays bare the inner Bride & Groom!

There are many reasons to settle on your photographer-of-choice, key among them their friendliness, street cred and willingness to give the necessary 100%. Make no mistake, in addition to their singular work mentioned above, Shadowcatcher's formal and traditional photographs will proudly grace any Wedding album.

Our fancy is struck by the assembled body of work from these unique shooters and in the months to come, CAKE readers can look forward to more imagery from Shadowcatcher.

CAKE is the Wedding newsletter of the
Temecula Valley wine country / Fallbrook area
2 Inform. 2 Entertain.

|[caution: please read responsibly. CAKE is not your mother's wedding newsletter!]|

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