Effortlessly Elegant Cavallo Point Lodge Wedding - Leanne and Brian

Apr 11

Cavallo Point Lodge is one of those perfect Bay Area wedding venues that lends itself perfectly to weddings that are effortless, elegant, and timeless. Leanne and Brian’s Cavallo Point wedding had all the thoughtfulness and dreamy touches of a fairytale wedding. From the classic printed ceremony programs to the string trio and the filled dance floor, no detail was overlooked.

The Couple

Leanne and Brian me through Bumble, like so many couples do these days! She had been single for a while and decided to jump back into dating. Brian was the first date she went on. Brian had returned to the Bay Area during the pandemic after living in New York. They bonded over their love of going to Disneyland, dogs, theater, and much more.

Wedding Planning

Leanne and Brian’s wedding reflected both of their personalities. Leanne is very organized and detail-oriented (which made her a very fun bride to plan with as we both geeked out on micro-details). With her background in project management and architecture, she dove into creating detailed floor plans, checking things off her to-do list, and making sure every decision strategically fits with their overall wedding vision. She was the perfect balance of focusing on details and also realizing she can only prepare and plan so much and was able to trust her vendors and say “However the wedding day happens I’m sure will be wonderful.”

Brian is an orchestrator and music director who has worked in musical theater. During the wedding planning, he was very passionate about orchestrating the music and selecting the songs for the ceremony. One of the most memorable parts of the ceremony was when Brian’s friend (and professional vocalist) sang Anyone Can Whistle. The way her skilled voice carried in the historic chapel was truly captivating. Brian’s focused care on the music ensured that the ceremony was unique, memorable, and extra special.

Leanne’s dad is a graphic designer and his skills shined on the wedding day. They worked together to create all the printed items and wedding signs. Together they even created a monogram for the wedding which tied together all the printed pieces. From the ceremony programs, to the directional signs, to the seating chart and place cards their classic logo was neatly featured.

Wedding Design

Their wedding had a classic wedding palette of white, black, and pops of sage green. The white was found in the linens, flowers, chair cushions, and Leanne’s dress. The black was in Brian and the groomsmen’s tuxedos and the chairs. They chose this color palette because of its sophistication, it fit the aesthetic of the wedding venue and tied into their timeless wedding vision.

It was really important to Leanne and Brian that everyone at the wedding was comfortable, felt relaxed, and enjoyed themselves. The guests were a mix of people Leanne and Brian’s age as well as parents of their friends. In the dancing and reception room, two minimalistic yet classic lounges were placed in front of the fireplaces for people who wanted to enjoy a sit-down.

Pro Tip: Wedding guests love a lounge! If people have the option to sit they always will. If they have an option to sit in a lounge then that will always be their first choice. A lounge is also an easy way to add your unique taste to your wedding that people will notice.

Wedding Day

Leanne and Brian’s Cavallo Point wedding was in November. This time of the year can be a sunny crisp Fall day or gray overcast and rainy. Of course, as their wedding planner, I was hoping for a sunny day so that guests would be dry. But I know that Leanne loves a cozy, cloudy San Francisco day and would have been thrilled to have that for her wedding day, in the end, it was a sunny (bordering on hot) wedding day. The San Francisco Bay was glistening as guests arrived wearing sunglasses to the Mission Blue chapel.

Leanne wore a timeless Jenny Yoo wedding dress with an empire silhouette with a plunging neckline. To complete her classic look she had a veil with a pearl embellished headband. The veil was removed after the ceremony and she continued to wear the headband for a modern and unique touch.

From Their Wedding Planner

Leanne and I grew up in the same town and went to the same high school, where she was a year behind me. When she started wedding planning she posted on Instagram asking, “Does anyone know a wedding planner?” and a friend of mine told Leanne about me (thanks Jill!). One of the highlights of working with Leanne and Brian was reconnecting after so many years. It was also a huge blast from the past to see so many familiar faces, many of whom were my younger sisters' friends when we were growing up.

Long after the sunset beyond the Golden Gate Bridge Leanne and Brian’s guests dance the night away. Their timeless, classic, and elegant wedding was a reflection of their personalities. Working with them was an absolute pleasure, their attention to detail paired with their easygoing nature brought their wedding vision to fruition.

“Working with Lindsey on our wedding was one of the best decisions we made. Not only did she help us navigate the ins and outs of this very big event, but she was a wonderful emotional support as well. We loved that Lindsey had different planning packages that we could choose from based on our needs and budget. Our wedding day was everything we hoped it would be, and we have Lindsey to thank for it! Do not hesitate to hire Lovely Day for your big day!”

— Leanne

All photos are by Melissa Habegger Photography

Wedding Team

Napa Wedding Planner: Lovely Day Events

Sausalito Wedding Venue: Cavallo Point Lodge

Florist: Rito Ito Floral Studio

Caterer: Cavallo Point Lodge

Music: Bay Area All Strings. (Ceremony) and Brass & Golden Bell Music (Reception)

Photographer: Melissa Habegger Photography

Rental Company: Bright Rentals

Cake & Desserts: Cavallo Point Lodge

Signage: Father of the Bride

Hair & Makeup: Contour Bridal

Classic WeddingCavallo Point LodgeMelissa Habegger PhotographySan Francisco Bay Area

Lindsey Nickel

I’m a Napa, California based event planner specializing in wedding planning and celebration of life planning. When I’m not planning an event I love hiking, fostering dogs and binging Real Housewives.

I’ve been planning events since 2010 so I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t work for a beautiful, memorable and low stress event day.

My clients and expertise have been featured in The New York Times, CNN, InStyle, Brides and The Knot just to name a few.