Photos: Jillian Kay Photography

Lotte and Trac, who met while attending Spanish language school in Costa Rica, hosted their wedding at Bernardus Lodge, a luxury resort set among bucolic vineyards and gardens. "During a vacation to Carmel, we accidentally turned up the resort's driveway," says Lotte. "It was so beautiful, we jokingly agreed that if we ever got married, it would be there. When we got engaged, we decided to actually do it!" The reception took place in the ballroom, where the wrought iron chandeliers were adorned with vanda orchids and curly branches, and Vietnamese silk lanterns hung above the dance floor. "We wanted to create an East-meets-West theme, since I'm Dutch and Trac is Vietnamese," says Lotte.

Follow the jump to see more from Lotte and Trac's wedding, and visit our Real Weddings page to find other great style ideas.

Photos: Gertrude & Mabel Photography

Ruchika and Mark currently live in New York City but wanted to marry in California, where they met and fell in love. "We adore the landscape north of San Francisco, and we spent every summer hiking in Point Reyes during the five years we lived there," says Ruchika. Atwood Ranch in Glen Ellen proved ideal for the wedding they envisioned. "We wanted to marry outdoors, surrounded by a beautiful landscape, then retire to a barn in the evening—I have a barn fetish," says Ruchika, who is an architect.

Follow the jump to see more from Ruchika and Mark's wedding, and visit our Real Weddings page to find other great style ideas.

Photos: Elizabeth Messina

Angela and James, who knew one another through a mutual friend, had a few brief encounters in college but only became friends after graduation, when they were both living in New York City. "I was interning there and visited James's apartment," says Angela. "I saw a childhood photo of him and realized that we'd gone to the same elementary school and that he had been my grade school crush!"

After Angela moved to New York the following summer, her friendship with James soon blossomed into romance. Since they were both originally from Southern California, the New York-based couple decided to marry close to home and enlisted Angel Swanson of Events of Love and Splendor to help with the long-distance planning. To see all of Angela and James' wedding details, check out their full slideshow, and visit our Real Weddings page for more great ideas.

Photos: Lisa Berry

Suzanne and Scott decided to host their nuptials on Halloween—their favorite holiday. The couple chose a Victorian gothic theme, and Suzanne wore an empire-waist gown she had purchased on eBay, along with a feather and flower headpiece. The groom wore a Victorian-style suit purchased from Natasha's Attic, a costume shop in San Jose. Suzanne's rustic, fall-themed bouquet was comprised of stalks of wheat, dried cornhusks, golden aster, and colored corn kernels.

In keeping with their theme, the couple encouraged guests to come dressed as vampires, werewolves, or zombies. "We had a few back-up hats in case anyone showed up without a costume," says Suzanne. The couple chose the Presidio Log Cabin in San Francisco for both the ceremony and reception. "We loved the aesthetic of the venue—it's quirky yet rustic at the same time," says Suzanne. The afternoon ceremony was held inside the historic 1937 lodge. The groom came down the aisle in a closed pine casket that was carried by six of his close friends. To see all of Suzanne and Scott's wedding details, check out their full slideshow, and visit our Real Weddings page for more great ideas.

Courtesy of Auberge Du Soleil

'Tis the season for star-studded California wine-country weddings! Robin Williams just got hitched at Meadowood Resort in Napa Valley; Molly Sims did her I do's at Frank Caferatta, a Napa Valley vineyard; and funnyman Seth Rogen wed at Kunde Family Estate in Sonoma. For our November issue, we scoped out Napa Valley and Sonoma County's best "I do" venues, and found one to suit every type of bride (the party girl! the photo-op junkie!).

—Jacqui Gifford, Travel Editor, BRIDES

Photos: Mel Barlow Photography

Stephanie and Daniel met at a bar in San Francisco. "I thought he was cute," says Stephanie, "so when he walked by me, I grabbed him and asked if we went to high school together—it was the best line I could think of on the fly!" Their wedding was held at the Headlands Center for the Arts. "We loved the creative, rustic vibe, as well as the tranquil setting," Stephanie says. She wore a Vera Wang gown she purchased online and had altered ("to make it look more streamlined") at Al's Attire.

The ceremony was held in the venue's east wing, and was officiated by a friend of the bride's family. At the reception, the couple displayed photos of their great-grandparents, parents, and siblings on their wedding days. "We wanted it to feel cozy and intimate," says Stephanie, who hired Stacy McCain Event Planning to help with the wedding details. Dinner was held in the building's "mess hall," where mismatched chairs and an open kitchen created a casual-dinner-party feel. To see all of Stephanie and Daniel's wedding details, check out their full slideshow, and visit our Real Weddings page for more great ideas.

Photos: Shannon Renee Photography

Monica and Evan first met in 2002 at a mutual friend's barbecue. "We just happened to sit next to each other playing dominoes," Monica recalls. The couple decided to marry at the Figueroa Hotel in Los Angeles, and used jewel tones throughout the wedding to complement the hotel's Moroccan-inspired décor. Monica wore a classic, floor-length David's Bridal gown. The couple wed beneath a wrought iron chandelier adorned with flowers in ceremony presided over by the bride's aunt. The couple incorporated elements into their celebration that honored Monica's Mexican heritage, including a mariachi band they hired to perform after the exchange of vows. To see all of Monica and Evan's wedding details, check out their full slideshow, and visit our Real Weddings page for more great ideas.

Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Lautner

Remember that stunning retro-tinged W Magazine photo shoot starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie lounging around a midcentury modern home in Palm Springs? Well, if you felt like crawling into the photos and living there, then I would suggest booking a honeymoon stay at the new Hotel Lautner in Desert Hot Springs, California. The cozy desert hideaway, originally built by celebrated architect John Lautner in 1947, has spent the last three years undergoing meticulous renovations. The landmark building, formerly known as the Desert Hot Springs Motel, reopens this month as a four-suite boutique resort featuring midcentury vintage furniture, private gardens, and a luxe pool area—so dreamy. Introductory rates start at $200 per night; book through hotellautner.com. For even more honeymoon ideas, visit our Honeymoons Index. —Lauren Matthews

Photos: Courtesy of Lauren Matthews

One of my very best friends is getting married this weekend, so I thought now might be a good time to share some details from the bachelorette party I planned for her—hopefully it will help spark some ideas for any bridesmaids out there planning a California bachelorette getaway!

We decided to head to Lake Tahoe, where my family owns a vacation home. The whole weekend was kept pretty low-key since my friend is not the tequila-shots-and-male-strippers type, but I wanted to make Saturday night extra special, so I got in touch with the folks at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort. The hotel has its own private lakefront beach and 55-foot catamaran, the Sierra Cloud, which I booked us all on for a two-hour lake cruise ($60 per person). It was a total blast—the front part of the boat is made up of trampoline-like material, so you can see right through to the water below. The staff was super friendly, and kept the fruit, cheese, beer, and wine flowing throughout the cruise.

Afterward, we headed into the Lone Eagle Grille, the hotel's lakeside restaurant, to enjoy cocktails and a decadent dinner while watching the sun set. The whole evening was a fabulous success, if I do say so myself—and not a tequila shot or a male stripper in sight! Mission accomplished. For more information on booking a catamaran cruise and/or dinner at the Lone Eagle Grille, contact the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe's concierge at 775-832-1234 ext. 51. —Lauren Matthews

P.S. Want to know what it really costs to be a bridesmaid? We asked five bridesmaids to tabulate their expenses. Click here to read the full story.

In the Fall/Winter 2011 issue of Brides Northern California, we announced the winners of our first-ever Editor's Choice Awards.

It's a way for the editorial staff and me to officially recognize the amazing, forward-thinking, art-creating, call-returning, trend-making wedding vendors who inspire and delight us every time we craft an issue of our magazine. And, most importantly, we're excited to share this winning list with all of you—it's a great place to start assembling your dream team. —Julie Raimondi

See the full list of winners after the jump.

In the Fall/Winter 2011 issue of Brides Southern California, we announced the winners of our first-ever Editor's Choice Awards.

It's a way for the editorial staff and me to officially recognize the amazing, forward-thinking, art-creating, call-returning, trend-making wedding vendors who inspire and delight us every time we craft an issue of our magazine. And, most importantly, we're excited to share this winning list with all of you—it's a great place to start assembling your dream team. —Julie Raimondi

See the full list of winners after the jump.

Photos: Sweet Monday Photography

Tim and Ingrid were introduced to each other by the bride's matchmaking sister and a friend of the groom. They decided to host their wedding, at Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach. "We'd both visited the historic ranch on field trips as kids and knew it was the perfect place to get married," Ingrid says. Guests were invited to arrive early to take a tour of the property and enjoy lemonade from a refreshment stand the couple had set up. For the ceremony, Ingrid wore a Melissa Sweet gown. Bridesmaids wore turquoise Anna Elyse dresses. All the bouquets featured succulents and craspedia. The couple exchanged vows during an al fresco ceremony, held in the ranch's garden. Yellow and white flower petals decorated the aisle. Following the ceremony, guests walked next door to a private club for the reception. "We wanted our wedding to be a reflection of our personalities," Ingrid says. For all of Ingrid and Timothy's wedding details, see their full slideshow, and visit our Real Weddings page for more festive celebrations.

Photos: Belvedere-Tiburon Landmark Society

This has to be one of the coolest wedding venues out there: The China Cabin sits on a pier in Belvedere Cove, just north of San Francisco. The three-room venue started its life in 1866 as a first-class social saloon aboard the SS China, a sidewheel steamer. When the ship became obsolete, the saloon was removed intact and set on pilings in the Cove.

The ornate main room features walls and an arched ceiling made of elaborately decorated wood accented with gold leaf, as well as delicately etched glass windows and crystal chandeliers. The Cabin is surrounded by decks on three sides, offering stunning views of the San Francisco skyline and the nearby yacht harbor. The China Cabin can seat up to 40 for a reception (or rehearsal dinner); the rental fee is $1,200 for a six-hour minimum, and you can call 415-435-1853 for reservations. I would die to host an event here! To browse more Northern California wedding venues, click here. —Lauren Matthews

Photo: Courtesy of One True Love Vintage Rentals

The "vintage" trend is still going strong, and it's easy to see why—it's a perennially tasteful way to create a wedding style that's romantic and traditional, with lots of personality. But if you don't have hours or dollars to spend at flea markets and vintage shops (or a grandmother with a well-stocked attic), it can be a hard look to pull off. Luckily for Bay Area couples, though, there are now two new companies specializing in vintage rentals for special events. One True Love Vintage Rentals and Heritage & Craft Vintage and Custom Rentals have extensive inventories of vintage furniture and decor, including suitcases, ladders, dressers, couches, vases, typewriters, books, and tons more. Both One True Love and Heritage & Craft offer custom item searches and styling services, while the latter also works with a craftsman who can build custom pieces. So cool! Tell us in the comments: Which vintage item would you rent, and how would you use it at your wedding? —Lauren Matthews, Brides Northern California

Photo: Courtesy of Michael + Anna Costa

See more wedding bouquet photos in our Flowers Gallery. Also, find a floral designer near you in our local resource guide.