A Casually Elegant Fall Wedding in Northern California

Jessamyn Katz and Nick Easterlin met on Hinge in December 2018, and they met up for a date at The Linden Room, a tiny cocktail bar in San Francisco, just before the holidays. "From the get-go, Nick stood out from the sea of online candidates. He planned good dates, never rescheduled, showed up on time and had good communications skills,” Jessamyn remembers. “From the beginning, he was dependable and reliable. He also had a warm smile and was easy to talk to. It was just easy—and I mean that in the best way.”

They got engaged on a trip to Savannah in June 2021, when Nick popped the question in front of the beautiful Forsyth Park fountain. “I later learned that Nick had done research on ‘the most romantic places in Georgia,’” Jessamyn says. “The fountain in Forsyth Park is atop the list, and for good reason.”

The couple was overjoyed: This was their time. But, when it came to wedding planning, “to be honest, we didn’t have a vision,” Jessamyn admits. “I was not the bride who had been planning my dream wedding since I was 13. We wanted low-key but elegant, a beautiful space, great food, and a fun party where all would feel welcome.” Beyond that, she says, they put everything into their planner’s hands. And luckily, they were in great hands: those of planner Candice Edinger. 

Solage, an Auberge Resort in Calistoga, just outside Napa, embodied the casually elegant aesthetic they were going for. “We loved the vibe on the property; it felt very us,” Jessamyn says. “The level of service and attention to detail was impeccable, the food was excellent, and we liked the ability to have everything within close proximity in one place.” A fall-in-California palette of oranges and burgundy hues painted the picture. 

Keep reading to learn about all the pretty details, as planned by Candice Edinger and photographed by Pinnel Photography.

Jessamyn wanted to look like herself for the big day, but added one dramatic flourish: a bold red lip using Dior lipstick. For her hair, “I wanted it up so that I wouldn’t be futzing with it all day. So, we decided on a low side updo,” she says. “When I did my trial a few months prior, I barely had [long] enough hair. But thankfully, I have a lot of hair and it grows fast!” An ombre french manicure and a spritz of Maison Francis Kurkdijian Paris À la Rose completed her look. 

Her strapless Watters gown with removable shoulder straps was the first dress she’d tried on. “I felt beautiful and confident, and that is how I wanted to feel on my wedding day,” she says. She added another pop of red in a pair of chic Manolo Blahniks, and borrowed some worldly jewelry from her mom. “The crystal earrings were from Argentina and my mother gifted them to me at Christmas a month after our wedding,” Jessamyn says. “The diamond bracelet was something she purchased in India.”

The bride’s uncle works for Jos. A. Bank and has been suiting the men in her family for special occasions as long as she can remember—so of course he stepped in to help her groom. Nick opted for a light gray suit with navy tie.

Their first look was one of the bride’s most treasured moments of the day. “It was so special; I loved seeing Nick so emotional,” she says. “I’m glad we had a private moment, just us two, before the main event and being surrounded by people.”

White cross back chairs for their 120 guests popped against the greenery in their outdoor ceremony space, and an organic-inspired floral arch bloomed with fall florals in their orange-and-burgundy palette. 

A classical guitarist strummed as the wedding party processed in, including Nick’s nephew as ring bearer walking “dog of honor” Olivia down the aisle. “They definitely stole the show,” Jessamyn says. The music shifted dramatically from Jimi Hendrix as Nick entered to Bach as Jessamyn’s dad escorted her down the aisle. 

“The ceremony was officiated my cousin,” Jessamyn says. Fun fact: she officiated for his wedding three years prior. “We wrote our own vows," she remembers of the ceremony. "They were personal and intimate, but with a bit of humor and levity, a reflection on our relationship and what we love most about each other.”

Just outside the ballroom in a well-appointed courtyard, guests gathered around the fire pit for cocktail hour. Trays of wild mushroom soup, spicy tuna lettuce cups, and truffle mac and cheese fritters were passed as the classical guitarist continued playing. 

Solage's Solstice Ballroom has a modern farmhouse feel with clean white lines and natural light,” says planner Candice Edinger. “So, we wanted to bring in vibrant colors in the florals and linens that balanced with autumnal patterns, like the gingham napkins.”

The duo surprised their guests with a choreographed first dance to Kygo and Whitney Houston’s “Higher Love.” “It was upbeat and a little less traditional,” Jessamyn says. She changed up her look by removing the shoulder straps from her gown, giving her more flexibility to get down on the packed dance floor. “Seeing all generations having an equally fun time [on the dance floor] was just so awesome,” she reflects. 

After a dinner of beet and citrus salad, halibut, and short rib, the couple cut into their almond cake with apricot filling. And, there was more food to come: late-night fried chicken sliders fueled the dance party—and the next morning, the couple jetted off to Kauai to soak up their newlywed bliss.