Caroline Gillette and Antonio Morici
September 4th, 2011
Family Home, East Fork
Hailey, Idaho
Hailey, Idaho
Fate brought Antonio and Caroline back together five years after first dating and this September, they celebrated their love and happiness with a bright, festive and fun wedding at Antonio’s family home in East Fork. From an epic first dance and groomsmen musically accompanying them down the aisle to a traditional Italian feast and personally named cocktails, this wedding was completely “them” and a perfectly complete Sun Valley wedding.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
The bride is from Los Angeles and the groom is from San Jose, California.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SUN VALLEY?
Antonio grew up enjoying Sun Valley with his family during summers and winters ever since he was young. Being able to have the wedding at his parents’ house, where we will visit for many years to come with our own family, made it not only beautiful but sentimental as well.
HOW DID YOU MEET?
Through friends initially. Five years ago, we dated for six months. The timing wasn’t quite right and we ended things. We both moved shortly thereafter and without realizing it ended up living a block away from each other for the next three years. And actually Caroline could literally see his door from her balcony, while Antonio had no idea. We never ran into each other or spoke that whole time. On a quick visit home, Caroline found out that a friend had recently seen Antonio and he had asked about her. The friend encouraged Caroline to call him. We met up that weekend and the second Caroline walked in the door they both knew this was it. We were on from that point forth and engaged six months later.
HOW DID YOU GET ENGAGED?
We got engaged at Antonio’s family beach house in Santa Cruz. On January 15th, 2011, Caroline came down from Seattle and Antonio up from Los Angeles for a three-day weekend. He took her whale watching all-day and then to an early dinner at an incredibly romantic dinner spot that evening. After dinner he drove us back to the beach house and when she got out of the car there was a runway of candles laid out on the beach with a path of rose petals that led to a fire pit, a dozen red roses, Dom Perignon on ice, strawberries and all the ingredients to make s’mores. He walked her down, got on one knee and proposed. She said yes, dropped to her knees to be at his level and kiss him. And immediately, fireworks lit up the sky.
NUMBER OF GUESTS?
120.
WHAT WAS YOUR WEDDING THEME?
Our theme was what we liked to call a “mountain whimsical meadow wedding”.
COLOR PALETTE?
Bright summer meets fall. Rust, red, orange, yellow, pink, magenta. The bride was in Champagne, the groom and groomsmen in tan and bridesmaids in rose.
SONG THAT YOU WALKED DOWN THE AISLE TO?
Bob Dylan’s “Lay, lady. Lay” played acoustically by three of our talented groomsman. We walked up the aisle post ceremony to The Young Rascals’ “Good Lovin”.
SONG FOR YOUR FIRST DANCE?
Our choreographed dance started the traditionally accompanied, Elvis’ “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You”. This transitioned into a hip hop medley (and dance) to Rob Base/DJ E-Z Rock’s “It Takes Two”, then to Black Eyed Pea’s “Dirty Bit” and then transitioning back into the traditional dance and Elvis song for the final dip.
HOW DID THE NIGHT END?
With our two ring bearers “break-dancing” on the floor in the middle of a circle of all attendees as our band played.
WHERE WAS YOUR HONEYMOON?
Kauai, Hawaii.
WHAT MADE YOUR WEDDING SO SPECIAL?
The entire wedding was “us” through and through. We had a certain vision (the Grateful Dead song names as tables, the flowers, the look, the groomsmen playing during the ceremony, the personal touch of the Officiant) that felt like it was unique to who we are and why we are in love and getting married. To see that all come together was incredible.
WHAT WAS THE BRIDE’S FAVORITE MOMENT?
Our marriage Officiant had us write our vows by describing what we love, honor and cherish about each other. She then had us keep these to ourselves to reveal to each other during the ceremony. Hearing all those wonderful things for the first time in front of all our closest friends and families was beyond touching and so special.
THE GROOM’S?
When I saw my bride coming down the aisle.
WHAT WAS THE MENU?
Antonio’s father is an incredible cook and he worked very closely with our caterers to come up with the perfect Italian buffet. He even imported artichokes from Italy. We tried to create a palette of bright vibrant colors in the food as well. Caprese stacks, green beans, roasted vegetables, grilled steak, penne pasta and more. The pictures do a better job of describing the fabulousness of the food than I can. It was gorgeous and delicious.
GUEST FAVORS?
Our guest favors were little bottles of olive oil with our own label on them.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
The lead singer in our band had a heart attack the week before the wedding. Thank God he is fine, however, he had to back out and we had to scramble to find someone else at the last minute. Our band was great in the end so it all worked out. But, man, what a challenge!
TIPS FOR SOMEONE PLANNING A SUN VALLEY WEDDING?
Do whatever you can to set it for a time of year with great weather and get married outside!!! Our setting made our day so magical!! We would also recommend each and every vendor we used. We had the BEST people working with us on the wedding and we were beyond happy with all the services.
VENDOR LIST:
WEDDING PLANNER: Amanda Seaward.
FLOWERS: Karen Dickens at Primavera.
HAIR/MAKEUP: Peggy Simpson for both.
DRESS/SHOES: Azadeh Couture dress and Charles David shoes.
BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES/GROOMSMEN: Bridesmaids wore Joanna August, who was also a bridesmaid in the wedding. Groomsmen wore their own duds.
MUSIC: 812 Band.
FOOD: Rasberrys.
DESSERT: Mary Saturn at The Chocolate Moose.
INVITES: Out of the Envelope from Los Gatos, California.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Dev Khalsa.
OFFICIANT: Lea Flocchini Morgan
