Erica and CJ’s Topa Mountain Winery wedding was one I looked forward to for months! Ever since we bonded during their engagement session, I was bursting with excitement to see them again at their Ojai wedding in August.
This fun, down-to-earth, hilarious couple first met on a blind date: three years ago, Erica had just finished her middle school teaching job and was getting ready to move back to California. The kids she nannied didn’t want her to leave, and they were convinced that if they found her a boyfriend, she would stay. So, they asked their mom to set her up with someone. Their mom happened to be on a committee with CJ’s mom and knew she had two sons. They got to talking, and she gave CJ’s mom Erica’s information. They went on a blind date a week later, and the kids were right — when Erica was supposed to move at the end of the summer, she chose to stay in Boston to be with CJ instead!
Erica and CJ chose Ojai for their wedding day because of its personal significance for Erica (she attended Thacher School), and Topa Mountain Winery was the perfect setting for their vision: a laid-back, intimate, personal celebration for them to enjoy with their closest friends and family.
The couple shared their first dance to Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are the Best Thing” and enjoyed a colorful, summer-infused reception with citrus accents and festive linens from La Tavola. I was sad when the day came to an end; like I said, I’d been looking forward to it all year! I guess Erica and CJ will just have to move to California so we can hang out (I know that Sophie of Amazing Days Events agree with me on that one!).
Planning + coordination: Amazing Days Events
Floral design: Haute Blossoms Floral
Venue: Topa Mountain Winery
Rentals: Otis and Pearl
Linens: La Tavola Linen
Catering: DJ’s California Catering
DJ + MC: DJ Zeke
Hair + makeup: 805 Makeup
Cake: Crushcakes
Popsicles: The Wild Posy
Wedding dress: Theia Couture
Invitations: Minted
