This is a story of narrow escapes and a lot of luck. When Suz + Aleks moved from St. Croix to the mainland just escaping the path of devastation that Hurricane Maria carved through the island, they didn't expect to confront yet another crisis. They had the best laid plans to get married on a private winery in Sonoma, California. As their family was still in the air, embarking from Denmark and Dubai, the couple read the news: tremendous wildfires were ravaging through Sonoma and the wine country. Calling their friends at the winery, and hearing them choke on the smoke, their fears were validated. Thus began a three day scramble (insert nail-biting, endless hours on the phone, and screams of desperation) to find a new venue. Plan a wedding in three days? Impossible! Enter, the hero -- The Seminary at Strawberry. Once a sprawling campus for religious studies, it has recently re-opened to host events. On the day of the wedding, it welcomed refugees from the fire, the Red Cross, fed fire fighters, and even set up a temporary pet shelter. The Seminary also hosted a pair of grateful wedding refugees, Suz and Aleks, who were elated to be able to celebrate their love in tremendous style, treating their out-of-town guests to extraordinary Bay Views, a unique perspective of the San Francisco skyline, and golden hills. Danish guests also enforced their country's traditions, having the bride and groom kiss standing on chairs (to clinking champagne flutes) and kissing under tables (to stamping feet); surrounding them in a circle and squeezing ever closer to make a mosh pit during the first dance; and hoisting the groom high and snipping the toe off his sock with scissors. Like phoenixes rising from a fire, Suz and Aleks, arose triumphant on their wedding day, imbued with love and protected by a great deal of luck.

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Wedding Vendors

Venue: Seminary at Strawberry

Photography: Bowerbird Photography

Catering: Chef Pete Coleman