Gwyn's Sonoma County Bachelorette Weekend

It's not every day that you receive an e-mail from someone asking you to photograph their bachelorette party. Often times, you might not even want to document the shenanigans that go down at your bachelorette party lol. But when Gwyn explained that she was flying in from Hawai'i to have a wine country getaway with her closest friends, I couldn't say no. I LOVED getting to know Gwyn and her friends! They were so friendly and welcoming- you felt like you knew them instantly. Congrats to the beautiful Gwyn! Wishing you happiness + love on your big day!

Scroll down to see Gwyn's epic bachelorette celebration

J Vineyards & Winery, Healdsburg

When and where is your wedding?

Our wedding will be on August 28, 2017 in Positano, Italy

What made you want to come to Sonoma County for your bach weekend?

I love wine and wanted a weekend filled with a mix of relaxation, fun and lots of food! I knew I wanted to do either Napa or Sonoma so it came down to the location of our vacation rental. We were able to rent a villa in Windsor that fit 12 people comfortably and had a pool. I am so glad we ended up in Sonoma.

Villa Terra Bella, Windsor

What was it like organizing this trip?

I decided to plan my own bachelorette party for multiple reasons. I will not have any bridesmaids because we are having a destination wedding, I love planning parties and I knew that planning my bachelorette party would be a great task for any friend and they would be incredibly stressed out. I knew and got exactly what I wanted. Organizing this trip was a challenge at first. I was unsure of what to do, where to go, where to lodge, and who was even able to attend. I booked flights to California from Hawaii before finalizing anything. Once I booked my flight I sent an email to my friends to see who was free to celebrate with me. Friends flew from all over America, including a few from Hawaii and some as far as New York. From there I was able to search for lodging. I toggled between hotels and vacation rentals. In the end, not only was it cheaper but more convenient to get a vacation rental. A pool was a must when searching for the right location, as well as a large living room. Once that was finalized, I needed to plan the activities. I knew I wanted to do some wine tasting and spend some time at the pool.

I also knew I wanted a photographer to capture this event. I love photos and am normally the one taking most of the photos at parties. I wanted to be able to enjoy my party with my friends and not have someone left out of the photos because they were taking them. I am also not having any bridesmaids but wanted nice individual photos with some of my best friends. I found Katie and she was the perfect fit. She communicated exactly what I wanted before I shared my vision. Katie also recommended some wineries based on our points of interest (location, type of wine, winery features ie. caves & common grounds). I am so thankful she sent this list. I chose two wineries based on her recommendations. Rodney Strong and J Vineyard. These two are walking distance from each other and between the two we were able to sample some reds, whites and champagne. We did not want to waste time traveling from vineyard to vineyard and these wineries were the perfect combination and location. Once we got back to the villa we fired up the grille, blended some margaritas and enjoyed the rest of our afternoon.

While we were taking individual pictures, things definitely got emotional. What were you feeling and why?

I was overwhelmed with all the love that was surrounding me. I am so appreciative of everyone making a great effort to help me celebrate my upcoming marriage. I am never the center of attention and it was a humbling moment to realize how much I am loved.

What was your favorite part of the trip?

This is a hard question. This was the best weekend with the best people I could surround myself with. If I had to choose a specific event, it would be the pool party =)

If you could describe your group of friends as a whole in 3 words, what would they be and why?

Supportive, Strong and Loving. I am so fortunate to have such a great group of friends. I am so proud of each and every one of them. They are some of the most hard working people I know. Their motivation and drive is so contagious it makes me want to strive for more. They are always there for me and have my best interest at heart. They are strong and independent, as well as humble individuals. We all share the same sense of humor and laughed all weekend long. The weekend went so well because they all embody these amazing attributes.

Please tell us about your amazing crown!

OMG IT'S SO AMAZING! My crown is made by Stacy Eden of Clutch Jewelry. A friend was unable to attend my bachelorette weekend and surprised me with this amazing empowering piece of art. It is handmade of metal and truly one-of-a-kind. I felt like a queen all weekend!!