My wife and I recently hosted 105 of our closest friends and family at The Philo Apple Farm to celebrate our wedding. There is not an adequate supply of superlatives to describe how terrific the weekend was.
During the planning phase we visited the property a couple of times and had some informal meetings with Karen and her amazing staff. They made us feel so comfortable and secure in the fact that every little detail would be cared for. We are "food people" and after hearing Karen's story and her vision we immediately knew we had chosen wisely. And in turn we were thrilled that they had chosen us to be one of the few weddings they do each season.
Upon our arrival on the wedding weekend the farm was buzzing with activity as the staff diligently prepared the farm for our special day. Ariel and I, along with our wedding party stayed in the 4 beautifully appointed cabins on the property while our remaining guests stayed at the sister property, The Boonville Hotel and throughout the valley at many beautiful rental homes. We awoke on Saturday morning to an amazing spread of baked goods, chutneys and jams along with house-made granola and fruit all prepared by the peerless Cruz. Their casual elegance and grace along with a "you're family" kind of vibe really made us feel at home. Rita was hard at work making the gorgeous flower arrangements, along with the bridal bouquets and some striking boutineers, spiked with hops, all coming from the property.
The ceremony was held among stately trees brimming with the season's bounty of apples. The guests were greeted on the hot day with sparkling apple drinks and took respite in the shade of the beautiful orchard.
When the ceremony was complete we chose to take Karen's recommendation and indulge in the Farm's famous "Roving Feast". There was no formal seating, just a progressive meal and lots of mixing and mingling of the guests. Everybody raved, not just about the format, but about the bounty of food and amazing flavors that seemed to not stop for several hours. Even the kids were catered to with amazing bites and plenty of animals to interact with on the property (the goats were a huge hit).
The incredible evening morphed into a lively dance party, with Tim and Jersey making easy work of the cocktails and wine, and I would be ashamed if I failed to mention the unimaginable array of apple-spice cakes that the utterly talented Courtney put together. Simply amazing!
All in all, the day was a smashing success. Many of our guests said it was the best wedding they had ever been to. But, it didn't end there. On Sunday, at the farewell brunch, Karen wowed the crowd yet again with farm-fresh frittatas, her famous biscuits, and a handful of other delectables that helped ease any residual soreness from the previous night. We lingered as long as we could soaking in all the beauty and were sent off by all the family and staff sporting huge smiles. I simply can't say enough good things about this place and we will be returning often to relive our wedding day and to catch up with "old friends". Do yourself a favor, if you get to Anderson Valley, carve out some time to visit this charming place! read more