California Coast Meets Bold Modern Vibes at This One-of-a-Kind Cliffside Celebration

POV: your wedding venue is the main character! When Amanda and Casey were scouting venues, they knew they wanted to highlight the rugged beauty of Northern California. What transpired was a rustic, sun-drenched celebration filled with breathtaking views, earthy details, and uninterrupted coastal charm.

“We wanted to create a wedding weekend that felt both fresh and timeless, where nature’s beauty would meet modern sophistication,” says the planners at Roque Events. “Amanda and Casey’s wedding at Switzer Farm was a perfect example of this balance.”

From a windswept cliffside ceremony to a nature-infused alfresco reception, this celebration was all about the scenery. The couple even invited their guests to stay on the remote farm for the entire 3-day weekend, where sweeping views framed every unforgettable moment.

Keep scrolling for all the wild, romantic beauty from this wedding day, including a very panoramic checkerboard dancefloor!

Rustic Charm Meets Modern Elegance

“A juxtaposition we will always get behind: blending contemporary design elements into an organic, rustic setting.” This was the inspiration behind Amanda and Casey’s wedding design by Roque Events, who brought the bold-meets-rustic aesthetic to life.

“We also worked with Bourne Paper Co. to design the most funky invitations and creative weekend signage, infusing neon colors, mirrors, and bold fonts to make this wedding feel super unique to its coastal setting,” the planners told us. Obsessed with this electric color palette!

Speaking of bold and breathtaking designs, we are in love with Amanda’s designer wedding dress!

“I had loved Danielle Frankel for a long time and decided to start with a visit to her New York atelier,” she said. “Funnily, the two people I brought were my mom and Casey’s mom, who were in town to meet and met for the first time at the appointment. I tried on five dresses and I picked the third one, the unanimous favorite for its beautiful sleeves. The dress went so well with the location despite being chosen from 3,000 miles away.”

Another wow moment from Amanda’s bridal look? Those SHOES! (P.S. We found a similar metallic style here.)

Complete with a relaxed bridal updo by Beauty On Set, Amanda’s look was the definition of modern glamour.

Shoutout to this dapper crew! Proof that you can never go wrong with simple and classic groomsmen suits.

A Ceremony With a View

When we say we want a scenic ceremony, THIS is what we mean! “We designed a wavy aisle that created the illusion of gentle waves, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings,” says the planners. “At the end of the aisle, a white floral backdrop on the fence line provided the perfect statement piece — simple, yet absolutely stunning.”

Who needs an elaborate wedding backdrop with a view like that?!

“I wanted the wedding to reflect Northern California, where I grew up, and show off this beautiful part of the state to guests from near and far,” shares Amanda. “Many of our guests were from Northern California, but had never been to the Lost Coast. We used different spaces of the property to highlight the beaches, forests, and wild grasses, and everyone left in love with this area.”

Raw, wild nature was the inspiration for the entire day, down to the textural floral arrangements that lined the aisle. For more inspo, check out these unique wedding aisle decor ideas!

Our Favorite Memory

Our favorite part of the wedding was staying onsite with all of our immediate family in the beautiful house at Switzer Farm. Casey's family lives in Michigan and Virginia, mine is in California, and we live in New York, so almost everyone was both meeting each other and sharing a house for the first time. It was so special to extend the wedding in that way by getting to spend so much time together before and after our events. It was most of Casey's family's first time in California, as well, and the weather and location could not have been more perfect for them and our guests to experience the beauty of the Lost Coast.

Amanda kept the free-spirited vibes alive with her cascading wedding bouquet by Floral Luxe, which blended bold pink blooms with lush green hues (aka, one of our favorite wedding color trends for 2025!).

One of her favorite memories from the day? “Walking down the aisle at golden hour, with the custom music I had chosen, facing everyone important to us, was the most memorable moment. We had a very long, dramatic aisle and processional, and it culminated with everyone from childhood friends to new family’s faces looking back at us,” she says.

That feeling when a pandemic romance becomes a forever relationship! Amanda and Casey first met on Hinge in New York City in January of 2020, and their romance quickly took an unexpected turn. “We were not intending to move quickly and had only been dating for 8 weeks when the pandemic shut the city down,” says Amanda.

She decided to stay in NYC, moving in with Casey after two months of dating. “It felt like we would either come out stronger or break up. Thankfully, we both really enjoyed cooking, walking, and watching tons of movies together when restaurants, theaters, and everything else was shut down.”

“Almost three years, a dog baby, and a long distance stint (the year I moved to Brooklyn) later, Casey proposed in the same park that we spent all those early pandemic days in,” says Amanda. “Five years later, I’m glad I stayed in New York because that single decision is probably the reason why we’re now married!”

Nature-Infused Alfresco Dining

Amanda and Casey’s outdoor reception started off strong: with these modern mirror seating chart ideas!

“We intentionally mixed elements like mirrored pieces, adding an unexpected twist with funky, modern fonts on neutral plates, while natural wood tables kept the design grounded,” the planners told us.

Each detail was designed to complement the natural surroundings, and guests were treated to sweeping views of the California coast from every angle.

“The interplay of textures was key — woven rattan chairs, fluffy hydrangeas, and organic, earthy elements came together to create a unique and inviting atmosphere,” said the planners.

Even the tablescapes felt like stepping into an overgrown meadow. “Floral arrangements were designed with a foraged-like feel, bursting with lush, vibrant colors that brought warmth and life to the venue,” shares the planners. Also peep the fruity finishing touches!

For more inspo, check out our list of unique wedding centerpiece ideas here.

The checkerboard dancefloor! The twinkling fairy lights! The lush golden hour views! If we could dream up our perfect garden party reception, this is what it would look like.

*Saves to Pinterest*

More candid photos in 2025! In-the-moment photography is one of our top wedding photography trends for 2025, and Samantha Dean Olmos does it so beautifully here on film.

Our Advice

The wedding day goes by so quickly, and with so many people demanding your attention, you may really not spend that much time with your close family at all. But time with family was one of our favorite parts of our wedding process, and I highly recommend involving family (where you can) to emphasize the union of two families, not just two people. We had a multicultural wedding, we stayed onsite with both of our families in one house, we had Casey's sister and my brother be our witnesses, and those little touches helped us feel close to them throughout the weekend.

Consider this your sign to choreograph your first dance! Amanda and Casey started the party with a romantic dance number under the twinkle lights.

Our Musical Choices

Processional
"Mystery of Love" by Sufjan Stevens; "Towers" by Bon Iver; and "Paranoia Purple" by Yebba
Recessional
"Wonderful" by Burna Boy
First Dance
Lauryn Hill's cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"

The California destination was also on full display for their reception menu, down to the wines served with dinner. “We also used entirely California-based vendors, primarily Northern Californian, exclusively served Californian wines, and even dessert was from San Francisco-based Pepito’s Paletas, another guest favorite,” says Amanda.

And that includes the wedding cake! Loving this simple and rustic single-tier cake — get more inspiration for your dessert table with these unique wedding cake ideas!

The night ended with dancing under the stars, followed by a casual brunch the next morning to bring everyone together before departure. This is what wedding weekend dreams are made of!

Congratulations Amanda and Casey on your beautiful California wedding, we loved every modern, nature-fueled detail. Best wishes from all of us here at GWS! ✨

P.S. Looking for more iconic venues in the US? Check out our complete roundup here!

Other Vendors in This Wedding

Photography: Samantha Dean Olmos // Venue: Switzer Farm // Florals: Floral Luxe // Desserts: Pepito's Paletas // Tabletop Rentals: ENCORE Events Rentals // Music: DJ Tanveer

Author

  • Hannah McKennett is the Features Writer at Green Wedding Shoes, covering fashion, beauty, and wedding trends. A graduate of Emerson College, she brings professional writing experience from the Improper Bostonian magazine and international publication...

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