The House - Tawantan

This is the place that started it all: I saw a gorgeous spread in a magazine, and thought, "We're getting married there." It's modern, elegant, and entirely unique.

The house is called "Tawantan", or the house above the morning clouds. It was designed by Helena Arahuete and inspired by her mentor, John Lautner, who apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright. The home rests on 160 acres at the pinnacle of one of the Twin Sisters, the seventh highest peak in the San Francisco Bay Area.

There are gorgeous 360-degree views of Northern California, and on a clear day you can see the Pacific Ocean, the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Mt. Tamalpais, the Napa Valley, Mount Diablo, the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Madre Mountains.

More pictures:

And the bad part? It's now sold, and the new owner isn't renting it out anymore. Did you ever fall in love with a venue and have to change your plans?

That amazing cantilevered pool... that goes inside AND outside the house

I'm a total sucker for libraries.

And that kitchen? So incredible.

(Photos courtesy of Joe Fletcher)

Rehearsal Dinner Dress - the Sheath Showdown

Rehearsal dinner planning is WAY down the road, but in the interest of being financially savvy, I'd like to wear something already in my closet. Here's a couple of options that could be appropriate.

In the first corner, contender A:

I recently got this gorgeous Nicole Miller gold brocade dress for 75% off retail-- normally I can't find anything left in my size, so I jumped on the opportunity!

In the opposite corner, contender B:

I've had this ivory silk J.Crew sheath for a couple years now; originally I got it because the online price was something like $20 and I knew I'd wear it somewhere. Sorry for the peekaboo hanging strap! Those things always manage to sneak out. This is the best pic I have of the detail; will have to get it out of the closet and take some better ones.

What do you think? Gold, ivory, or keep looking?