“Trash the Dress?” Why, YES!
Submitted by Mary Hrkac, San Jose Wine Center Manager
Every once in a while an opportunity presents itself that warms your heart and reminds you what’s important in life. For many years, we at J. Lohr have been truly honored to be a celebratory beverage at many people’s pivotal milestones, from christenings to 80th birthdays to everything in between. And while a few of us were initially dubious to an invitation to become a significant player in one couple’s wedding plans, we were won over from the sincerity and sense of play of Kat and Ryan and emphatically agreed to support their vision!
Kathryn Wang and her betrothed, Ryan Doherty, have been long-time fans of the Lohr wine legacy, by their own admission. In Kat’s words, “Ryan first introduced me to J. Lohr wines in 2010 and every experience I’ve had at your winery, tasting room, and wine club event has been more memorable than the last.”
In fact, Kat and Ryan had their first date at our holiday feast at the J. Lohr San Jose Wine Center in December 2010, catered by Chef David Page and artfully executed by On-Site Events Supervisor Lisa Boissier, who has a passion for wine education and exquisite pairings. Kat and Ryan were immediate converts, populating their calendars with as many ‘Dave Page’ dinners as their busy schedules would allow! In fact, according to Kat, our wines and events have played such a big part in the development of Kat’s and Ryan’s relationship over the past three years that Ryan proposed to Kat in November of 2013 in the very tasting room that was the backdrop for their first date!
Kat and Ryan became wine club members immediately after his proposal, and started dreaming up ways to incorporate J. Lohr into their nuptials beyond the expected. Some may have heard of the “trash the dress” phenomenon, also called whimsically known as “rock the frock,” which is a style of wedding photography that contrasts elegant clothing, such as a wedding dress, with an environment in which it is considered out of place, such as a beach, an abandoned building, even a rooftop or other industrial spot. Kat let her fertile imagination run wild, and envisioned that the timeless legacy of wine and winemaking, coupled with the staining of her wedding dress and Ryan’s tuxedo shirt with our wines against the backdrop of our tanks, bottles and barrels, would capture the essence of love itself in the photographs’ richness, frivolity, warmth and unpredictability!
And trash the dress they did, in the most spirited way! Our staff fully embraced creating the perfect setting for the photo shoot. We collectively LOVE the almost goth-meets-cute tone of Photographer Tamira Decay of Yellow Bubbles. And our environs never looked more romantic! Fast forward to current day, and Kat and Ryan are set to marry this Saturday, kicking off the weekend with their rehearsal dinner Friday evening in the J. Lohr Vineyard Room in San Jose, right where it all began!
We wish Kathryn and Ryan lifelong happiness and joy, and couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of their ongoing romantic journey! In the coming days around the winery, we’ll certainly look to opportunities to raise our glasses to them both!
