Bay Area Couple ‘Forever Grateful’ for Healdsburg Farm Wedding

When Alexis Coulter moved home to Millbrae after graduating from St. John’s University in New York, she decided to do two “adult things.” One: Find a job — she was soon hired as an executive assistant at a San Mateo tech company — and two: Join a wine club — BACA Wines in Healdsburg. Little did she know that joining that club would pave the way for a Wine Country romance and her eventual marriage.

Although Cody Johnson and Alexis grew up only a few miles apart (he was from Burlingame) and had mutual friends, they didn’t meet until Alexis tried the dating app Hinge. When it matched her with Cody, an electrician who had moved back to the Peninsula after graduating from Chico State, Alexis quips, “For once, an online dating app got it right.”

After they began dating, the couple, who now live in South San Francisco, explored Wine Country — which included a visit to BACA. “We fell in love with Healdsburg,” says Alexis.

Nearly five years later during a family trip to Cabo San Lucas for her mother’s birthday, with the permission of Alexis’ parents, Cody “hijacked” the trip and popped the question during an unplanned stop at the beach on the way to dinner.

The couple embraces beneath the cool shade of a majestic oak tree. (Ashley Carlascio) — The couple embrace beneath the cool shade of a majestic oak tree at Ru’s Farm in Healdsburg. (Ashley Carlascio)

The reception space at Ru's Farm in Healdsburg is surrounded by lush green foliage. (Ashley Carlascio) — The reception space at Ru’s Farm in Healdsburg is surrounded by lush green foliage. (Ashley Carlascio)

Soon after, the planning for their May wedding began. The couple decided to hold a prenuptial welcome wine-and-pizza party at BACA, and their wedding at Ru’s Farm, also in Healdsburg. They were adamant about using local vendors.

“It was important that we get married in Healdsburg. We wanted Wine Country to be a part of our love story,” Alexis says.

Ru’s Farm, with its naturally beautiful landscape of olive trees, lush lavender, and an iconic oak tree, provided the perfect setting for a theme of “modern minimalism with organic vineyard charm.” The couple chose sage green, ivories, and wood tones as their palette. They liked that Ru’s allowed liquor as well as wine, since their families “love a good cocktail,” Alexis says with a laugh. They chose to serve watermelon margaritas and transfusions, a cocktail of grape juice, ginger ale, and vodka.

Alexis and Cody liked that Ru’s allowed liquor as well as wine, since their families “love a good cocktail,” Alexis says with a laugh. They chose to serve watermelon margaritas and transfusions, a cocktail of grape juice, ginger ale, and vodka. (Ashley Carlascio) — Alexis and Cody liked that Ru’s allowed liquor as well as wine. They chose to serve watermelon margaritas and transfusions, a cocktail of grape juice, ginger ale, and vodka. (Ashley Carlascio)

The couple exchanged vows and kissed to guests’ applause beneath the cool shade of the majestic oak tree. (Ashley Carlascio) — The couple exchanged vows and kissed to guests’ applause beneath a majestic oak tree. (Ashley Carlascio)

Despite a late spring heat wave, the wedding came off without a hitch. They exchanged vows and kissed to guests’ applause beneath the cool shade of the majestic oak tree. The couple says everyone was “in awe” of the venue and the farm-to-table food served at the reception. After dinner they cut a small, heart-shaped cake while guests enjoyed cool treats served from a vintage Volkswagen truck by Angela’s Organic Ice Cream.

“We are forever grateful for the memories we created (at Ru’s) with our loved ones,” Alexis says.