Christine and Peter’s Villa Montalvo Wedding

Christine and Peter’s Villa Montalvo wedding was elegant, meaningful, and just wonderfully fun. Between the beautiful estate setting, the celebration, the alpacas (!!), and all the personal details tucked throughout the day, this was one of those weddings where their story and personalities came through everywhere.

The wedding day itself started with lots of sweet family moments, especially during getting ready. There were quiet, emotional moments with parents, little final touches, and so much anticipation before everything began. Peter comes from a family of musicians, and the ceremony had a 15-person string ensemble, which made the setting feel even more special. It was tough to find space for such a large group in the Italianate Garden, but it worked out beautifully!

We have to talk about the alpacas. Back in high school, Peter gave Christine a pair of bride and groom stuffed alpacas, and their wedding day was a cute continuation of that story. They brought not only stuffed alpacas (including the cake toppers!) but also two actual real alpacas to be present at the wedding. The real pair were dressed for the occasion, and they were very much a guest favorite — especially during portraits with Christine and Peter, as you’ll soon see below.

The reception in the veranda and Spanish courtyard kept that playful, personal feeling going. Guests had a ton of fun at the build-a-bear station, choosing from different animals and making their own little keepsakes. Later in the evening, the celebration moved into a warm dinner setting with heartfelt speeches, lots of laughter, and a sweet first dance surrounded by everyone they love. Oh, and I’m sure everyone’s stomachs were delighted by the delicious Asian-inspired food, affogato cart, and tong sui stations!

Christine and Peter’s wedding was certainly beautiful, but what made it memorable was how much of it felt uniquely theirs: the music, the alpacas, the family moments, and the fun activities for everyone to enjoy. It was the kind of elegant celebration that brings us so much joy to witness and to capture!