The best wedding weekends always start with a great welcome party, and E + N’s Friday-night celebration in Healdsburg set the tone perfectly. Hosted at Harper’s Rest Winery – just down the street from the Madrona, where they would be married the next day—the evening felt relaxed, intentional, and full of connection.

Wineries are always an important part of Healdsburg, and for E + N, they’re a meaningful part of what makes the area so special. Choosing Harper’s Rest was an easy decision, giving guests a true taste of wine country and its beauty while keeping everything effortlessly close.

With guests traveling in from the East Coast and around the world, the welcome party was all about time together. It created space for hugs, laughter, and conversations that can be hard to fit in on the wedding day itself – and gave everyone a chance to mingle and get to know each other in a laid-back, casual setting before the big celebration.

The food was just as memorable as the atmosphere. Happy Cat served up incredible wood-fired pizzas, filling the air with that unmistakable just-out-of-the-oven smell, while the Noble Folk ice cream cart was a crowd favorite for dessert. Paired with wines from Harper’s Rest, it was the perfect combination of local flavor and easygoing fun.

Every moment, from golden-hour glasses of wine to shared slices of pizza, was beautifully captured by Scott and Dana Photography, who documented the evening with their signature warmth and eye for candid, joy-filled moments.

E + N’s welcome party was the ideal way to kick off a wedding weekend: relaxed, delicious, and centered around what matters most – great wine, good food, and meaningful time with the people you love.