Tenney Espy & Joey Siringo’s Wedding at Hearst Castle
Author Elin Hilderbrand
Jenna had "never been to Nantucket, but she has a lot of East Coast roots. And she was like, I understand that the more beat up your Nantucket reds are, the more authentic they are. And I understand that if you drive like a 1989 Jeep Wagoner with all the heat stickers peeling off the back bumper, that is better than driving a Ferrari. So she understood the aesthetic of Nantucket, the understatement and the old money of it, and really the tradition of it."Showunner Jenna Lamia
"I was determined to get the colors right, the Nantucket red pants. I was determined to get the wealth right—meaning people would be driving old beat up Saabs with sand on the floor rather than brand new Mercedes. People would be wearing shoes that they leave on the island and just wear every summer rather than brand new expensive.... I don't even know the name of an expensive shoe! I wanted to get that old money Nantucket wealth right, which is not a showy wealth. It's not a Louis Vuitton bag and huge Chanel earrings. It's something that has, since I started writing the show, become kind of popular, which is that old money aesthetic—but it's a real thing. And I knew I wanted to get that right."
Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, and Cary Grant have partied there. Orson Welles modeled Xanadu after it in Citizen Kane—and, for that matter, his title character after its homeowner. So it was only fitting for “Old Hollywood glamour” to be the overarching vibe of Tenney Espy and Joey Siringo’s wedding at Hearst Castle last month. It was their way of paying homage to the history of the legendary property, and to the man behind it all: publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, the bride’s great-great-grandfather.
“We felt his spirit throughout the whole weekend,” Tenney says, “from the supermoon on the night of our rehearsal dinner, which was coincidentally celestial-themed, to dancing in front of the castle, which is how I think he would have entertained back when it was his home. And I have always admired his eye for collecting beautiful artifacts and was so honored to be able to celebrate our day surrounded by them.” Below, all the details on Tenney and Joey’s weekend at the castle.
The Venue
Hearst Castle, which today is a National Historic Landmark and California State Park, is famous for its gorgeous Mission Revival architecture and its stunning views of the coast, not to mention the iconic Neptune and Roman pools and the sprawling 127-acre grounds. Much of it is owed to the vision of its pioneering architect, Julia Morgan, who was the first woman to study architecture at the School of Beaux-Arts in Paris, the first woman to become a licensed architect in the state of California, and the first woman in the country to head her own architectural office. Her longtime collaboration with William Randolph Hearst lasted more than two decades.
The Stationery
The invitations were the work of Yonder Design.
The Welcome Party
Guests were welcomed to the property on Friday night with a western-themed party in the dairy barn. BBQ was on the menu, as were performances by the California Cowboys as well as by the bride’s brother Henry Hagerman, a talented country artist in his own right.
The Dress
The bride wore Elie Saab, which she paired with a Verdura pearl necklace her grandfather, John, had gifted her mother, Lisa. Here, she is photographed in front of a portrait of her great-great-great-grandmother, Phoebe Hearst.
The Tux
The groom wore a custom tuxedo by Michael Andrews Bespoke.
The Ceremony
Gospel singers entertained during the ceremony, which took place on a veranda overlooking the Central California coastline. During cocktail hour around the iconic Neptune Pool, guests were treated to a performance by synchronized swimmers.
The Memories
“Throughout the weekend, we made it a point to stop and take in as many moments as we could, just us two,” Tenney says of her favorite memory. Another? “Looking out on all the people who came to witness our love when we were at the alter.”
The Reception
Paula LeDuc catered a properly Old Hollywood-themed menu, which included cheese puffs, deviled eggs, steak (from Hearst Ranch) with a deconstructed béarnaise, chocolate honeycomb for dessert, plus the wedding cake, which was part Biscoff cookie, part blackberry lemon.
The Details
The weekend was orchestrated by wedding planner Gregory Blake Sams, while all of the floral elements were designed by Kathleen Deery.
The First Dance
The newlyweds chose the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” for their first dance. (Tenney wore a dress by Remi Al Ali for the reception, and later changed into a feathered Oscar de la Renta for dancing.)
The End
Hearst Castle wasn’t the only thing lighting up the night sky. During dancing, the launch of a SpaceX rocket provided an unexpected spectacle.
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