Heather & Ryder

When you’ve photographed weddings for a while, there are certain rhythms to the day that become familiar. It’s part of the fun and challenge of the shoot – finding moments, creating portraits, focusing in on details within the usual cadence of the day. It also makes it wonderfully startling when you’re completely surprised by something. At Heather and Ryder’s ceremony in the beginning of October, their friend and officiant spontaneously stepped out from under the arbor into the aisle and addressed the guests, encouraging family and the wedding party to express their feelings and how much they loved the couple. It was so unexpected and touching and I was definitely not the only one tearing up as a result.

Between that gem of a moment, two uniquely and utterly adorably dressed flower girls, bridesmaids in personalized tones and styles of dresses, a “best woman” supporting the groom, and wedding toasts that included a personalized slideshow and a mother/father duet of a custom song, it was clear that Heather and Ryder’s wedding was so very much their own. They made the day fun, easygoing, and a true pleasure to shoot. It was such an honor to be around so much love and hopefully the preview shots convey what a special day these two created.

Venue: Chileno Valley Ranch / Florist: JenniFlora / Catering: Firefly Catering / Oysters: The Oyster Girls / Cake: Pascaline / DJ: Ken Quam / Second Photographer: Noah Christman

Lindsay & Sky

You know it’s going to be a great day when you’re invited to spend it at Chileno Valley Ranch. Not far from the town of Petaluma, this venue (and home for the owners) is a magical getaway. Having shot a number of weddings there, I love to see which features will newly delight me and what my favorite spots will look like this time around. In mid-May, the sheep were partially shorn, hills were a verdant green, roses were in bloom, and it was the perfect day to celebrate Lindsay & Sky.

They took full advantage of the gorgeous grounds for their wedding, starting big with Sky’s arrival down the long driveway in his vintage convertible. Family and guests enjoyed an epic walk to the secluded ceremony site, took in cocktail hour in an apple orchard, and dined and danced in the superbly decorated barn. The light streaming through its cracks is unlike any other reception venue I’ve shot, and Lindsay & Sky enhanced it with rows of candle-lit tables and twinkle lights, making it utterly luminous.

It was clear from our first moments photographing this couple just how much they love being together. Their comfort with each other translated into a happy easiness throughout the day, and so many wonderful photographs of them and their guests. When it’s hard to find a photo without the bride and groom smiling, you know you’ve hit the client jackpot. With a couple so present and joyful on their big day, a wedding full of guests who radiated love and admiration for them, and a background of rolling hills, it was a remarkably fun and beautiful day to be a part of.

Venue: Chileno Valley Ranch / Wedding Coordinator: Sugar Rush Events / Florist: Poppy Stone Floral Design / Hair & Makeup: Rock Paper Scissors / Catering: Park Avenue Catering / Rentals: Encore Rentals / DJ: Golden Bell / Second Photographer: Noah Christman

Anne & Daniel

Being a photographer based in the Bay Area means that I have the good fortune to shoot in a variety of photogenic settings that are still close to home. But I’m always especially excited when a couple’s celebration gives me an excuse to get out of my standard radius and see somewhere new. So Anne & Dan’s summer wedding by Lake Tahoe provided an extremely welcome road trip and dose of fresh air.

Anne & Dan are based in the East Bay but also love the outdoors. As Anne explained, “he loves the mountains and I love the lakes.” And so it seems like they couldn’t have picked a better compromise than the Truckee area, which was given further significance by the fact that Anne grew up visiting Tahoe Donner on vacations. The perfect getaway; the perfect place to look ahead.

Nestled beneath the impressive trees, Anne & Dan celebrated their union with a wonderfully large party and a lot of special little moments. They exchanged gifts before the ceremony that, whenever used, will I’m sure bring them back to this day. During the ceremony, they combined sand from Sacramento and Tahoe to represent the merging of their shared histories as they move forward together as a couple. And in a perfect nod to summertime camping tradition, guests were given favors of individually wrapped s’more kits, which many broke out on the spot to use at the fire pits right beside the dance floor. All in all, it was a joy to capture a beautiful day in the woods and under the stars with these two beautiful people.

Wedding Venue: The Lodge at Tahoe Donner / Wedding Coordinator: Lea Stafford Events / Florist: Love and Lupines Floral Design / Live Musician & DJ: Music in Tahoe / Second Photographer: Noah Christman

Marisa & Trevor

It is such a pleasure to shoot a San Francisco wedding at an utterly San Francisco venue. Marisa & Trevor's celebration at the historic General's Residence in Fort Mason was set against some one of the most scenic backdrops you can find in this corner of California. However, it being May in this fickle, wonderful city, you never know what kind of weather you're going to get. And while the clear blue sky provided stunning panorama views from the East Bay to Marin and everything in between, it also came with the fiercest wind I've ever experienced on a wedding shoot.

While the intensity of the conditions may have rattled some couples (bridal looks and chuppahs are not exactly designed to withstand relentless horizontal gusts!), Marisa and Trevor took it all in stride and were full of smiles throughout the day. And after their touching ceremony (officiated by Trevor's sister!), some guests even lingered outside to take advantage of the cocktail hour lawn games. What a joy to witness and document so many generations of family and close friends come together to celebrate this sweet, loving couple in their city. 

Wedding Venue: The General's Residence / Wedding Planner: Lily Spruce / Caterer: Fogcutter / Florist: Tango & Foxtrot / DJ: Love in the Mix / Second Photographer: Noah Christman

Dena & Nathan

Photographing weddings is really unlike any other kind of shoot. You meet a couple, hope that your style resonates with them, agree to work together. And then on the wedding day, you're quickly brought into the folds of their lives. You meet their families, capture them reuniting with old friends, and hear the hilarious and heartfelt speeches into which people put so much effort. I felt the honor of this so strongly at Dena & Nathan's beautiful August wedding at Slide Ranch.

D&N clearly put a lot of thought and love into their wedding plans, including their choice to support a working farm in a stunning coastal Marin location. They walked down the (exceptionally wide) aisle with their siblings and parents and incorporated ceremony readings of song lyrics picked for them by good friends. The welcome table displayed photos from family members' weddings and glasses for the evening contained individual notes for each recipient.

And as the light fell, toasters reflected on how strong D&N were as individuals and how much they'd brought to each other's lives. Their bond was celebrated by their greatly-valued community, with tears shed during the ceremony, hearty laughs at the toasts, and an ever-full yurt dance floor. As we departed, we watched guests donning headlamps and carrying leftover liquor bottles working their way back over the hillside path to the campsite, surely to spend many more hours of celebrating this lovely couple in this exceptional spot. 

Wedding Venue: Slide Ranch / Coordinator: Casen Splain / Caterer: The Lunch Box Catering / Florist: Bellevue Floral Co. / Dena's Dress: BHLDN / Dena’s earrings: Sarah Neiman / Nathan's Suit: Anatoly’s / DJ: DJ Wayne Noel

Steph & Jeff

Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, tucked into the hills of Sausalito, is a gem of a space- the Headlands Center for the Arts. The center provides artist residencies and public programming in addition to being a beautiful, historic, and utterly unique place to host a wedding in the Bay Area. It feels both modern and timeless, well-decorated and raw. So I understand why it immediately called out to Steph & Jeff as the perfect place to host their July wedding. 

They really let the venue and location sing while adding stylish touches throughout the day, including Steph's gorgeous, free-flowing dress and starburst earrings and Jeff's perfectly tailored suit and deep red pocket square, which the complemented colors of the many brilliant floral arrangements. Combined with lovely personal touches like of Steph's aunt officiating the ceremony and Jeff's father singing and playing guitar during their first dance, I had the best time photographing this wonderful couple and the folks who joined them to celebrate their marriage in this beautiful place.

Wedding Venue: Headlands Center for the Arts / Caterer: Katie Powers Catering / Florist: Ampersand / Hair and Makeup Artists: Ashley & Alexia of Flower & Gold / DJ: DJ Tom Thump

 

Kate & Garrett

Photographing a wedding is part whirlwind and part meditation- for 8 hours, I'm thinking about nothing else besides the place I'm in, the people in front of me, and shooting them as well as possible. But Kate and Garrett's recent celebration went so far beyond that- it felt like being in another world. Just 15 minutes from the coast, their venue, with its verdant groves, winding paths and abundance of twinkle lights, was a magical hideaway and a perfect place to gather all of their people for a wedding weekend. 

As I looked through their photos, I realized how the vibrant color palette of the day- these deep greens, reds, and blues- totally reflected the spirit of the couple. Kate and Garrett are sweet, bright, energetic- I feel like they're full of smiles every time I see them. Their adventurous nature was reflected in many of their details- from the table signage highlighting the many trips they've taken together to the notecards asking guests to share their favorite destinations. And shooting them in California with their family and friends was given extra significance by the fact that they're moving to Germany together this summer! They are clearly so loved by the people in their lives and so in love with each other and it was such a joy to be part of the day!

Wedding Venue: The Holly Farm / Caterer: La Creme / Florist: Big Sur Flowers / Hair and Makeup Artists: Kim Larson / DJ: DJ Antonio of California Soundshine / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller

Genna & Jesse

It's not every wedding that you get a day-of call from the coordinator warning you that the gorgeous coastal location may experience gale force winds. And more importantly, it's not every event that you meet a couple whose perspective is so right on that it doesn't phase them in the least. Genna and Jesse are two intelligent, kind, loving, and much-loved individuals and it was clear from our first shot that they would enjoy and soak in the day, however it unfolded. 

And unfold it did, with the support of their community clearly visible. From fellow musicians who played during the ceremony and first dance (including a circle of fiddlers!), to numerous pieces handwritten by friends, and an officiant who was also the bride's mentor- the love and respect for this couple abounded. Toasts spoke to their character, the good they brought out in people, and the many ways that they care for others and each other. 

Amazingly, after some top-notch planning by Heather and her team at All Set, the weather ended up working in our favor. Portraits were taken with just the right amount of wind to lightly lift some chiffon. The sun broke out right before the ceremony. Guests enjoyed cocktail hour without having to huddle under heat lamps. We were even able to take sunset photos! All in all, a beautiful day resulting in some lovely images, a few of which are below.

Wedding Venue & Caterer: Costanoa Lodge / Coordinator: All Set Events / Hair and Makeup: Kelly Jo Makeup and Hair / Florist: Brother and Sisters Flower Shop / Band: The A-List with Downbeat LA / Photobooth: 143 Photobooth / Wedding Dress: Loho Bride / Groom's Suit: Hugo Boss / Second Photographer: Noah Christman 

Amanda & Mike

The gorgeous venue of Cavallo Point, located near the base of the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, is pretty much a slam dunk location. It's the perfect combination of Bay Area nature and historic buildings- an intimate getaway with close proximity to the city. But with this year's water-soaked winter, we all held our breath to see how the weather would effect Amanda and Mike's mid-February event. And I'm so happy to say that a marathon rainstorm stopped for ONE DAY to give Amanda and Mike the beautiful wedding they deserved.

After meeting in New York through their shared university, this impressive couple maintained their relationship through new jobs, cross-country relocations, law school, and a clerkship with the judge who graciously served as their officiant! Amongst a celebration flawlessly supported by Lauren of Ryder Sloan Events and a stellar team, the guests honored Amanda and Mike's many years together and the clear, abundant ways in which they complemented, supported, and brightened each others' lives. What an honor to be a part of this wonderful day!

Wedding Venue & Caterer: Cavallo Point / Coordinator: Ryder Sloan Events / Hair and Makeup: Marisa Perel / Florist: Mandolin Floral / Tabletop & Glassware: Frances Lane / Linens: La Tavola / DJ: DJ Cams / Ceremony Music: Garden Strings / Lighting: Got Light / Second Photographer: Noah Christman / Videographer: Paperweight Films