It’s hard to find a more inviting place to shoot than a warm, early fall day in wine country and I recently had the pleasure of photographing Eydis & Tom’s wedding on such a day. The couple knows the Healdsburg/Geyserville area well and found two gorgeous spaces for their celebrations – a Friday night dinner to welcome guests at the River Belle Inn (featuring the legendary band Beausoleil!) and a Saturday ceremony & reception at the wildly picturesque Sbragia Family Vineyards.

Following a perfect backyard kickoff event at the inn, Saturday’s festivities were set on Sbragia’s elevated terrace, where the vineyards and local landscape provided a standout backdrop. Against a panoramic view of the surrounding vineyards, Eydis and Tom exchanged vows and toasted with loved ones from near and far, including relatives who came in all the way from Iceland and London to be with the couple on their big day. It’s such an honor to photograph an event when you know that the gathering of guests is rare and treasured and I’m so grateful to have been given the chance to document this wonderful couple’s marriage.

Welcome Dinner Venue: River Belle Inn / Wedding Venue: Sbragia Family Vineyards / Wedding Coordinator: Milestone Events Group / Caterer: Girl and the Fig / Florist: Dragonfly Florals / Welcome Dinner Band: Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet / Wedding DJ: AMS Entertainment / Second Photographer: Noah Christman

Weddings are delightful but they can also be stressful- so many moving parts, high expectations, months of planning wrapped up into a single day experience. Sometimes this can be seen on the fringes of peoples' expressions and behavior. And sometimes, like at Eric & Matt's wedding, it's absolutely nowhere to be found. From the moment we walked in the door to greet the grooms, their families and wedding party, they were all smiles and cheer. They immediately welcomed us into the fold of their calm but excited pre-wedding bustle and I knew right away that it was going to be a fantastic shoot.

Eric and Matt organized and executed a beautiful day, reflective of their thoughtful natures and great taste. The adjoining spaces of Clos La Chance's property meant that people were treated to one beautiful area after another (vineyard views to an olive grove to the bistro-lit patio...completely lovely). Against these backdrops, guests shed happy tears, shared big group hugs, raised glasses of wine to heartfelt toasts and danced their hearts out. You could tell how excited Eric and Matt's families were to have these new sons and brothers-in-law and how thrilled everyone was to celebrate the union of these two men who they clearly loved so much.

Wedding Venue: Clos La Chance Winery / Coordinator: Kristin Murphy / Grooms' Suits: Suit Supply / Grooms' Rings: Joe Escobar Diamonds / Caterer: Cellar Door Catering / Cake: Sugar Butter Flour / Florist: Dig Gardens / Bouquets and boutineers: The Flower Cottage of Morgan Hill / DJ: Andy Acker of Sound in Motion / Second Photographer: Noah Christman