Feb
24
When Marla and Shawn chose to have a destination wedding in California‘s stunning wine country rather than wed in their Texas hometown, they certainly gave up some control. But they still found several ways to infuse their wedding with their own style and some very important personal touches.
Some things, like the get-away car, they could chose from a distance. The elected to hire Bow Tie Limousines for a vintage auto, completing the classic and romantic tone of their wedding.
Having chosen to have their wedding at Hans Fahden winery, Marla and Shawn were able to give their guests a taste of their fabulous wedding. A bottle of wine was the perfect remembrance.
And it wouldn’t be a fabulous california wedding without amazing food. What a treat for all of their guests!
As a playful farewell, they chose to exit amidst bubbles and found these adorable champagne bottle bubbles.
One of the most special elements was Marla’s something old. The spoon holding their wedding rings in the photo below, and attached to Marla’s bouquet in the next image, is a family heirloom. It was actually a wedding gift given to her great-grandmother over 100 years ago.
The flower girl dresses were especially cute. Check out the black embroidery at the bottom.
Similar style was brought to the design on the cake.
Another special treat, the guest sign-in book. The guests participated in making this book even more special for Marla and Shawn by including their well wishes for the bride and groom within its pages.
Marla selected black magic roses and wine calla lilies for her bouquet and Shawn’s boutonniere. The merlot color scheme fit perfectly with the setting. She also included pheasant feathers, a reminder of her hometown.
One final detail to celebrate… Marla’s veil. I love the delicacy of it, so very feminine.
Despite the long distance planning, Marla and Shawn were able to put their stamp on their wedding and include so many personal touches.
Special thanks go out to all of the professionals who helped them in their efforts:
Wedding venue: Hans Fahden Vineyards, Calistoga
Caterer and Wedding Cake: Knickerbockers, St. Helena
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals, San Francisco
Florist: Claudia K Florist, St. Helena
Officiant: Harry Jackson
Limo: Bow Tie Limousine, Santa Rosa
Jan
13
Marla and Shawn had a stunning destination wedding at Hans Fahden Winery in Napa Valley, California. They had many of the traditional elements and celebrated in good style, but the day after their wedding, they wanted to spice things up a bit. So we did a very special newlywed session in the Marin Headlands and along the California Coast.
First stop, Point Bonita Lighthouse- so fun- everyone was cheering and so gracious, allowing the newlyweds to cross the bridge at the head of the line.
When walking back up the hill from the lighthouse, we noticed this little path in the grasses and a fabulous view of the Golden Gate Bridge. We had to stop and enjoy the scenery.
We had parked by this old bunker. It was a great place to play around for a bit. All of the old, rusty metal provided great texture and contrast to Marla’s softness.
We concluded our tour at Rodeo Beach for a little wave action and an opportunity to Trash the Dress.
Yes, they got wet and yes, it was very, very cold. These two were such troopers though. I was amazed!
We really got so lucky with the weather and the day turned out to be perfect. If you want to see more from their TTD session and their wedding, definitely take a look at their slideshow, their sneak preview, and their scoop.
Oct
21
Giddy, joyful, explosive enthusiasm, positivity, blissful, abundant smiles, cheerful, delighted, ecstatic, gleeful…. how many words can I come up with to describe all the ways in which Ellen and Edwin were two of the happiest people I have ever seen on their wedding day?! Before the wedding, Ellen was literally jumping up and down with excitement and happily sang a little song of joy with her niece about this being her wedding day. So much merriment is bound to be intoxicating; it’s no surprise that everyone, including Dave and I, wore smiles all day long.
Ellen arrived at Hans Fahden ready to go. Her sisters, mom, best friend, and neice got ready alongside her. She put some finishing touches on her make-up, and then put on her dress.
When Ellen and Edwin met each other at the end of the aisle, all of the built up emotions found an outlet- in laughter and in tears of joy.
Edwin’s parents watched on.
Ellen and Edwin sealed their commitment to each other with a kiss.
After the ceremony, we gathered the families together for portraits. Ellen’s sisters and best friend are hilarious. They teased Edwin with a long list of mandate’s regarding how to take care of Ellen. He was a very good sport.
Portraits of Ellen and Edwin in the gardens.
I love the way the gaze at each other.
Dinner in the wine cave soon followed. It’s so romantic in there- candles and flowers warm up the space.
As it turns out, Edwin’s friends are also hysterical. His best man gave a truly fabulous speech, which included actual emails Edwin had written during his courtship of Ellen. My favorite quote, "Game on!"
After dinner, Ellen and Edwin cut their cake. I am completely enamored with this colorful cake- actually a perfect representation of the feel of their day- bright, sunny, sweet.
Their first dance, as seen through the eyes of Ellen’s neice.
The father daughter dance. I can totally see where Ellen gets her joie de vivre.
Edwin getting down on the dance floor.
At the very end of our evening, Ellen and Edwin took their turn in the photo booth for a few shots. They have such a great sense of humor- the costumes were perfect and they totally played up the part. This is the very lost shot, as they tell the paparazzi, aka Dave, no more.
Special thanks to all of the professionals who made the day so special:
Andi and the team at Hans Fahden Winery
Sharon Van Geisen from Park Avenue Catering
Mary Ann Parker from Fleur de Lisa for their exquisite cake
Peggy Blatchford for the floral design
DJ Alexander Hansen from AMS Entertainment
Alisa from The Powder Room for her styling of Ellen’s hair
Groom and groomsmen’s attire by Hugo Boss
Margot Piper, Maid of Honor, and talented graphic designer for the printed materials
And to Ellen and Edwin, you are two amazingly adventurous kindred spirits- birds of a feather. It has been such a pleasure getting to know you. We are delighted that we could be a part of your celebration, and we can’t wait to see those photos from Guyana.
Want to see more? Check out their sneak peek on Facebook and their wedding movie.
Jul
31
When last I wrote about Marla and Shawn’s destination wedding, I left off with the portraits. We actually had 3 different opportunities to capture images of our couple and their crew- before the wedding, immediately following the ceremony, and then during the reception when this fabulous vintage vehicle arrived on the scene.
I will get to a few more with the car later, but first it’s time for dinner. Hans Fahden has it all- those gorgeous gardens for the outdoor ceremony, the airy tea house for cocktails, and the wine cave for an elegant dinner. Marla chose to deck out the space with tall candelabras, tea lights in red glassware, and varied stemware. It looked amazingly elegant.
Before dinner, Marla’s father led a prayer.
Speeches followed soon after. Marla’s maid of honor/sister/the-person-who-introduced-Marla-to-Shawn was quite a hit. She had a list literally a mile long of advice for Shawn. Too funny!
Dinner was thoroughly enjoyed with great food and laughter.
But when the car arrived, we had to take a few photos. Here’s the whole gang…
Shawn’s girls were so cute. They played driver and drivee. They hopped in and out of the front seat and back seat, not once using the doors. It was clearly the best playground ever. Having so much fun, they were plenty happy to pose for a few peaking out the window.
We took Marla and Shawn down to the vineyard for a few portraits alone. On the way down, Dave got to ride with them. On the way back, I got to ride with them. And Dave captured this quintessential image.
We returned to the party for some serious dancing, kicked off by the happy couple’s first dance. What a beautiful embrace!
I just had to share one last image. In the sneak preview, I included the full color version of this moment from the ceremony. But Dave had worked it up with an alternate look as well. We use this technique, which is generally referred to as selective color, only occasionally, but sometimes it makes a real impact in a beautiful way. I love the choice for this image because the moment- a moment of prayer during the ceremony- is larger than life. For me, the variation in tonality gives a Greater Being a truer presence. You feel a difference.
If you want to see more, check out their Sneak Preview and their slideshow. And check back because Marla and Shawn’s Rock the Dress session is on its way.
Jul
23
Marla and Shawn- what a couple! We had so much fun at their wedding. This was truly a destination wedding. Everyone came to Northern California from Texas and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine of wine country the week before the wedding. Of course, that meant that everyone was in great spirits throughout the day. On top of that, it is clear how perfect Marla and Shawn are for each other. Their day was not only a testament to their love, but also a celebration of family!
When Shawn proposed, he pulled all the stops, recreating their first date in style. Marla was truly surprised, but didn’t hesitate. She answered with a resounding, “Absolutely!” You can just imagine the cheers.
Marla and Shawn chose to get married at Hans Fahden, one of our favorite wine country venues. They had the best weather, perfect temps and clear skies with fun streaks of clouds. The kind of clouds you almost never see in California. Plus Hans Fahden was all abloom with pinks and oranges and whites. The setting was idyllic.
Marla prepped in the bridal suite surrounded by her closest friends, her sister, her mother, and her grandmother. There was lots of laughter, and suprisingly very little nervousness. Marla seemed so calm.
Before the ceremony, we took a few portraits in the gardens. Isn’t she stunning? When I captured this, I was completely entranced by her eyes. No wonder Shawn adores her.
Here’s the 3 generations of ladies. You can totally see the family resemblance in their smiles.
Marla hid up in the bridal room while we captured a few of Shawn with his family. These are his two darling little girls. They were so good throughout the day. And you could tell they completely adore both Marla and Shawn.
The ceremony took place overlooking the pond. With under 80 guests, it was truly intimate. Marla’s dad shared a special reading for them. And other family and friends created the music.
I can’t get over how sweet Shawn is. That smile is for his daughter. Melts my heart.
Another important element of the ceremony was their faith. Their connection to each other is enhanced by their religious beliefs. They definitely found ways to make the ceremony reflect their spirituality.
Marla and Shawn not only care about each other, they care for each other. You can see it in every gesture- a deep tenderness, appreciation, and love.
The final element to their ceremony was a special ritual designed to include Shawn’s two girls. Marla and Shawn presented each girl with a special medallion which symbolized their importance in the family. After the ceremony, we asked the girls to show us their necklaces. The necklace is really beautiful, but I think my favorite part of this image is the nail polish. So precious!
And just to give you a sense of what’s to come. One portrait with Marla and Shawn in the Hans Fahden gardens!
I can’t wait to share more. Not only did they have this amazing wedding day, but we got together with them again after their wedding to do a Newlywed/ Rock the Dress session. So there will be lots more amazing photos to see.
Apr
03
I have just been introduced to a new blog, Intimate Weddings. Christina knows that not everyone wants a wedding with over 100 guests and she focuses on ways to make smaller weddings fabulous. One of her recent articles was all about long tables.
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Sep
26
When last I wrote about Allison and Adam’s wedding, I promised to share a little bit more about their connection to Alaska. They spent a year together in an Alaskan cabin; that time seems to have had an amazing impact on them. They feel very connected to the woods. I wanted start this off with a nightshot in the forest. I think it speaks to their connection to each other and to the beauty of nature.
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Sep
25
We had such a blast hanging with Deana and Nick for their engagement session, we couldn’t wait for the wedding. And the wedding was even more awesome and fun than I had expected. Their friends and family were outstanding- welcoming and relaxed. Their site was one of our favorites, Hans Fahden in the California wine country. The skies were deep, deep blue. And I got to learn so much more about Deana and Nick. Deana’s dad’s speech rocked- both witty and sentimental. I could see through his eyes how these two amazing, intelligent, fun, wonderful people were absolutely destined to be together.
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Sep
16
When we first met with Allison and Adam, we could see how much they loved each other in all the little things they did and said. Allison’s eyes sparkled when she spoke about Adam. And Adam was so sincere in his praise of his wife-to-be. They were absolutely enchanting. Of course, we were thrilled to be a part of the celebration which made their love official.
Allison and Adam selected Hans Fahden Vineyards in Calistoga for their venue. And we were treated to an absolutely gorgeous day- warm with lovely breezes from the coast and blue skies for miles.
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Jun
19
Everything about this wedding was hot…the bride, the groom, the guests and of course the weather, all 97 degrees HOT. Lori and Brian traveled up from San Francisco to the Calistoga, CA to get married in one of the most beautiful venues around, Hans Fahden Vineyards. They envisioned a fabulous wine country wedding surrounded by the glorious sunny weather the region is known for. And that’s exactly what they got plus a few extra degrees. The folks at Hans Fahden Vineyards were well prepared with cool drinks and parasols which accented the beautiful grounds perfectly. Following the ceremony and cocktails, the couple and their guest retreated to the cool and romantic wine cave for dinner.
Here’s a sneak preview of their wedding photos:
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