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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Jan
22
Deana and Nick had a fabulous wine country wedding at the beginning of fall. She did an amazing job with the feel of the day. Deana incorporated all sorts of special touches to highlight the time of year and the location, the gardens and wine cave at Hans Fahden Vineyards.
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Oct
27
I am sorry. I have to apologize. Sometimes we just can’t help ourselves and this is one of those times.
Cara and Nate’s wedding was simply so amazing. This is one super glamorous couple. They held their wedding at two beautiful sites (The Sonoma Mission Inn and Sonoma Golf Club). They worked with Emarie of A Savvy Event on their wedding design. Everything and everyone around them was gorgeous. Best of all, they are truly warm and loving and so very much in love.
You are about to be bombarded with images. Again, I apologize. Now, sit back and enjoy!
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Oct
16
Our most recent wine country wedding was stunning in every way- truly picture perfect.
We had been looking forward to Cara and Nate’s wedding for a while. Cara came to us as a referral from Emily and Mark. We always love referrals because it feels like we are working with people we already know really well, almost like family. And then we shot Cara and Nate’s engagement session which was so much fun. Not only were they gorgeous, they were super hardy, braving San Francisco’s worst weather. And they just seemed so right together, amazing chemistry. On top of all that, we were really excited to work at the Sonoma Mission Inn and the Sonoma Golf Club- two of the valley’s most amazing sites.
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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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