We have had the great pleasure of celebrating 4 weddings with Beth and Bud and their family! It all started when their daughter Emily married Mark. Emily and Mark chose to get married at the Sonoma Mission, where her parents had wed. And amongst their portraits, they wanted their own version of this image from Beth and Bud’s wedding. Last year at Lauren and Steve‘s wedding, we discovered that Beth and Bud shared an anniversary with the newlyweds. And when Emily told us that her mom was an avid reader of our blog, we couldn’t wait to celebrate her nuptials as well. So 40 years ago, plus a day (I was out of the studio yesterday) these two fabulous people tied the knot. I am certain it was a beautiful event, filled with warmth, love and joy. We are so happy for you, Beth and Bud, and hope your ruby anniversary was amazing.

Our bride Shelley wanted to honor the city where she and her husband were getting married, so they incorporated historical Boston images and special locations into their seating arrangements and used this book as their guest sign-in book. Photo taken at the Wang Theatre at the CitiCenter Performing Arts Center in Boston, MA.

This photo seems like it is the beginning of a cinematic short. I have a whole story in my mind about how the rings meet and talk and fall in love. Okay perhaps I am getting carried away. Photo taken at Wine and Roses in Lodi, California.

This image combines the rings with a family heirloom. Love the sentimental connection. Photo taken at destination wedding at Hans Fahden Vineyards in Calistoga, California.

The Russian dolls were the favors at Yelena and Rob’s wedding. They made a great prop for the rings. Photo taken at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts.

More than meets the eye. You know the rest. Photo taken at the Fort Mason Officer’s Club in San Francisco, California.

Many, many thanks to our fabulous couples, our supportive family, and our warm and loving friends. We wish you all a healthy and happy 2010!

After their wedding at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista, we took portraits on the grounds in and around the mission church.

Then everyone returned to the vineyard for cocktail hour outside on the patio and dinner under the tent. We captured a few more with the vineyard backdrop.

The tables were all set up for dinner. The grounds at Leal are gorgeous- and smell good too- the yummy scent of heather is so welcoming..

Jilanne and Doug opened up the dance floor.

Followed by Jilanne and her dad. So sweet.

Doug escorted his mom to the dance floor, and they were soon joined by his siblings in a dance/hug. Doug is so close with his family. I was truly touched in the ways they supported each other.

With dance floor open, the party really got underway. There were some mighty exuberant guests.

The money dance kicked things up a notch.

Energetic dancing galore.

Jilanne and Doug closed the dance floor with a tango. We had seen them practice during their engagement session, and this was even better. They are simply stunning dancers.

Many, many thanks to Jilanne and Doug, and both your families for welcoming us into your wedding day celebration. We have so enjoyed getting to know you and it was such a pleasure to meet all the people you hold dear.

We would also like to thank the professionals who contributed to your special day.
Ceremony Venue: Rosie at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista
Organist: Edward from the Old Mission San Juan Bautista
Reception Venue: Andrew at Léal Vineyards
Wedding cake: Just Cake
Floral Design: Poppy’s Petalworks
Lighting Design: Hartmann Studios
DJ: Prosound Entertainment
Hair and Make-up Stylist: Athena
Our bride’s dress: Alvina Valenta, from the Bridal Galleria
The bridesmaids dresses: J. Crew
Groom’s suit: Hugo Boss
Groomsmen’s attire: Alfani Red

If you would like to see more of Jilanne and Doug, definitely check out their engagement session, sneak preview, and slideshow.

So today I get to share just a little snippet of what’s to come.

Jilanne and Doug started their day at Leal, where they both got ready in the guest houses. Jilanne was practically all set when we arrived. Just a few finishing touches like the veil. I love the softness of this image; it matches Jilanne’s gentle side (mind you she also has a very spunky side, like when she told me about the prank she and Doug had thought about pulling on Dave and I for their engagement session- too funny!) but this one is all about her femininity.

And Doug was already hanging out with his friends in the wine tasting room. Smart thinking.

The girls and I hopped in the limo for our trip to the Mission. When we arrived, we made sure the coast was clear as Jilanne and her ladies walked to the church.

Doug was just around the corner at the entrance to the church with his groomsmen, all of the sponsors and the ring bearer.

The ceremony was so beautiful; the back drop of this historic mission was a perfect setting.

Another perspective…

I love the way Jilanne and Doug enjoyed themselves during the Catholic ceremony. They were totally in tune with each other.

And they were certainly not alone in being affected by the momentousness of the day.

When I first saw this image Dave captured, I fell in love with it. It feels to me exactly how it feels to be leaving the wedding ceremony- like you are embarking on something big and exciting and bathed in sunshine and warmth. I can feel Jilanne and Doug’s smiles even though I can’t see them in this image.

More to come next week. Can’t wait to share the rest!

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.

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.

Really exciting news- Allison and Adam’s wedding was just published in Destination Weddings and Honeymoons magazine. The mag recently hit the stands, and it looks awesome.

You can actually catch a sneak peak here. Our spread is on page 58-59. But here’s what it looks like.

Still, if you actually want to read it and see the pix better, you have to check out the real thing.

And if you want more from Allison and Adam’s wine country wedding, you can check out their wedding slideshow.

And now on to the smooching….

Happy Valentine’s Day!

With love from,
Dave & Jo

Deana selected merlot and lavender as the primary colors for her wedding, perfect choices for the vineyard and autumn.

The guest cards…

Bridesmaids bouquets…

Ceremony flowers blend beautifully with the look of the full gardens on the property.

Some accent flowers with a brighter flare…

Deana also had some custom designed elements that really showed off her sense of style.

The menu and the gift…

A better look inside the box, these are wine flavored gourmet chocolate truffles. So delicious!

The meal was a special treat- surf and turf prepared in California style, with all fresh ingredients.

Finally the cake was an elegant square shape with beautiful gold swirls, surrounded by burgundy rose petals.

A few other special touches…

The wedding invitations.

The super cool stamp.

The fans.

The program.

A really great band.

We had such a lovely time at this wedding and Deana did such a fabulous job creating the special feel of her day. We are so glad we could share all the details.

Deana’s vendors:

Location of ceremony and reception: Hans Fahden, Calistoga
Gown Designer: Amy Kuschel
Bridesmaids Dresses: Aria Bridesmaid Dresses
Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Calvin Klein
Caterer: All Seasons Catering, Mill Valley
Floral Design: Claudia "K" Florist and Gifts, St. Helena
Band: Sidepocket
Harpist: Charlotte Wolter
Invitations and Printed Materials: Wedding Paper Divas
Gifts: Torn Ranch

Photography: Allegro Photography

Want to see more from Deana and Nick’s wedding? Check out their E-session, The Scoop and their Slideshow.

They then sent us a whole series of their friends, all of whom we actually met at their wedding.

First, Elaine and Eddie were married. They had another autumn wedding and chose the perfect venue to highlight the rich greens of fall in San Francisco- the Shakespeare Garden in Golden Gate Park. Before their American ceremony, they participated in the Chinese tea ceremony at both their family homes. After the Shakespeare Garden wedding and taking photos around San Francisco, they celebrated with a fabulous Chinese banquet at House of Banquet.

Check out more from Elaine and Eddie’s wedding: Sneak Preview, The Scoop and their Slideshow.

A couple weeks later, Meredith and Bronson celebrated their wedding. Actually, Meredith’s mother Renn was the connection with Linda and Mike. After meeting us at Linda and Mike’s wedding, she brought Meredith and Bronson in to visit us while they were visiting from Portland. These two have such a great sense of humor; we had an absolute blast working with them and getting to know their families. They were married at StoneTree Golf Club in Novato. Their winter themed wedding was designed and coordinated by Grace Dugan from A Touch of Grace.

Check out more from Meredith and Bronson’s destination wedding: Sneak Peak, The Scoop, and Slideshow.

This past summer, we were able to photograph Becky and Danny’s wedding. Becky and Danny are friends with Linda and Mike as well as Elaine and Eddie. We actually sat at their table during Elaine and Eddie’s banquet. We felt like we already knew them quite well when they hired us to photograph their wedding at The Chanler at Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island and their bbq celebration in Preston, Connecticut. They are a lovely down-to-earth couple with great taste. We were so excited to celebrate with them.

Check out more from Becky and Danny’s destination wedding: Sneak Preview, The Scoop, The BBQ, The Details, and Slideshow.

All of our "generations" are so special to us. We really are so lucky to get to work with such amazing couples. A huge, huge thank you to all of our past brides and grooms who have referred their wonderful friends and family to us.