So pleased to share photos from Erin and Justin’s Kansas St. Patrick’s day wedding! (You got a sneak-peek of their wedding a couple weeks ago!) The location was Stony Point Hall in Lawrence, KS. Erin and Justin really lucked out with weather for their outdoor ceremony! It could have snowed, but luckily we had nice weather and an early spring. I found a lovely drive lined with blooming trees for their “first look” and a few portraits, and then we moved on to Stony Point Hall for some lovely “in the field” portraits and the rest of the festivities. Erin outdid herself by hand-making fabric-covered needlepoint rings. Loved the various patterned fabrics used throughout. Even some fabric roses in the bouquets, fabric tied napkin rings and fabric tied bouquet stems. Of course there were some St. Patrick day surprises, including dancing back down the aisle by the bridal party incorporating various St. Patrick’s day goodies! Congratulations Erin and Justin!
Vendors involved in Erin and Justin’s wedding included:
Location: Stony Point Hall
Event Design and Coordination: Red Door Event and Design
Florist: Red Door Event and Design
Caterer: Culinaria Food and Wine
Posted on 4/13/12 in Destination Weddings, DIY Weddings, Outdoor Weddings, Wedding | 3 Comments
My dear friend Angela’s sister got married in Kansas this past Saturday and I was fortunate enough to be asked to photograph. The Midwest has been blessed with an early spring and when scouting for shooting locations the day before the wedding I came upon this avenue of flowering trees. Erin and Justin agreed to have their first look in this spot (sight unseen!) and I also asked if we could have the flower girls ready to go since I knew it would be a gorgeous setting. I was so thrilled by the light and the beauty of my bride that I had to post a few peeks. Also, I was thrilled to see the lovely chair Erin had brought to the venue for pictures. Wanting to use the Kansas countryside, I had the groomsmen place the chair in a field for some pretty shots. More to come when the edit is done!
Posted on 4/02/12 in Destination Weddings, Wedding | 4 Comments
Now that Desiree and Jarrod’s wedding has been featured in San Francisco Bride‘s current issue, I am so excited to share their images here on my blog! Desiree and Jarrod’s lucky number is 13, so the couple decided to get married on the 13th of the month, which happened to be a Wednesday. The couple also drew inspiration for their wedding from their lucky number, creating in intricate Alice in Wonderland theme at a private residence in Sonoma. Rosemary Hattenbach of Rosemary Events planned a gorgeous wedding and Eden of End-Design did such an incredible job making the estate a dreamy wonderland for this intimate destination wedding. Cake Coquette also made the gorgeous and delicious cakes!
Posted on 12/20/11 in Destination Weddings, Outdoor Weddings, Wedding, Wine Country Weddings | No Comments
I’ve been so fortunate this was the third time this year I shot at Auberge Du Soleil. This exclusive, understated Napa Silverado Trail resort was the choice for this New York couple who wanted to wow their destination wedding guests with the view of Napa Valley. The food at Auberge Du Soleil is also truly wonderful. Michele continued attention to detail with their family crest, even showing up in frosting on their lovely cake by Cake Coquette. Loved the little thank you gift pouches and gorgeous invitations! Michele looked pretty stunning, too, and I enjoyed shooting in the light filtering through the olive grove in the sculpture garden. Gorgeous! Congratulations Michele and Ron. You are truly such sweet people!
Vendors involved in Michele and Ron’s wedding included:
Day of Wedding Coordination – Gloria Atherstone and Stacey Cataylo
Location: Auberge Du Soleil
Florist – Poly of Valley Flora
Music – Lee Waterman of Silver Moon Big Band
Cake – Gabrielle Feuersinger of Cake Coquette
Video – Jennifer O’Grady of Jennifer Anne Film & Video
Photo Booth – Alex of Magnolia Photo Booth Co.
Posted on 9/28/11 in Destination Weddings, Outdoor Weddings, Unusual Locations, Wedding, Wine Country Weddings | 1 Comment
This photo, from Carli and Craig’s destination wedding in Mexico, is one of my absolute favorites. As we ended a long day of shooting on the beach, Carli shed her heavy wedding gown for a bikini and a local man offered to carry it back to our boat for her. It’s an image that makes me smile — at the generosity of strangers, and at that poor man buried beneath that dress!
Posted on 8/01/11 in Destination Weddings, Thoughts, Wedding | No Comments
It was a delight to have my photographs featured in Today’s Bride San Francisco 2011 edition! Trish and Bronson’s wedding was stunning, filled with vibrant details that were a true treat for the eyes.
Please check out Today’s Bride on the newsstands, and see more of Trish and Bronson’s wedding on my blog!
Vendors involved in Trish and Bronson’s wedding included:
Wedding Coordinator: Stephanie Beer of Covenant Coordinating
Catering: Grapevine Catering
Cake: Fleur de Lisa
Florist: Kate Stanley Design, in Calistoga
Posted on 5/04/11 in Destination Weddings, Outdoor Weddings, Press, Wine Country Weddings | 1 Comment
If only one thing could be said about Jamie and Ozzie’s stunning wine country wedding, it’s that her dress—oh, that Monique Lhuillier dress—was as breathtaking as every other detail the couple planned. So I was delighted that Perfect Bound, a wedding blog focused on bridal fashions, wanted to feature Jamie and Ozzie’s wedding!
Get the fashion scoop on Jamie and Ozzie’s wedding on Perfect Bound, but for more details, be sure to visit this blog post.
Vendors involved in Jamie and Ozzie’s wedding included:
Wedding Location: Lancaster Estate
Wedding Coordinator: Stephanie Beer of Covenant Coordinating
Catering: Grapevine Catering
Cake: Fleur de Lisa
Florist: Maria Philbin
Posted on 5/03/11 in Destination Weddings, Press, Thoughts, Wedding, Wine Country Weddings | No Comments
I’ve been back almost a week from my shoot at Rancho La Puerta and have missed it so. My friend Laurel and I have already heard from a few of our ranch friends, all just as nostalgic as we are. There’s a saying at the ranch, which is “take the ranch home with you,” and I’ve been trying! I’m still going to bed pretty early (they even have a lecture on sleep!) and getting up early to do stretches before starting my day, and every day has had some form of exercise but one!
Because most of the tables in the dining room are community tables, we got to meet so many fascinating people. More than one described the ranch as “summer camp for adults” and I would agree. That’s a great description. The guests are limited to 100 a week and many guests sign on immediately for the same week the next year so they can see their ranch pals.
Cooking school, organic garden tours, swimming pools for relaxing AND water classes, a world class spa, 3,000 mountainous acres for hiking, and healthy, organic, mostly vegetarian eating. I would say it’s perfect. Travel and Leisure magazine apparently agrees because it named the ranch the “Best Destination Spa in the World.” Brides, if you can go to the ranch with your besties for your bachelorette party or just with your mom and sisters for a little R&R before the wedding (I ran into one of my former brides and her mom and sister in a swimming class!), I would HIGHLY recommend it!
Enjoy the photos!
Posted on 4/15/11 in Architecture, Destination Weddings, Green Weddings, Thoughts, Unusual Locations | No Comments
The incredible people behind Rancho La Puerto—a Mexican fitness resort and spa just an hour south of San Diego—invited me this week to photograph the resort’s fitness department and its new cooking school and chef for marketing materials. I love, love, love Rancho La Puerto. I love its unique atmosphere, its classes that promote a lifetime of health, its place beneath the mountains.
Because my assignment was the resort’s fitness and cooking departments, I didn’t get to photograph its lovely spas, grounds and pool—maybe on my next visit. This place is truly transforming. I think it may be perfect. Most of the vegetables and eggs used in dishes prepared here come from the resort’s onsite organic garden. Its spa treatments are to die for, as are the resort’s serious classes and workshops. I even went on a seven mile mountain hike this morning!
I’ll be sure to post more when I return.
Posted on 4/08/11 in Architecture, Destination Weddings, Thoughts, Unusual Locations | 3 Comments
This couple—a private pair who asked that their names not be released—contacted me more than a year ago to photograph their Bay Area wedding reception, warning me that they could gather weeks before for an intimate ceremony on Whidbey Island. A few weeks ago, they contacted me to see if I could fly up photograph their vows. As I scouted for our portrait session and saw what gorgeous scenery I had to work with, I fretted it would be too cold and rainy to do an outdoor portrait session. Not only did it rain the following day, but the couple remained terrific sports as winds whipped across the straights of Juan de Fuca. During the shoot, I marveled at how comfortable the groom was in front of the camera. But it wasn’t until I retouched their photos that I saw how hauntingly beautiful the bride is.
After our portrait session, we were off to the couple’s intimate ceremony at a friend’s home. Then the bride and groom donned aprons and made everyone homemade pizzas! Darling!
Posted on 4/04/11 in Destination Weddings, Outdoor Weddings, Portraits, Unusual Locations, Wedding | No Comments
