As is common in this industry, when I first met Stu and Olivia, they were total strangers… That all changed in a hurry when I floated the idea of an experimental 24 hour engagement session during a call. They were game, and I was bothe delighted and surprised. By the time the wedding rolled around, I’d already seen them at sunrise, at sunset, at sunrise again, and in just about every mood in between. It made meeting their parents, siblings, and friends on the wedding day feel surprisingly intimate—as intimate as spending 24 hours straight with strangers allows.

This was my first wedding at the Lodge at Marconi, though I’d wandered its trails years ago when it was still a conference center. The place has a fascinating history: originally built in 1914 as a radio receiving station by Guglielmo Marconi—yes, that Marconi, the electrical engineer and inventor often credited as the father of radio. Over the decades, the property morphed through many lives, from an infamous “alternative lifestyle community” in the 1960s to a retreat center for nonprofits and companies. These days, it’s a smartly renovated resort tucked into the hills of Tomales Bay, just an hour from San Francisco. The lodge sports old radio equipment sprinkled across the grounds, a quiet nod to its origin story.

The wedding day began with Olivia getting ready in one of the conference rooms. Her gown featured a removable train—ingenious, since it made bustling a breeze/non-issue later in the night. During getting ready Olivia surprised Stu with a thoughtful gift. We had our first look on top of the hill above the lodge, the wind catching the train in a way that begged for slow-shutter photographs to show the movement.

From the ceremony site at the very top of the hill, you get wide-open views of rolling hills and Tomales Bay. A sweet breeze kept the air moving, making the ceremony feel alive. A friend officiated in a bold floral dress, adding a pop of color to an otherwise minimal floral setup. Stu’s mom illustrated a map of the venue which assisted guests in navigating their way around the property.

Coktail hour started with a bang, when Stu surprised Olivia with a serenade backed by an a cappella group composed of friends. She was visibly floored. During cocktail hour, Olivia and Stu displayed photographs from our marathon engagement session, and I overheard guests pointing them out with equal parts admiration and disbelief.

The light only got better as the evening went on—golden hour wrapping the hills in soft warm light.

Olivia’s sister gave a toast that was rollicking deadpan funny without being exaggerated, the sort of speech you wish you could bottle.

Olivia and Stu first met in grad school during the early days of COVID, seeing each other for the first time over Zoom. The isolation and quietude of their initial “meet-cute,” gave the dance floor a special kind of righteous, earned energy.

Throughout the day teir families radiated joy and gratitude, a wholesomeness you could feel in every interaction.

The Lodge at Marconi’s history as a 1914 radio station made it a distinctive setting—surrounded by rolling hills, Tomales Bay, and the sharp, shifting light of West Marin- its certainly a wedding venue that lingers in your memory. 

Venue: The Lodge at Marconi
Planner: TLC Event Coordination
Photographer: Hazel Photo Weddings
Rentals: Encore Event Rentals
Florist: Poppy Flower Co
Catering: Perkins Catering Co.
Bakery: Whole Foods
DJ: Heart of Gold DJs
Hair and Makeup: Dream Catcher Artistry
Officiant: Charlotte Harris