Pride Month Finale: A Wedding at Cornerstone Gardens, Sonoma

Marina and Audrey were married on the last day of Pride Month, surrounded by family, friends, and the best evening light. Their celebration was a joyful mix of laid-back energy, meaningful traditions, and thoughtful details that reflected their love story.

The day began at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn with two familiar faces—Baby and Archie, their dogs, who I’d first met in the redwoods during their engagement session. In the hotel room we had an impromptu, sweet, and low-stress session with the pups, a delightful way to include them in the day without the added complication of bringing them to the ceremony. From there, Marina finished getting ready at the Fairmont, which has no shortage of beautiful corners for portraits, while Audrey headed over to Cornerstone.

The ceremony at Cornerstone was officiated by a close friend, which made everything feel intimate and connected. At one point, Audrey’s best woman dropped the rings into the grass—a small mishap that had everyone laughing before the vows continued. We wandered through the sculpture garden for portraits, finding playful ways to work with the art scattered across the property.

I always love being introduced to traditions I haven’t seen before. On the card table sat a pair of wooden wedding ducks, a Korean custom symbolizing peace, family, and fidelity. It was a quiet but deeply meaningful detail that tied seamlessly into the flow of the day.

The florals carried so much personality. Tiger lilies paired with citrus—lemons, limes, and grapefruit—created a palette both soft and bright, perfectly complementing the multicolored wedding party dresses.

Even cocktails told their story. Guests sipped on the Archibald—bourbon, Aperol, amaro, and lemon—and the Baby Dog—gin, lemon, simple syrup, sparkling wine, and a lemon twist—named after Marina and Audrey’s dogs, also featured on the custom napkins. Cornerstone’s range of cuisine offerings was on full display, from the prosciutto and melon bites to pork belly gua bao, and later in the night, truffle fries to keep the dance floor fueled. After dinner, Audrey’s sisters gave a toast that had the entire tent laughing and crying in equal measure, I love all of the images of guests in various states of crying sad and happy tears.

As the sun set, golden hour light poured in. While no one can control the weather, this perfect timing was all thanks to the excellent planning and coordination of Luciana and Masumi from Events by GS. We slipped into the vineyards and gardens for portraits, and later, outside the reception hall, fire pits and Adirondack chairs offered a quieter space to rest under the moonlight. Inside, on the dance floor, just as the party reached its peak, a rainbow banner unfurled behind the DJ reading: It’s Pride, Honey—the perfect punctuation for the final weekend of Pride Month. One of my favorite frames from the night is of two lovers by the fire, the moon hanging above—a peaceful counterpoint to the high-energy celebration inside the tent.

What stays with me most from Marina and Audrey’s wedding is the balance of fun and ease. There was laughter when the rings went missing, tears during toasts, joy when the rainbow banner dropped, and quiet contentment by the fire at the end of the night. With Luciana and Masumi guiding everything so smoothly, Marina and Audrey were free to simply be present—and that’s what made their day feel so full of life.

Many thanks to the Vendors that made this all possible:
Wedding Planner & Invitations: Events by GS (Luciana and Masumi Guerrero-Shibatsuji)
Photography: Hazel Photo
Wedding attire: Thuy Custom Clothiers
Florist: Empress Floral
Hair and Makeup: Whimsy Bridal (Katie Donaghy)
Tunes: DJ Christie Heart of Gold DJs
Videographer: Ian Chin Photography
Cake: Flour & Bloom Cakes
Venue and Catering: Cornerstone Gardens
Officiant: Elana Kessler (friend)


Essential tips for having a dog at your wedding in the Bay Area

As a wedding photographer, I’ve seen it all, from furry friends as ring bearers to four-legged performers stealing the show. If you’re thinking of including your beloved pooch in your big day, here are 8 things you should keep in mind to ensure it’s a tail-wagging success – for all involved!

1. Plan, plan, plan: Before you decide to bring your furry friend to your wedding, make sure your venue is pet-friendly and arrange for a designated handler to look after them during the ceremony and reception. Also consider your guests and determine if anyone might be scared or allergic! Consider logistics such as their transportation and access for their handler for their drop off and pick up. 

Bridge and groom in tuxedo posing with small black and white dog, documentary style photo, botanical garden wedding

2. Be honest with yourself: Not all dogs will do well at large, bustling events like weddings – and that’s ok! If your dog becomes easily agitated or frightened, it may be best to leave them at home. Perhaps they are better suited for an intimate photo shoot with just your photographer!

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3. Dress them to impress: You want your dog to look as good as you do on your wedding day! Make sure their outfit is comfortable and doesn’t impede their movement. A simple bandana or bow tie will do the trick. Avoid accoutrement that might end up falling off and getting gnawed on.

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4. Hydration is key: Weddings can be long, tiring events, and your dog will need plenty of water to stay hydrated. Make sure you have a water bowl readily available for them throughout the day. Additionally you will want to prep their handler with their food, treats, doggie bags, and perhaps even some toys. 

5. Never leave them alone: Your dog should never be left alone during your wedding, even for a few minutes. They may become anxious or disoriented without you there, and could end up running off or causing a disturbance. Again, make sure someone is aware of their responsibilities regarding your beloved dog!

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6. Accidents happen: Accidents can happen, even with the most well-behaved dogs. The last thing you want to deal with is a less than savory stain at a historic venue or on you or your guests’ outfit. Make sure you have cleaning supplies handy in case your dog has an accident during the ceremony or reception.

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7. Capture the moment: Make sure your photographer gets some shots of your furry friend on your big day. After all, you’ve put in all the effort to make sure they are well taken care of and smiling! 

8. Have fun: The most important thing is to make sure everyone, including your furry friend, is having a good time and no one is stressed out or uncomfortable. Have a backup plan with the handler in case something goes awry or the pooch needs a rest from the excitement of the event!

Incorporating your dog into your wedding can be a wonderful way to add a special touch to your big day, but it’s essential to be prepared and ensure that both you and your furry friend are having fun. By keeping these eight things in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating a memorable and stress-free wedding experience for everyone involved.

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Reconstructionist Jewish Wedding – Commander’s Mansion

Reconstructionist Jewish Wedding – Commander’s Mansion – Alex & Adam

Alex and Adam held their wedding on a pleasant cloudy June day at the Commander’s Mansion in Watertown, Massachusetts. The Commanders Mansion is a stately old building dating back to 1865. The history of the building is not without minor controversy, and is certainly worth a read. Take a look at that light filtering in through the old glass windows, that, my friend, is a photographer’s dream. The ketubah signing, in particular, shows off the charm of the building.


Rabbi Alex Weissman and Rabbi Adam Lavitt are both, well, rabbis, so, as you can imagine, the day’s ceremonial bits were very well orchestrated. This was to be expected, but still, the eloquent and heartfelt words of their friends and family during their tisches, and Rabbi Jacob Staub‘s words as he officiated under the chuppah, were overwhelmingly moving.


What I couldn’t have seen coming, was that Adam and Alex would be so delightfully, infectiously, playful. This made our portrait session a total pleasure. The duality of attending to the spiritual realm with intelligence and intention, while holding deep reserves of playfulness, was brought to light metaphorically in their dress. Both wore a harmonious and subtle blazer-shirt-tie-pocket square combo, that matched their boutonnières to a T, but down below, they wore silver and gold Chuck Taylors!


One of my favorite moments of the day happened during a toast Alex’s mother gave. She quoted at length from a beautiful poem, and not until she was through, did she reveal that she was quoting Rabbi Adam Lavitt, her new son in law. I leave you with the poem:


This is balance:
The world is entirely consumed by darkness,
then brimming with light.
The seasons approach one after the other,
bring unbearable heat, bitter cold and everything
in between. Joy fades. Loss
makes space for growth and new life.
Balance is not a perfect blend
of extremes. It is something that takes place
inside a larger system. It is a perspective,
an awareness that makes space for us
to fully experience winter and then spring,
light and then darkness.
Darkness and then light.
Life of all Worlds, thank you
for giving us the strength
to allow our world, our heart,
to be big enough for it all.



Venue : Comander’s Mansion

Catering: Cuisine ChezVous

Officiant : Jacob Staub

Florals : Celebrated Flower

DJ : DJ Red Dawn


East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden Wedding Berkeley CA

East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden Wedding Berkeley, CA

Eli and Tobie were married in a shady grove of towering redwood trees in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Berkeley, California. They are both super charismatic, and they were great in front of the camera. When the connection between a couple is electric, like it is between Eli and Tobie, my job is easy.

Yes, Eli and Tobie’s wedding was overflowing with glorious colorful outfits, but Tobie’s pants — come on! They brought a burst of color to every image he was in. Tobie’s parents constructed a freestanding chuppah that looked like an erector set in the best possible way. There is one image of Tobie’s dad seeming to summon the chuppah from the earth. Poems were read, songs were sung, Eli’s family staged a production of the Owl and the Pussycat, replete with costumes and props. Eli is a talented musician, namely a singer songwriter. Throughout the ceremony and toasts, there were references to songs Eli had written, including a love song he wrote when he was first falling in love with Tobie. At the reception, guests were served the fanciest, most delicious, vegan barbecue you might ever encounter, especially that chimichurri sauce, yum! It was a typical Bay Area day, sunny and hot in the middle, cloudy and windy in the afternoon. I loved how one couple grabbed their travel quilt and got cozy.

Vegan Catering by It’s From the Garden


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