Bay Area wedding photographer – Hazel Photo Weddings

recessional portrait, documentary photography

James Leary Flood Mansion Wedding

There are weddings that feel like a celebration of two people, and then there are weddings that feel like a celebration of an entire community. Angela and Cliff’s wedding at the James Leary Flood Mansion was the latter—an evening filled with warmth, laughter, and the kind of easy camaraderie that made every moment feel special.

Getting Ready: The Iconic Waymo Moment
Angela got ready at the Four Seasons and planned to take a Waymo to the venue. Standing on a San Francisco street corner in her robe, pink pumps in hand, waiting for a lost ride, was nothing short of iconic; this easy-going and fun vibe was present the whole day.

A Library First Look & a Meaningful Ketubah Signing
Flood Mansion, with its elegant architecture and breathtaking Bay views, was an incredible setting for the day. Angela and Cliff chose the library for their first look—surrounded by books, history, and the quiet anticipation of the day ahead. Before Angela stepped into her dress, I captured the painstaking attention Angela’s mom gave to steaming the dress in the library. After the first look the ketubah signing took place in the library. It made for an intimate moment with close family gathered around, bearing witness to the commitment they were making.

The Ceremony
Under a chuppah adorned with orchids and huge tropical leaves, Angela and Cliff stood together as their families and friends encircled them. Their rabbi introduced a beautiful, unexpected ritual: after the wedding party had processed, Angela and her parents paused midway down the aisle. Then, in a moment charged with emotion, Cliff walked out to meet them, and then all guests in attendance were encouraged to gather in tightly around. It was a striking way to begin the ceremony—both intimate and grounding. As they recessed jubilantly back down the aisle, flower petals filled the air.

A Reception in the Grand Hall
The Flood Mansion’s Grand Hall was transformed into a long banquet-style dining experience, with high ceilings amplifying the energy of the night. The rich and bold burgundy, crimson, fuchsia, gold, and chartreuse florals popped against the interior marble. Pomegranates lined the tables, a nod to abundance and tradition. The golden hour light poured into the Hall, creating the dreamiest backdrop for portraits. I was able to sneak Angela and Cliff away for some sunset portraits, framed in the huge windows with glimpses of cargo ships and the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

From there, the evening unfolded in waves of joy. After their grand entrance, Cliff popped open a truly massive bottle of champagne to cheers from all sides. The Horah was, as expected, a whirlwind of laughter and wild, celebratory energy.

The Details That Made It Theirs
Beyond the grandeur of the venue and the vibrancy of the celebration, what made this wedding special was the way it felt so distinctly them. The save-the-dates featured a family portrait of them and their cat and dog. Cliff gave his brothers cufflinks with the Hebrew letters for “living,” a meaningful symbol of vitality and enduring family bonds. Cliff’s parents held each other all night long.

A Shoutout to Sachi & Maja
Of course, all of this could not have happened without the wonderful planning team that is Sachi & Maja. Big thanks to Alyssa and Lisa for always being a pleasure to work with!

Angela and Cliff, thank you for inviting me in to document your wedding. It was an honor to witness the joy, the connection, and the beautiful community you built around you. What a night!

Venue: James Leary Flood Mansion
Planner: Sachi & Maja
Hair & Makeup: Dreamcatcher Artistry
Officiant: Rabbi Ryan
Chuppah: Bay Bliss Arches
Florals: Amanda Vidmar Designs
Catering: Park Avenue
Photography: Hazel Photo
Video: KL Films
Band: Lucky Devils Band
Transport: Bauers IT
Photobooth: Pixco
Rentals: Encore Events Rentals

Mill Valley Community Center Wedding

I’ve had the honor of shooting several weddings at Mill Valley Community Center, some paired with ceremonies at the nearby Old Mill Park. These venues offer a unique blend of natural beauty, history, and modern amenities along with great value and accessibility.

The Mill Valley Community Center

The Mill Valley Community Center is a modern, versatile venue that caters to weddings of various sizes and styles. Opened in 2001, the center is designed with a contemporary aesthetic that complements the surrounding natural landscape. The center features a spacious event hall with high ceilings and large windows that offer stunning views of Mount Tamalpais and the nearby redwoods. This hall can accommodate up to 300 guests for a seated dinner, making it ideal for large celebrations.

In addition to the main event hall, the Community Center boasts several smaller rooms that can be used for more intimate gatherings or as breakout spaces for various wedding activities. The venue also includes a professional-grade kitchen, allowing caterers to prepare and serve gourmet meals on-site.

One of the standout features of the Mill Valley Community Center is the outdoor patio area. This space can host the wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, or dinner, while providing a serene atmosphere with the sounds of the adjacent creek and the scent of the towering redwoods. The combination of indoor and outdoor spaces at the Community Center ensures that couples have flexibility in planning their wedding day, regardless of the weather.

Your Special Day in Mill Valley

The Mill Valley Community Center provides the convenience of modern facilities alongside the charm of historic natural settings. Guests or the wedding party can easily stay in the nearby Mill Valley Inn, which also is among the redwoods and photographs beautifully. There are plenty of fantastic eateries in the area (a local favorite is Sol Food for Puerto Rican!). Even better, being in this area positions you for fantastic sunset photoshoots in the hills, whether it be from a lookout point at Muir Beach to Mt. Tam, the options are endless. Be sure to check out what the Mill Valley Community Center has to offer for wedding events!

Venue: Mill Valley Community Center

The following vendors are associated with the first couple pictured.

Coordination: Tiffany Won

Catering: Cater Marin

DJ: Heart of Gold

Sommelier: Andy’s Local Market

Lighting: Marin Event Lighting

Florist: Jeffie Khalsa

couple kissing on tank hill in San Francisco for an engagement session

24 Hour Engagement Session San Francisco

So, you are probably curious… What on earth is a 24 hour engagement session? and we will get there… I promise. Stick around for a bit, spend some time with the images, I think you will start to understand and understand again…

It was after noon on a Tuesday in the early spring of 2024, I found myself in a meeting with a couple (Olivia & Stu) whose wedding I was scheduled to photograph in the Fall. The purpose of our call was to explore options for our scheduled engagement session. I was probably drinking a lemon seltzer. I do that on most occasions.

I felt a funny feeling, and then I said…”So, we have two options: Option A is a normal engagement session. We meet somewhere meaningful, or beautiful, or both about 90 minutes before sunset, and we make photographs in 1 or 2 locations. Option B is the 24 hour engagement session.”

Now, to be honest, I wasn’t completely clear on what a “24 hour engagement session” was at the time, but I knew it sounded fun to me.

Olivia & Stu showed immediate and universal excitement about the idea, even though they weren’t exactly sure what it was either. I think I said, “Are you sure?” multiple times.

We began by saying yes with wild eyes, and then, through a series of discussions, we formulated a plan.

In my head it always started and ended with the wisps of steam from a coffee cup. There was always a diner, there was always a convertible, there was always ice cream, there was always the beach, but there was so much more to fill in. So many more beautiful places to explore in the San Francisco Bay Area…

After the gallery below there is a list of locations and a bit more on my inspiration.

This project, in the end, is about time, about how it speeds up and slows down, about habituation, and dishabituation, the glorious surprise, days that never end, days that begin and begin again. And what it is to be young and head over heels in love in the Bay Area, one of the most spectacularly beautiful places in the world.

Enjoy! We certainly enjoyed the process of making this project.

Loop Date Itinerary:

Oceanview Diner
Shorebird Park
Berkeley Marina
Indian Rock
Live Oak Park
UC Berkeley Campus
Elmwood
Ferry Building
Palace of Fine Arts
Lollyland Mini golf
Crissy Field
Presidio Tunnel Tops
Legion of Honor
Seacliff
Haight Ashbury
Amoeba Records
Escape from New York
Seward Street Slides
Tank Hill
Toy Boat Ice Cream
Green Apple Books
Nopa
City View Metreon
SOMA
North Beach
Vesuvio
Ina Coolbrith
Bob’s Donuts
The Castro
Orphan Andy’s
Grandview
The Tiled Steps
China Beach
Oceanview Diner

Thank you for inspiration to Christian Marclay for his video piece, ” The clock” and to Danny Rubin & Harold Ramis for the movie, “Groundhog Day.” Thank you to Olivia & Stu for all your planning, your stalwart affability, and for staying strong all 24 hours.

Straus Home Ranch Wedding

Route 1 up the coast makes for an especially magical introduction to Straus Home Ranch, a working farm directly on the shores of Tomales Bay, in western Marin County. The Tomales Bay views, rustic barn, and grand cypress trees delivered an exceptionally special setting for Tom & Austin’s wedding.

The wedding day started off with Tom and Austin getting ready together at BayMod – a stylish and modern vacation home rental just across the street from the Ranch. This vacation property was airy and chic with large windows that brought the Bay into the living spaces. Family and close friends got ready at the big house on the Ranch where Tom & Austin joined them for portraits.

The ceremony site, a short walk uphill past a charming eucalyptus grove, offers breathtaking views of Tomales Bay. The well-trodden paths wind through the property and boast peeks and glimpses of a red barn, grazing cows, flower fields, and a grand view of the water. Tom was, shall we say, excited about feeding a cow, but the cows kept their distance.

A highlight of the Ranch is its renovated 160-year-old hay barn. Light filtered through the barn doors beautifully during dinner. Guests dined at long banquet-style tables and a small loft in the barn provided a bird’s-eye view of the festivities below.

A fire pit behind the barn added a warm campfire touch, and a photobooth truck was stationed next to it. A two-piece hybrid band/DJ from Sounds Elevated created an outsize sound, blending live music with recorded tracks. Bistro lights were strung in front of the house on the lawn adding some romantic ambiance.

Beyond the beauty of the venue, the hospitality of the staff, particularly Michael, leaves a lasting impression. Their warmth and friendliness ensure that couples and guests alike feel welcomed and cared for throughout the day.

Straus Home Ranch is a wonderful canvas for creating unforgettable wedding photographs. From the stunning views, to the rustic charm and warm hospitality, it’s a photographer’s paradise and a couple’s dream wedding destination.

Photography: Hazel Photo Weddings

Planner: Taylor Rae Weddings

Venue: Straus Home Ranch

Caterer: Pascaline Fine Catering

Florist: Ida Blooms

Music: Sounds Elevated

Hair & Makeup: Devotion Studio (Sebastopol)

Photo Booth: The Booth Bus

Rentals: Encore Event Rentals

Shuttle: Pure Luxury Transportation

Carneros Resort and Spa Wedding

On our initial conversation, I immediately fell for Christine and Craig’s love story. They were friends from college that reconnected during COVID when a group of friends escaped to a big house in Rhode Island to ride out the lockdown. Here they fell in love.

Their wedding at Carneros was a true testament to their relationship and style. Not all couples that self-describe as “laid back but stylish” are truly both, but to their credit, Christine and Craig embody those traits fully and every detail made that evident throughout their wedding day.

During their engagement session in the Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco, we visited their favorite bar and bookstore before wandering out to China beach. The images captured pieces of their connection and the ease of their relationship. Click here for more.

Fast forward to their wedding day, we find ourselves in the heart of Napa Valley. It was my second time at Carneros Resort. The first time I visited, the ceremony unfolded at the arbor, and the reception took place in a banquet hall. For Christine and Craig, everything was set at the top of the hill, offering breathtaking views of sprawling vineyards amongst rolling hills washed in tender golden light.

The florals that made up Christine & Craig’s wedding altar exhibited a whimsical, almost creature-like quality. The vibrant arrangements added a touch of playfulness to the natural surroundings. Green Petal Designs knew exactly what they were doing!

Upon arrival, wedding guests were greeted with a refreshing drink, setting the tone for the festivities.

Parasols were provided for sun protection during the ceremony, adding not only practicality but also a visual element to frame the wedding altar.

Dinner was hosted in a courtyard with an outdoor fireplace, seated between a pair of buildings with the glow of bistro lights illuminating the scene from above. This lent a cozy feeling to the affair, dare I say hygge.

Christine & Craig wrote short notes to each of their guests as place cards, and their tables were named after meaningful places from their lives, complete with illustrations and photographs from each locale.

When dinner had drawn to a close, Christine & Craig slipped away for an outfit change. Christine’s day-to-night flipped from modern white wedding gown, to red sequined cocktail dress, Craig’s from white tuxedo jacket, to navy blue velour tux adding an exciting dimension to the celebration.

They rejoined the party just in time for a Chinese Lion Dance, complete with a jungle gym apparatus for the dancers to climb and jump around. By the end of the performance Craig and Christine were out there with the lions who were glowing red and blue.

Nieces and nephews added verve and joie de vivre throughout the evening, thoroughly enjoying the festivities.

DJ Justin skillfully curated the soundtrack, ensuring the dance floor was pulsing from start to finish.

As it grew late, the atmosphere remained enchanting. The mini ice cream cone late-night snack delighted guests, especially me.

Planning & Design: Something Blue Productions

Photography: Hazel Photo Weddings

Videography: @strehlowphotoandfilm.co

Venue: Carneros Resort and Spa

Floral: Green Petal Designs

DJ: @justintertainment

Lion Dancers: Lion Dance Me

Rentals: Encore Event Rentals

Beauty: Grace Lin Makeup

Signage: Olympic Place Prints

Bay Area Wedding Photographer Year in Review

2021 Year-in-Review Bay Area Wedding Photography

In 2021 I photographed 24 weddings in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. All but a couple happened in the 2nd half of the year. I feel overwhelmed with gratefulness as I look back on all of the beauty and connection I was invited to witness and document. There’s nothing like a pandemic to remind a person how incredibly good it feels to gather friends, chosen family, and family to celebrate love.

2022 is looking to be a fuller year for weddings… My year is 70% booked, and will bring me up to Mendocino Sonoma and Napa, out to Walnut Creek and Lake Tahoe, and down to Half Moon Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains.

I can’t wait for all these adventures to come.

-XO

Paul

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