Berkeley City Club Wedding

Berkeley City Club Wedding – Jenni & Andy

Jenni & Andy were married on a sunny day in late December at the Berkeley City Club, a hidden gem of a wedding venue, right next to the Cal campus. Genius architect, Julia Morgan, was at her finest when she designed this “castle in the city.”

As the sun was setting, wedding guests gathered on a generous balcony. The chuppah holders processed. Jenni and Andy’s puppy was led down the aisle by Jenni’s niece. A pair of friends/co-officiants effortlessly wove diverse rituals into the ceremony. Highlights included: the signing of a gorgeous, colorful ketubah depicting, among other things, the Golden Gate Bridge, and their frolicking puppy; a musical performance with Andy on trombone, a friend on sax, and Jenni, with a chorus of friends, on vocals. They smashed a glass, smooched, and headed into the library for cocktail hour, where a full jazz band serenaded guests.

The vision for the wedding reception was crystal clear: “dinner & a show,” oh, and a hora, of course. (Important life rule, never pass up a chance to dance the hora.) Andy’s parents kicked off the show portion of the evening with a riotous slideshow romp through Jenni & Andy’s childhoods. There were traditional toasts, a family band, experimental music, pop covers, a jazz set with Andy and band. Such a lovely full evening!

Golden Gate Club Wedding Presidio San Francisco

Golden Gate Club Wedding San Francisco

Golden Gate Club Wedding San Francisco – Kate & Rishi

Kate & Rishi were married at the Golden Gate Club in San Francisco’s Presidio. The day was a hybrid of Western and Indian wedding traditions. (I also had the pleasure of documenting their sangeet on Friday at the Westin St. Francis.) All day long the legendary San Francisco fog moved quickly overhead letting sunshine through at a few key moments. I was especially grateful for the glow of the sun during the baraat, and just after the ceremony.

For the baraat, Rishi was escorted to the front doors of the Golden Gate Club riding high on the back seat of a sweet vintage Pontiac GTO convertible instead of the traditional horse or elephant. One of my favorites photos of the day is of Rishi and a spray of balloons reflected in the car’s glossy paint.

For the Barat and the ceremony, Kate & Rishi wore western dress: an elegant white dress with lace shoulders; and a sharp royal blue three-piece suit. After the ceremony they changed into Indian dress for the reception. Kate’s scarlet dress was covered in elaborate beadwork.

I love how the surrounding cypress trees made dramatic appearances all day long, whether through the great wall of windows that looks out onto the San Francisco Bay, or with the blue night sky as a backdrop for the night portraits we made.

At the end of the evening, Kate & Rishi’s sweet puppy made an appearance. How could he have known what a momentous occasion he was witnessing.

Special shoutout to the ever gracious and talented Sam Soto-Suver of Bowerbird for his work as a 2nd photographer.

And a special shoutout to Stacy Wicelhaus from They So Loved Events who managed about a zillion moving pieces effortlessly.

Vendors

Venue : Golden Gate Club

Photographer : Hazel Photo

Wedding Attire : Bride’s ceremony dress, Alt Brides
Bride’s reception dress Madsam Tinzin
Groom’s ceremony suit Indochino

Florist : Erica Rose Design

Wedding planner : Stacy Wichelhaus, They So Loved Events

Hair : Skyla Arts

Makeup : Skyla Arts

DJ : DJ Kingh Official Wicked Entertainment

Videographer : Creations by Sam

Cake : Mariposa Baking Company

Catering : Presidio Foods Catering X Amber India

Invitations: Save the dates, programs, and other paper goods by Sasha Head

Thompson Inn & Fuller Gardens Wedding – New Hampshire – Meaghan & Carleton

Meaghan & Carleton were married on the New Hampshire Seacoast at the historic Union Chapel. We made portraits across the street at the gorgeous Fuller Gardens, and down the road looking out over the ocean. It rained hard for a moment while the two were getting ready, and it was still coming down for the first look, but in true New England fashion, the rain cleared up, and we had some lovely sunlight for our portraits.

If you aren’t familiar with the history of Union Chapel, definitely check it out. The first services were held in 1877.

Carleton’s best man’s father officiated the wedding. Also, fun fact, his best man is engaged to Meaghan’s sister, one of the co-maids of honor. One of the most striking things about the wedding was how close knit Meaghan and Carleton’s community is.

After the wedding we headed up to the Thompson Inn for dinner and dancing. I loved the first dance. They looked as happy as could be, and they really cut a rug.

Also making an appearance, in the guest book, a delightful engagement session at Arnold Arboretum form last September.

Venue : The Thompson Inn

Ceremony Venue: Union Chapel

Portraits Venue: Fuller Gardens

Florist : F as in Flowers – Lynn Curcio

Wedding planner : Paul & Liz Calabria – Weddings in New England

Hair : Randi Iverson

Makeup : Donna Cotnoir, Custom For You NH

DJ : Jeff Erwin – Rethink the DJ

Ceremony music : Artful Noise

Catering : The Thompson Inn

Cake : Beach Pea

Invitations : Minted

The Hideout at Kirkwood Wedding – Lake Tahoe, California

The Hideout at Kirkwood Wedding – Lake Tahoe, California – Allie & Dave

Allie and Dave held their wedding at The Hideout at Kirkwood near Lake Tahoe up in the Sierra Mountains. It was a very bright and sunny day, and it cooled down pleasantly when the sun went down. The approach to the Hideout is majestic, miles down a winding dirt road, a clearing opens with a lake and a lodge in the distance. This place feels both tucked away and expansive. Don’t miss the night photos that show the natural beauty of the setting.

Allie and Dave have particularly complimentary personalities. There was this one moment where, as part of his vows, Dave painted a picture of the moment he was given entry to Allie’s relaxed side. All the sudden he broke into a lively dance. Allie’s wedding dress was adorned with the most gorgeous intricate beadwork. She wore her hair in wrapped loose braids, which complimented the dress perfectly. Allie’s mother and sister were exceptionally sweet as they helped her into her dress.

All of the vendors Allie and Dave brought in were lovely, and worked together well. This totally makes sense, because Allie and Dave are genuine, warm people. I was particularly appreciative of Shannon of J Jasper Events who helped us to make time for a couple sunset photos, which are some of my favorite from the day.

Venue : The Hideout at Kirkwood
Wedding attire : Dress: Anna Campbell Suit: J. Crew
Florist : Kathy’s Wedding Flowers
Wedding planner : Shannon Boling of J Jasper Events
Hair : Salon Be (Tahoe)
Makeup : Salon Be (Tahoe)
DJ : Quantum Party Productions
Catering : Mother Lode Market & Deli
Invitations : Minted

Big Sur Wedding Photographer

This was my first time photographing a wedding in Big Sur, and the landscape did not disappoint. There are reasons to get married in a setting as beautiful as the Wind and Sea Estate. You need less decor! Just look how the landscape and the light change color as the day proceeds. That’s California for you. Honestly, Big Sur is kind of a wedding photographer’s dream.

Jess and Nick had an intimate wedding with just 20 guests at the gorgeous Wind and Sea Estate in Big Sur, California. I definitely got to know the guests a bit better than I do when photographing a wedding with over 100 guests, and I am grateful for this, because across the board Jess and Nick’s people were delightful human beings. This was unsurprising really, as they are two of the warmest people I have ever had the pleasure of photographing. That warmth was on their faces all day long, and a week later when I saw them again, they were still glowing from deep within.

Late into the night, after Jess & Nick had, surfed, and showered, and donned spiffy spiffy togs, and processed through verdant hills, and spoke their vows, and kissed at a seaside altar (not once, but whenever the spirit moved them, like champs, like people who know exactly what they want) and after they read Shel Silverstein’s The Missing Piece to their guests, after they were showered again, this time with lavender confetti, and after they dined, and danced, and were showered again, but this time with the words of their eloquent friends and family, they had a bonfire, and listened to the sea, and it grew dark.

Big Sur Wedding Photographer Wind and Sea Resort

Big Sur Wedding Photographer Wind and Sea Estate

Wedding attire: Jill Stuart/BHLDN

Florist: We are gonna buy a bunch of succulents

Wedding planner: Sea and Stars Catering, Jamie

Hair: Kim Larson

Makeup: Kim Larson

DJ and/or band: Spotify Playlist

Videographer: none

Cake: Sea and Stars (Pies, cookies and s’mores by a fire pit)

Catering: Sea and Stars Catering

Invitations: paperlesspost

Documentary Wedding Photographer San Francisco Bay Area

A Wedding in the Forest – Gideon and Lina

A Wedding in the Forest – Gideon & Lina

Gideon and Lina’s wedding ceremony was nestled into a forest, with live trees bent into a glorious arch as the altar. I’m not sure I’ll ever top that. We used the opportunity to make couples portraits in the forest. The guests’ outfits ran the gamut from the traditional Norwegian dress of Lina’s family, to Gideon’s open collared shirt and brown wool suit. The two children stealing the show in every other image belonged to Gideon and Lina and, were part of the wedding party, and gave me life all day long. Guests used a rowboat to head back to the reception from the ceremony site. There were assorted berry pies, red canoes, croquet, oh, and the dancing, stick around for that…

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