A-WEDDING LOCATIONS- Foothills

Kim, Vern & their kids all showed up to The Sequoia in a big party bus and basically already had their party started! They were relaxed and easy going. The weather was perfect and everything was going just as planned. The reception room was stunning & the dessert bar was fab! Tawnia at the Sequoia is so great to work with and casually keeps everything in the perfect flow. At one point while I was hunkered down near the floor for a shot, she mentioned that I should wear a reflector stripe in all my black clothing so she could…

Outdoor spring weddings are tough to plan and to nail weather-wise around here. It is a bit of a crap shoot. I know this of course because I got married in the pouring rain (May 6, 2000) in Amador county not to mention my experiences with spring weddings in this area. Vivian and Eric hit the jack pot, not only with each other but with what was the most beautiful spring day so far. Viv and Eric were so easy to work with and so mellow- a really great way to kick off the wedding season. They both work for…

When I arrived David Girard Vineyards I could see it was prime grape picking time… thick bunches of grapes hung from the bright green vines that covered the property. I first shot the groom and his 10 groomsmen in the vines & (up) and around the ceremony area. You get eleven guys together, and well, let’s just say that the energy goes to “eleven”, pretty quickly! Those guys kept cracking jokes left and right- clearly ready for a fun day! Next were the ladies! Ashley and her 9 bridesmaids looked stunning. Their flowers were bright and beautiful from Katie Edwards…

My assistant and I arrived early on Sunday morning to Ironstone Vineyards. We arrived so early we saw the sun rise to show off the beautiful surroundings of Ironstone. (note: HWY 49 is much faster while everyone is still asleep!) We met Amber at 8 o’clock and she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. Everyone was up and going – ready for the big day. Amber and her bridesmaids started to get ready, so I popped in the next room over to see Brad. He was busy getting himself dressed and ready to marry his girl that he has…

Well, apparently Gretchen loves pink! (you think?) After a wonderful engagement session up in high country I knew this wedding was going to be a fun one. Gretchen and Matt decided to see each other before the wedding. This can be a really nice way to go and can really cut down on the time needed to take photographs after the wedding. It gets you to your reception faster! However, the best part is, that they get to see each other all dressed and ready to go (almost in private) and then have a few quiet moments with each other…

Brad just received his masters degree in journalism and Amber works for the California State Senate. We went to Sierra Banquet Center – a beautiful new log structure for weddings and events in Camino – for their engagement photos. Amber and Brad are getting married at the Ironstone Vineyards and Winery in Murphys, California in September of this year. They’ve been living away from each other for a while and Brad just moved back, they are looking forward to spending the rest of their lives together. I’m looking forward to photographing their wedding! View your slideshow here.