A-WEDDING LOCATIONS- Foothills

Love /luv/ (noun, verb, & everything in between) 1. sweethearts 2. gets better with time 3. the best kind of friendship Two days after Mandi and Tom celebrated their marriage on a gorgeous April day “made to order”, in a beautiful backyard ceremony, I headed east for a month long adventure to celebrate some of my own milestones including a birthday, a high school reunion, a graduation celebration and two weeks out of the country celebrating my own marriage, nineteen years ago. Mandi and Tom’s relationship began at a Mexican taqueria in Davis that had “terrible food” in 2013 after…

While these two are out starting their new lives together on their big cross country adventure to their new home in Tennessee, I thought it would be fun to post some of my favorite images from their Wedgewood Sequoia Mansion wedding earlier this month. I’m hoping they will get a chance to enjoy them on some mountain top, down in a canyon or even at a cool historic diner somewhere between here and there. Road trips rule! I loved working with Cambria and Craig. There was such a strong connection between them, and not only that, their friends and family…

Emma and Marcus, born on the same date, and graduating from Ponderosa High School on the same date too! What a treat to not only get to capture the personalities of each of these dynamic, personable and intelligent kids but also their personalities and connection, together, as bother and sister, as twins. They have a lovely nurturing relationship and my camera had a great time and I did too…and we all enjoyed the gorgeous evening light down by the river. We started at Home Depot, all hopping into my car and driving down to Coloma together where I asked them…

Sierra and Cory were married on a beautiful May day in a small ceremony at the stunning Eden Vale Inn. The wildflowers were in bloom, the bright blue sky full of puffy white clouds and a small group of close family and friends were gathered in attendance. There were lots of unique touches created by Cory for this day like the lovely, handcrafted ring box and the wagon for their flower girl. Camino Flower Shop created the bouquet that literally brought Sierra to tears. While Sierra was getting ready, Cory and and his best man were hard at work getting…

On a lovely fall day in October, down by the river in Coloma, Alyssa and Brett, along with their dearest friends and family, gathered to celebrate their marriage. What followed was an amazingly beautiful day of warm love.

Jessica and Peter, together with their son Oliver, exchanged their vows on a hillside amongst the chardonnay vines at Windwalker Vineyards in Fairplay. Supported by Jessi’s sister, Sarah and Peter’s sister, Ashley, they expressed their deep love for each other and for their future with their little family. You can tell, by the way they look at each other and further by the way they supported each other throughout the day both as bride and groom and as parents of their son, Oliver, their vows were simply just a validation of a connection that had long been solidified. Jessi started…

I first met Megan and Brandon in October of 2016 in Apple Hill. They wanted a beautiful fall engagement session complete with wine sipping among the apple trees and a chance for us to get to know each other better. A few frames in, I realized I was in for a treat. Comfortable with themselves, comfortable in their relationship and as we discovered that day, comfortable with me too, topped with a glorious fall day, we exchanged stories as I captured their love in the beautiful colors of autumn in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. Their love story started…

Kristin and Derek married on a beautiful September day, not far from where they call home, at the gorgeous Mettler Family Vineyards in Lodi. Earlier this year, Kristin made my day when she contacted me asking when “I” was available to photograph her marriage to Derek. They were checking my schedule before they booked their venue. I’m lucky to be a photographer but even more lucky to have appreciating clients like her. Such an honor. Having captured the weddings of both her sisters, Courtney and Erin, I was excited to get to tell the story of the final Zgraggen wedding celebration.…

The Flower Farm Inn is simply one of my most favorite locations to work at. Not to overshadow their impeccable grounds that provide so many amazing backdrops for wedding photography, the staff is first rate; always helpful, always service oriented and always recognizing that this is a BIG day for their couples and they are pro-active to make it the best they can for each couple, while also staying in the background. It’s like this each and every time I photograph at the Flower Farm. That said, Erin and Cameron, high school sweethearts, “take the cake” on being such gracious…