traditional wedding Archives

This was my fourth time photographing a wedding at this chic garden hideaway in San Diego. The garden at this venue is lush and green all year round. It was a beautiful, sunny day in September, with a subtle crispness hanging in the air.

Jessica and Alvin picked the best day of the year to get married: my birthday. This was also a milestone year in their relationship. 10 years together is an impressive feat for any couple, so they rang it in with the best kind of celebration. Marriage.

Ceremony at a Historic Schoolhouse

The highlight of their wedding day was the moment Alvin caught his first look at Jessica down the aisle. A single tear slid down Alvin’s cheek as he tried to contain his emotion. Their ceremony was truly timeless and a beautiful expression of their love. Confetti poppers followed their first kiss, kicking off their newly wed status with a bang.

Instead of the classic pink palette Green Gables Estate is known for, Jessica and Alvin opted for all black bridal party attire. Long garlands of eucalyptus hung around the venue, punctuated by gold and striped accent colors. Jessica traded in her veil after the ceremony for a flower crown made of eucalyptus leaves.

The rest of the evening was full of dancing and traditional reception festivities. Congrats and best wishes to you both!

The Vendor Team

Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin // Coordinator: Kelsey Carlin // Desserts: Donut Bar // Dress Boutique: Haute Bride // Dress designer: Londyn Gown, Hayley Paige // Entertainment: My DJs // Florals: Luxe Botanique // Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein, The Tie Bar // Invitations: Minted.com // Rings:Devons Jewlers & Tacori // Photography: Paige Nelson, Second Shooter: Briawna Meier // Venue: Green Gables Estate

If you loved this wedding, I recommend checking out Aaron and Ashley’s modern Luce Loft wedding or Jessica and Jeff’s classic vineyard wedding.

Jessica and Jeff’s vineyard wedding at Folktale Winery in the Carmel Valley was straight out of a fairytale. The winery boasts 15 acres of organically farmed vineyards and is reminiscent of an early century French chateau. Jessica and Jeff invited their entire family and close friends to join them for a fun weekend getaway.

Day Before Portraits in Carmel

The day before their wedding, we ventured to the coast of Big Sur for some intimate couple portraits. Firefighters shut down Highway 1 to the public because of the Soberanes Fire. We settled on Garrapata State Park, which didn’t feel much like settling at all. After a fun evening together, I was excited for the wedding day.

Wedding Party Photos in the Vineyard

After Jessica and Jeff’s first look, the wedding party met up with us for some portraits in the vineyard. Every one was in the best mood on this sunny summer day.

Outdoor Ceremony

Jessica planned everything perfectly down to the last detail. The ceremony was held in the courtyard of the winery. Swenson and Silacci arranged classic red rose arrangements for the bridal party bouquets, arch, and table centerpieces.

Lawn Games & Cocktail Hour in the Vineyard

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed wine tasting and lawn games. We used the opportunity to sneak away for some intimate portraits of Jessica and Jeff inside the beautiful lobby area. Meanwhile, the vendor team was hard at work turning the barrel room into a magical reception atmosphere.

Barrel Room Reception

One of the coolest surprises Jessica and Jeff planned for their guests was a one-take music video during the reception. Each table was assigned a song to dance, complete with a prop box. The video set the mood of the entire evening and everyone found their way to the dance floor! At the end of the night, Jessica and Jeff were sent off with a dramatic sparkler exit.

Congrats you two! Here’s to many more happy years together!