Kerri and Jared bought several acres of empty land near Pala Temecula with plans to turn it into a wedding venue, and eventually their future home. They got engaged last September and hope to have everything finished by spring 2018 to host their first wedding (their own).
The property has become a sacred retreat for the two of them, removed from the hustle and bustle of every day life. They are still in the early stages of refining the land, but it’s symbolic to their relationship. It represents the foundation for building their lives together and a shared dream. When Kerri suggested we shoot their engagement session here, I willingly obliged.
A Little Slice of Paradise in Pala Temecula
A steep, windy road led me through the backroads of Pala Temecula all the way up to a mountain peak. Jared met me at the top of the dirt road to help me maneuver around all the pot holes going down. Kerri waited for us at the bottom, smiling from the door of their air stream trailer.
To kick off our time together, Kerri popped a bottle of wine inside the air stream. We polished off our glasses and ventured outside right as the sun crested the west facing mountains. Kerri and Jared led the way, showing me their favorite spots around the property. It was fun imagining all the possibilities of its raw potential and what a wedding here would look like someday.
(Kerri also happens to be an amazing hairstylist- hit her up, San Diego).
Of course, they saved the best view for last. We hopped in Jared’s car and drove to the end of the road. The drop off revealed the city below, sparkling in the sunset glow. We danced and laughed together as the light slowly faded. To end on a high note, we plugged in the air stream’s market lights to illuminate the blue hour.
The real highlight of the evening was when I got my car stuck halfway up the dirt road. Luckily, Jared was watching me leave and ran up the hill to rescue me. Thanks for being all around awesome and showing me around! I can’t wait to see the finished outcome of this special place!
If you love this session, I recommend looking through Amitis & Nico’s Joshua Tree engagement!