Oregon
Utah
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco CA
Bordeaux France
Sonoma, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA
Saratoga, CA
Central Park, NYC
Austin Texas
Bordeaux, France
New Yotk
Cannon Beach
Palm Springs, CA
California
California
UK
Palm Springs, CA
2019
Canon Beach, Oregon
Beverly Hillss, California
Pala, CA
Known as the Port of the Moon, Bordeaux is an elegant and enchanting backdrop for a wedding full of delicate florals, captivating conversations across a candlelit table as the echo of the last song of the night waltzes across the dance floor.
Located in the southwest of France, Bordeaux is full of stunning architecture, romantic culture and lives up to its stellar reputation for having world-class wine with an inviting climate and breathtaking landscape. Perfect for couples looking for a way to make their destination wedding luxurious yet laid back, Bordeaux has a well connected airport, clean and efficient public transport and thriving culture for guests hoping to extend their stay.
French Wedding Traditions
One of my favorite French wedding traditions is when all guests get up and stand on their chairs while waving their napkins above their head to welcome the newly married couple to the reception dinner. Full of entertainment, French wedding receptions often also include family and friends putting on sketch comedy routines, silly speeches and videos celebrating the couple.
Another fun French-inspired element you can add to your day is a champagne pyramid, add extra style by sabering the bottle before you pour.
Some of my favorite venues around Bordeaux include;
Le Domaine de la Ros
Clos Saint Esteve
Chateau Estoublon
Chateau Provence
Chateau Saint Georges
Chateau des Demoiselles
And one of my favorite wedding planners in the area;
Oui Mon Coeur
Bordeaux, France
Nestled in the golden glow of Sonoma’s rolling hills, a winery wedding becomes an ode to understated sophistication. The setting—endless rows of sun-drenched vines, a historic stone estate, and the scent of lavender drifting on a warm breeze—is both timeless and intoxicating.
The bride moves through it all like a dream, her gown a perfect blend of structure and softness: delicate lace framing her silhouette, the hem skimming the ground as she walks. Her bouquet, a thoughtful mix of cream garden roses and olive branches, feels as if it was plucked directly from the vineyard’s edge.
Guests are seated at long wooden tables beneath canopies of string lights and wisteria, the tablescapes effortlessly chic. A palette of soft sage, champagne, and blush mirrors the terroir, while gilded accents—thin gold-rimmed glassware, petite name cards pressed in metallic ink—add a touch of refinement.
The evening flows like a perfect vintage. Guests sip on pinot noir and crisp chardonnay as the sun sets behind the hills, casting everything in a honeyed light.
As the stars appear, the music shifts, and the dance floor comes alive. The celebration lingers like the perfect finish to a fine wine—full of depth, warmth, and a touch of magic. This is Sonoma at its most enchanting -- nature, love, and artful design.
Sonoma CA
Getting married in Austin and looking for some fun Southern wedding traditions to embrace? Check these out!
Legend has it that if a couple buries a bottle of bourbon before their wedding day, their wedding will have great weather! A fun way to do this is to find a spot that is meaningful to you (and accessible post-burial) to hide the bottle in the ground upside down.
Another fun tradition stems from weddings in Victorian England. The ‘cake pull’ involves symbolic charms attached to ribbons being baked into the bottom layer of the wedding cake. During the reception bridesmaids and single ladies gather to pick a ribbon and pull. The charm they find attached to their ribbon is like the fortune of a fortune cookie-- the hot air balloon foretells of travel adventures to come, the four leaf clover signifies good luck, and the fleur-de-lis represents prosperity.
Some of my favorite venues in the Austin area include:
Ma Maison
The Contemporary Austin
The Line
Brazos Hall
Austin, TX
A week away with your nearest and dearest?
Haute-couture affair that seamlessly matched the splendor of the venue?
Oui, oui.
This stunning couple from LA created a magical experience for all. They privatized the Château Couffins as their centralized home the week of the wedding so that the bridal party and family could explore the region, craft memories of a lifetime, and serve as the most stunning setting for their wedding.
A stunning, moving, never to be forgotten wedding that left all believing in true love, and excited for the adventures to come.
Bordeaux France
To me, New York is one of the most romantic places in the world. My first trip with my now husband was to NYC, and some of our favorite memories are just wandering the City, discovering it’s secrets and making our own stories to add to the legend of the City that never sleeps.
Some of my favorite romantic spots in NY include
Central Park
The Met Cloisters
Le Boudoir
Lincoln Center Fountains
Brooklyn Botanic Gardens
Apotheke
Stick With Me Sweets
NYC, NY
The love felt during this engagement session was as passionate as the incoming storm -- and a little rain only added to the magic of the session! I loved getting to meet this sweet pair, and was lucky enough to capture their love story from engagement, to wedding, to first little one on the way!
Outdoor shoots are my favorite and we can always work with the weather to create something magical!
San Francisco CA
A top destination wedding location, Italy has a splendor all its own. Art weaves itself through the landscape, cuisine, and architecture in a way that will enhance the romance of your wedding and captivate the hearts of all in attendance.
A few of my favorite Italian wedding traditions begin before the big day;
During the rehearsal dinner, the set man toasts ““Per cent'anni," or “A hundred years," to wish the new couple a century of good luck, often with a glass of prosecco. Also heard throughout the evening, are calls of "Evviva gli sposi!" (“Hooray for the newlyweds!"). Historically, Italian brides wore green on the eve of their wedding to bring good luck. You too can embrace tradition with emerald earrings, or maybe accent heels for the night before.
Italian Grooms used to serenade their brides on the eve of their wedding. Known as ‘La Serenata’, Bridegrooms would stand outside their Bride’s window and sing to them late into the night. Sometimes Brides would respond by sending down a basket full of gifts to the Groom, symbolizing her acceptance of his love.
Come the wedding day, guests at Italian wedding receptions break out into ‘La Tarantella’ to wish the couple good fortune. Guests hold hands as they dance clockwise as the music accelerates, then they change directions. The tempo and direction play with one another until ultimately everyone is laughing and embracing.
Some of my favorite Italian Wedding Venues include
Villa Montanare
Isola del Garda
Villa Sola Cabiati
Villa del Balbianello
Castello di Vincigliata
Villa San Michele
Villa la Vedetta
Saratoga, CA
I love when couples weave different cultural traditions into their wedding day! This wedding included some Indian traditions such as the Baraat, the arrival of the Groom and his wedding party to the ceremony site. This arrival is full of dancing, upbeat music and lots of celebration.
I love learning more about other cultures, and legends of love.
Here are more Indian wedding traditions, as well as some love stories throughout the ages.
San Francisco, CA
This sweet session was inspired by Valentine’s Day.
Love is what makes life so sweet, here are some of my favorite San Francisco Date Ideas;
Comedy night at Punchline Comedy Club
Adult Science Night
San Francisco Ballet
Underground live classical music
Forage and create your own meal
Roller Disco
San Francisco, CA
I love outdoor weddings. Annnd it is important to plan with the unknown in mind when selecting an outdoor venue. I’ve found the best case scenario is when venues have an outdoor/indoor option, but also know there are ways to work with any location.
Thinking about the weather can be a fun and creative way to decorate your wedding. Consider printing your wedding programs on eco (and heat) friendly bamboo fans. Sprigs of rosemary, lavender, mint and thyme act as natural insect deterrents and add a lovely sense of natural beauty to the decor.
Pala, CA
I love love. I love love of all kinds and am an ally and believe everyone has the right to marry their love!
Resources some of my same-sex couples have found helpful when selecting vendors for their weddings include;
Equally Wed
Pridezillas
Engayged
WedWeCan
Beverly Hills, CA
I adore beach weddings and elopements!
There are so many stunning options along the West Coast, and thanks to the 1967 Oregon Beach Bill, each of the 363 miles of beach is free and open to the public. While everyone does have public access, wedding ceremonies on the beach require a permit, available from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
For that classically beach feel, check out Seaside, Cannon or Manzanita Beaches. Each provide a captivating small-town coastal vibe where practically every shop from candy stores selling saltwater taffy, to trendy boutiques feel like you are discovering a local gem. The northern coast also offers the longest stretches of unbroken beaches of the three regions of the Oregon coast.
No matter which beach you choose, an evening bonfire is a must. S'mores are an easy treat to keep your guests going and can be a great excuse to prolong your time by the sea. Places like Surf and Sand Resort in Cannon Beach are pros at utilizing every bit of thrill the coast has to offer, and can even set up a bonfire for your wedding party for your post-dance hangout.
Canon Beach, OR
In addition to shooting love stories of all kinds, I also shoot editorials. I have been honored to have my work featured by;
One Fab Day
Willowby Watters
Equally Wed
Storyboard Wedding
Love Inc Magazine
Bliss Magazine
Twigs and Honey
Hannah Kong
Claire La Faye
Wedding Dress Official
The English Department
Offbeat Bride
2019
While many weddings can be steeped in tradition, why not take a more modern approach and create your own traditions?
Some of my favorite modern takes on saying “I do” include;
Custom cocktails for the cocktail hour. This can be a fun way to add an element of personalization to your reception. Inspired by everything from your favorite signature drink to the color shoes you wore on your first date, get creative and have some fun!
Another idea for a more modern approach to your wedding can be through an innovative menu. A seated dinner can be fun and doesn’t have to last three plus hours. Draw inspiration for the cuisine from places you have visited together, what was on the menu for your first date, or maybe the first meal you cooked for your partner.
Try mixing a natural setting with unexpected decor elements; think velvet chaise under a palm tree, or a rustic table with a chandelier suspended by a large oak tree.
Finally, consider adding entertainment to your reception. We know and adore bands and DJ’s, but some couples are adding in comics, dancers and even MC’s to lead guests through group games and activities as the day progresses.
Palm Springs, CA
Gone are the days when elopements were whispered about in secrecy. Today, they are bold declarations of love—intimate, stylish, and refreshingly modern. San Francisco City Hall, with its Beaux-Arts grandeur and iconic rotunda, is the ultimate backdrop for couples redefining what it means to say "I do."
In the heart of a city known for innovation, an elopement at City Hall invites you to craft a celebration that is unapologetically yours. Imagine walking into the marble-clad interior, your steps echoing as you ascend the grand staircase. Instead of a procession of tradition, you arrive hand-in-hand, a living portrait of modern love. A chic silk slip dress paired with bold jewelry or a sharply tailored suit in an unexpected hue—these are your wedding-day signatures, timeless yet avant-garde.
After the vows, the city becomes your reception. Perhaps it’s an impromptu champagne toast on a cable car, the clinking glasses accompanied by the hum of the city. Or a quiet escape to a sun-drenched terrace overlooking the bay, where oysters and rosé flow as effortlessly as the conversation. Forget the long banquet tables and endless speeches—this is a celebration of pure, unfiltered joy.
Your elopement is also an opportunity to break free of expectations and rewrite the rules. A bouquet of architectural blooms—perhaps protea or anthurium—echoes the individuality of your love story. An artist sketches your portrait as you exchange rings, capturing the moment in a way no camera ever could. And when the last rays of sunlight dance through the City Hall windows, you know you’ve created something rare: a wedding that is as much about the future as it is about this singular moment.
San Francisco City Hall is more than a venue; it’s a muse. And for those willing to embrace the elegance of simplicity and the beauty of spontaneity, it offers a canvas for a day that is uniquely, exquisitely, yours.
San Francisco, CA
An outdoor fall wedding becomes something extraordinary—a symphony of couture and nature, tailored to perfection. A moment suspended in time, where the wild beauty of the landscape meets the quiet luxury of impeccable design.
The ceremony unfolds at golden hour, with the couple framed by the kind of scenery that feels almost cinematic. A natural arch, adorned with asymmetrical floral installations in muted shades of caramel, rust, and cream, seems to grow from the earth itself.
As vows are spoken, the air is scented with cedarwood and sage, subtle nods to the rugged charm of the surroundings. The light fades, but the elegance only intensifies. A long, winding dinner table stretches beneath a canopy of twinkling lights, its surface an interplay of textures: raw linen, stone chargers, and hand-poured beeswax candles. The florals are intentional yet organic, as if plucked from the desert itself but with a deliberate artistry that makes every stem feel chosen.
Utah
There’s something undeniably magical about the Oregon coast—the way the mist clings to the cliffs, the soft roar of waves echoing like a heartbeat. For a bride drawn to understated elegance and natural beauty, this setting is a love story in itself.
Her gown flows like the tide, a cascade of silk chiffon that mirrors the gentle movement of the sea breeze. Pearls, luminous and timeless, trace her neckline and glint in her ears—a nod to the ocean’s quiet treasures. A bouquet of wild roses and bleached grasses carries the delicate, feminine tones of the dunes, as though it was gathered from the landscape moments before.
The ceremony is framed by driftwood and soft gray skies, the kind of effortless beauty you can’t stage. Guests sip champagne wrapped in cozy cashmere throws, their laughter mingling with the sound of the surf. Later, they’ll gather for an intimate reception where candlelight flickers against soft blush linens, and plates of fresh, coastal-inspired fare remind everyone why simplicity is the ultimate luxury.
This is a wedding where every detail whispers elegance—a celebration as natural and timeless as the sea itself.
Oregon Coast
Love is love...
And I love capturing all of the kinds of love that fill your life!
Whether that is your newborn's first month at home, you and your four-legged furbaby at the beach, or a Friendsgiving I adore getting to know you and capturing those moments that mean the most to you.
Send me a note and let's connect to create meaningful portraits for this special time in your life.
Everywhere