Where do I begin with Holly and Brandon?! For those of you who don’t know, Holly is my sister and also my best friend. So, needless to say being able to capture this wedding was near and dear to my heart. When they decided to get married in Napa Valley at a vineyard in California, I was SOO excited! Not only are these two gorgeous people, but they both have really good hearts and I’m so excited for my sister that she found someone who makes her happy.
This shoot was not only one of my favorites because it is one of my first destination weddings, but because my husband Brady and I decided to make the most out of the trip and spend some days road tripping around California before and after the wedding .We flew into San Francisco and spent a day there and then headed for Yosemite National Park. We spent a few days there camping and hiking, and afterwards headed to Napa Valley. We got there a day before the wedding to hang out with my family at a house my mom rented. We lounged by the pool, ate too much food, and soaked up some sun. The next day was the big day and I loved getting to spend the day with my sister as she got ready. Getting to capture her and Brandon around their beautiful vineyard venue was fantastic and as beautiful as you could imagine.
To say this wedding was one of my favorites is an understatement, not only was it a photographer’s dream, but the people who were there are the closest people to my heart. After the ceremony, I got to relax and enjoy some wine and hang with the family. Then followed a fun night of dinner, cake, and dancing in the venue’s barrel room where the reception was held.
The next day after the wedding, Brady and I headed to see the giant Redwoods and camped there for a night and hiked amongst some of the largest trees in the world. After driving all over California and Brandon and Holly’s wedding, we were more than ready to come home to our puppies and North Dakota with our hearts full of vacation and family time.
Overall, this wedding really gave me a chance to showcase my style in different way due to the different backdrop of a Napa Valley vineyard. I love shooting in natural light outdoors. I would describe my style as bright, airy, and romantic. I not only find this style appealing for weddings as they are all about love, but I also think it is timeless and creates a look to my imagery that will withstand the test of time as different trends and fads come and go.
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