Robyn & Jason were married at Nestldown on a warm summer day, surrounded by friends and family.Their nature inspired theme fit perfectly with the outdoorsy environment, and Kelvin & Sarah were there to capture it all.  The ceremony took place in the grotto, cocktails up by the barn, and then dinner served on the lawn by none other than Thomas John Events.

Bride’s makeup by Jenna of Lux Agency and the florals are from Karen Baba of Plan Decor. Robyn kept her look light and natural, which perfectly complimented her dress.

Sarah captured this gorgeous image of the bride. Robyn’s choice of flowers in her hair is perfect for an outdoor wedding.

Touches of periwinkle accent the bouquets and lend a touch of color. The soft tones of the periwinkle and ivory really compliment the outdoor environment. Keeping the accessories to a minimum really suits the style of the wedding.

Ivory suits are perfect for a summer’s day. The periwinkle ties pull everything together.

Sarah spent some time exploring Nestldown and captured lots of little images of the landscaping and closeups of ferns, clover etc that really give you a little bit of a sense of what it is like to be there. If you haven’t been, you should definitely experience Nestldown. As I have said before…magical.

The bride entered from the stairway with her father, seeing Jason for the first time.

And they are married!

Nestldown is a photographer’s paradise. Every time you discover another little nook or hidden grove.

Escort cards displayed in wheat grass and succulents. The color matched linens really add to the overall look.

Wood was one of the natural elements Robyn & Jason featured in their wedding decor. Love these wood Mr. & Mrs. signs for the bride and groom table! Below is their couple’s initials carved into the birch centerpieces.

How cute is this wood cutout couple for a cake topper? Lots of D-I-Y touches.

Thomas John Events always impresses…great presentation and wonderful flavors.

strawberry and lemon flavored cupcakes. Yum!

Congratulations Robyn & Jason!

Minji & Wayne planned the most amazing celebration for their wedding at Villa Montalvo. It was a wedding that their friends and guests will remember for years to come. It was planned and excuted with such precision that I would suspect Minji & Wayne planned elaborate events every day. It was just beautiful! As photographers, we are so appreciate of a well planned event, and it shows in the images.

Kelvin started the day with Minji and her bridesmaids as they got ready for the day. There was plenty of time allotted to get ready, so there was no need to rush at all.

Minji is a stunning bride, and she’s very comfortable in front of a camera. Kind of a photographer’s dream…

Minji and Wayne planned a private meeting before the ceremony, and Wayne presented his bride with a beautiful necklace. Kelvin captured the moment between the couple, and then they proceeded to take care of family portraits, allowing the family to really enjoy the cocktail hour.

And the ceremony begins…

And they are married! On to the celebration…

One of this year’s big trends in wedding attire is the suit instead of a rented tux. This allows the groom and groomsmen to be much more comfortable while playing down the formality and playing up the personality of the groom, allowing for a custom tailored look. Ties are lots of fun and you can play with the colors of the wedding, the bridesmaids dresses or simply reflect something personal to the groom. And really, who can resist a man in a good suit?

Wayne and Minji have a lot of fun adventures in the life together (marathons, rock climbing, etc.) and that playful passion really comes through in the images.

During the cocktail hour, a few musically talented  family members provided some wonderful live music for guests. What a treat!

Minji and Wayne love animals, and Minji especially loves horses. So they incorporated this into their wedding day by arriving to their reception by horse and carriage!

The couple chose to forgo the traditional wedding cake and instead had wedding cupcakes along with a delectable array of desserts to choose from. By the way, since Minji & Wayne are vegan, they arranged to serve all vegan foods and desserts. This is not only a wonderful way to personalize the menu, but it’s also a thoughtful way to share an experience with your friends and family. What a fabulous opportunity to introduce all your closest friends and family to something near and dear to your heart, vegan cuisine? Minji & Wayne had little ways throughout the experience to keep things light and fun, like their little bobble head welcome at the sweets table.

For the first dance, Minji changed into a different dress, and the couple put on quite a sultry dance for their guests. Nice way to get the party started…

Congratulations you two, I’m sure this will be the first of many more wonderful celebrations to come!

I was so excited for Megan & Will’s wedding, they are one of those couples that are so happy, easy going and just delightful really, I just could hardly wait for their wedding day to arrive. The day began at Rosewood in Menlo Park, a beautiful new property with a gorgeous view of the valley. Jean Marks, my friend and wedding coordinator, was there to handle all the details and ensure a smooth day for the couple and their families.

I started off  with Megan and her mom, where she was getting ready.

Megan chose this incredible one shoulder wedding gown by Oleg Cassini. Combined with her natural timeless style, Megan made a modern style look effortless & chic.

Will and the guys are having pre-ceremony espressos in the bridal suite. The suites at Rosewood are actually cottages, (like small houses) and are perfect for weddings, as you have several bedrooms for getting ready, plus a kitchen, patio and large living room for entertaining guests. Plus it looks like they come with espresso machines!

After Megan & Will’s “first look”  we took care of family portraits in the lobby at the hotel. Then we headed over to Portola Valley Presbyterian for the ceremony.

The ceremony was officiated by Megan’s father, who has officiated over many, many weddings. So it must have been a real treat for father and daughter both to have him perform the official duties. The ceremony itself was very brief.

And they are married!

We found  this gorgeous little path leading into the redwoods just to the right of the church. What a perfect spot for photos right after the ceremony!

The ballroom at the Rosewood Sand Hill is absolutely gorgeous. The room is done in tones of soft buttery yellow, which gives it a very flattering & elegant look. I especially love the walls. Megan & Will chose a simple palette of wedding whites for their flowers, which works perfectly in this room. J Floral Arts did the wedding flowers.

Both dads gave heartfelt toasts to the newlyweds.

After the ceremony, Megan removed her veil and added a flower to create a different look for the reception.

Megan and Will worked with Weddings on Film to create a love story video that they shared with friends and family. The film shared the story of how Megan & Will met as well as how they got engaged. It was both touching and funny, and the guests really enjoyed it.

Besides the official story Will gave us on the video about the engagement, Will’s mom gave us another perspective on how the proposal went down. Quite an entertaining story!

Will is a big fan of espresso, and the couple wanted to share this with their friends and family. It’s the little touches like this that really personalize the experience for guests. Rosewood set up this self serve espresso station.

Right before sunset, we slipped outside to take a few candid portraits on the lawn at Rosewood. Congratulations to you both Megan and Will!

Tina and Matt’s wedding was simply amazing. Gorgeous couple, perfect weather, outdoor winery setting, pretty much everything you could ask for in a perfect day. Of course, Kelvin was there to capture every moment. The day appeared to be effortless, thanks to KellyMcLesky-Dolata from a Savvy Event.

All the florals were done by Huckleberry Karen Designs. Tina chose to forgo the traditional white bouquet for herself, choosing instead a bouquet of deep reds. Bridesmaids were dressed in deep red and had ivory bouquets.

Stunning bride…love the flower detail in her hair and the simple jewelry, perfect for the outdoor setting of their wedding.

a modern take on the Godfather?

The couple and their families hung out in this gorgeous private rental home (estate?) in Glen Ellen. It was the prefect backdrop for pre-ceremony photos. It’s a great idea to consider-if you rent a big, fabulous home instead of a hotel, you end up paying a similar cost, yet you have the run of the entire estate, and can plan for the whole family to relax and hang out and enjoy the rest of the weekend together.

Sometimes it’s the little details that count. The sign points people in the right direction while setting the stage for the overall look and feel of the experience.

The trees create a gorgeous path for the wedding party. Aren’t these two of the cutest flower girls you’ve ever seen? It’s always wonderful to see flower girls in pairs (or triples).

The trees create an incredible sense of mood. It was a long walk, which always makes for a very dramatic entrance. Sarah captured this image, as well as the one of the flower girls. A perfect example of how you can get different perspectives with two photographers. Meanwhile, Kelvin was at the front, ready for the shot below…

This was the start of the happy tears. It was kind of a theme that day…

And they’re married! Congratulations!

I really love this particular image, not exactly sure why, but something about their energy that I just love.

The simple but elegant color and style Tina chose for her bridesmaids fits well with the rustic feeling of the venue.

That’s  Matt rocking a custom made suit . There’s nothing like a custom made suit. After Geoff had a custom made suit done in Hong Kong a few months ago, I have a new appreciation for way a custom tailored suit fits. It’s an incredible experience, and if you are a groom, I would highly recommend taking the opportunity to have a custom tailored suit made for your wedding day. You get to choose the color,  fabric, how many buttons, the style of pants (hint: go with a flat front if you can) and of course it is made to fit you like a glove. Usually you can get a few shirts made to go with it as well-shirts that never feel too tight, the collars fit just right, the sleeves are the perfect length.And  your initials are sewn in to the cuff just to let everyone know that shirt was made for you.  Geoff let me pick the color of the lining (because I demanded) and so I chose a blue that matches the color of his eyes. Ohh how I love the custom made suit…now back to Tina and Matt….

The setting for the reception is outdoor natural style with a hint of DIY style. A fun mix of casual elements and a hint of glamor created a relaxed elegance.  Wildflowers were loosely arranged in mason jars, and the menu was presented  on a small chalk board. For a little glamor, they added chandeliers from the trees.

Cake by Jen’s Cakes in Willow Glen. Yum!

Lighting provided by Got Light. Lighting is an important consideration for any event, but when it comes to outdoor evening events, lighting is crucial. We are big fans of Got Light’s work. I think lighting is one of the most important aspects to creating a mood and designing a look for your event. Even if you don’t have a big budget for decor, lighting is the one thing not to skip.

There’s something incredibly romantic about outdoor first dances. It must be the light. In photography, it’s always about the light.

And they lived happily ever after…

Claudia and Chuck came to us by lucky accident. They attended a presentation I did at the annual “Wedding University” and heard my program about the importance of investing in a seasoned pro, and what goes into the cost of professional wedding photography (why it can be expensive). They hired someone to do their engagement session, and were not in love with the results. So they decided to give us a call. I’m so glad they did! Kelvin photographed their wedding, and it turned out beautifully! This was one of those weddings where everything just turned out perfectly…

Claudia receives a blessing from her mother on her wedding day, just as Claudia’s mother received a blessing on her wedding day. It’s amazing to see all the family and cultural traditions that go into a wedding day. I think that traditions are so important, as they are a way to really bring the family together and honor the past.

Claudia chose a scalloped lace veil which gives her a very timeless look, especially paired with a classic pearl necklace. This is one of my favorite shots of the day, just a fleeting moment of pure joy captured. Gorgeous lighting (and gorgeous bride)! Makeup is by Lux Image Agency.

Claudia chose black strapless cocktail dresses for her bridesmaids…I bet they will have a chance to wear those again!

Looks like Chuck knows how to have fun with the guys…the whole wedding day is pretty much like this. Everyone is relaxed, smiling and totally enjoying themselves. Exactly what you would want a wedding day to be.

Claudia’s mom did the honor of walking her down the aisle.

I love how the ceremony area is framed in by these lovely trees. Makes for a gorgeous photo backdrop. The white rose petals going up the aisle lead your eyes right to the action. The wedding and reception took place at the San Ramon Golf Club.

The ceremony was officiated by the bride’s brother in law.

And they’re married!

Both Claudia and Chuck are golfers, and wanted to put a personal spin on some of their portraits. I love the color combo of the green grass, brown hills and blue sky.

Simple details carefully chosen create a fun, playful mood. You don’t have to break the bank on the details; by choosing pink napkins on black tablecloths, that gives the room a nice pop of color, and the pink up lights finish it off. The florals are from Angela Pryor.

I love their cake for 3 reasons: simple design yet gorgeous, it’s from Elegant Cheesecakes, which is one of the most delicious cakes ever, and I have a soft spot in my heart for all things Disney. So cute!

Claudia and Chuck, congratulations!

We were thrilled and honored that Bride & Bloom selected Cyndie & Willie’s wedding as one of their real weddings of the decade. Way to go Cyndie & Willie!

We recently had the opportunity to interview Laura Little, the genius behind Floramor and she shared some great insight about working with a florist, what to look for, coming color trends and budgeting for flowers and decor. We’ve worked with Floramor for years on some of our biggest weddings, and they do an amazing job.  Read below for some really great advice!

Tell us a little bit about you and your business

My husband Stephen and I started Floramor in 1984.  We wanted the freedom to love what we do and to hopefully make a living from it.  I had come from 7 years of working in a chemical lab environment and I just could not imagine doing that forever.  We both had art related background so we took to the floral and event design easily.  That was 25 years ago!  We are now the florists for both Ritz-Carlton San Francisco and Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay as well as The Four Seasons San Francisco and Millennium Towers.  In designing events, we can do as little or as much as our clients need.  We can do flowers alone or orchestrate the entire production.  I think our clients come back over and over because we really take the time to get to know what they are hoping for and use only the finest materials.  Each year we create new designs so that everything we turn out is fresh and new.

What are some upcoming trends that you have seen?

Each year there are a few design elements that really stand out.  I think that this year candle light is popular as it always is.  Nothing is more romantic than a room filled with candles.  This year we have had quite a few brides ask us to decorate the ceiling of their venues with fabric and light while minimizing the table centerpieces.  This is a great way to bring the price down while creating a very strong visual image.

Color is popular of course.  I am seeing many brides ask for strong and contrasting colored flowers displayed in a simple style.  Minimalism with a punch.

Adding touches such as unique seating card displays or favor tables has become even more popular over the last couple of years.   It seems that when the economy takes a dip, couples start to think of wonderful touches that they can add to the wedding without adding that expense to the overall budget.  We have had couples design and create their own invitations, menus and seating cards.

As far as color trends…black and white with a splash of color is very popular.  Orange and green really stands out this summer…a fresh summer look without the fall look that orange normally connotes.

How can brides make the most of their floral budget?

Try to design the ceremony decor to serve as reception decor in some way.  Using things twice is a great way to save money.

Donate your flowers following the event using a company such as www.thespeaciale.com.   This is a great way to write off some of the expense and really does lift the spirits of the many organizations that get to enjoy the flowers for the week following the wedding.

Do low centerpieces on all of the tables with the exception of the bridal and family tables where you can do the over the top tall ones…..adding the drama at focal points.

What advice do you have for brides just starting to look for florists?

First and foremost do not make the mistake of NOT telling them your budget.  When I have a bride say “oh I don’t really know what to spend” I have no guideline as to what to suggest.  We do weddings where brides spend $2,000 on flowers and others that spend $100,000 and without guidelines it is hard to guess.  If you do not know what your specific floral and decor budget is, figure that about 15% of your overall wedding budget will go to decor.  Let your potential florists know the basic number at the start…you can always revise when you get the proposal and modify the design.

Ask your friends and colleagues who is good. Personal recommendations are always trustworthy.  Trust your instincts when you meet your potential florists.  Make sure they listen to you what you want…and that they do not tell you what you want.  Bring lots of color swatches and photos.  The names of colors are very subjective….”melon” to one person may be cantaloupe and to another honeydew.  “Peacock” can be dark or light.  Color swatches are your best guard against misinterpreted colors.

Always ask to see a sample centerpiece the month prior to your wedding so that you are totally sure that the design you picked is perfect.

If this image was the only one you got to see from Amber & Miguel’s wedding, I think you could safely say you know what their wedding day was all about. Fun, joy, love. A perfect day, you can see it in Amber’s smile. Lucky for us, Kelvin and Sarah captured all the great moments from Amber & Miguel’s day. Wow. What an amazing day. Every moment was absolutely perfect. When I was edited this wedding, I was floored by the images, just one great moment after another. See for yourself…

Amber’s mom and dad helping her put her veil on. These two were tearing up all day long. Beautiful!

Gorgeous bride!

I love the fresh spring colors in Amber’s bouquet. Pinks, purples and greens make a perfect spring statement. And check out the detail on her bridesmaids dresses. That pink bow detail really takes the cake!

And here’s Miguel with his boys, they were hanging out by the pool, having a few laughs. LOVE that tie, by the way…

The ceremony took place at the Church of the Nativity in Woodside. What a gem! This wedding was truly fabulous from start to finish, and usually to pull off that kind of feat, it takes a great team. Amber had some of the best of the best, including Rebecca Reategui and Tapestry Flowers

As Amber came down the aisle, Miguel went back and forth between smiling and tearing up. But then his dad really had the emotions flowing here, and who wouldn’t after seeing his beautiful, loving new daughter in law. The next image taken after this one is of Amber, biting her lip to keep from letting loose. It’s truly an honor to be able to capture these moments in people’s lives.

And the first kiss, they are married!

So cute these two!

These portraits were taken at their reception location, the Palo Alto Golf and Country Club. There are so many great, great portraits it is hard to choose a favorite!

I just love the waterfall here, and the greens are very well manicured.

The quilted diamond pattern in the tablecloths give a very rich look to the tables. Tablecloths really add a lot to your overall wedding decor. They give a great pop of color to the room, and allow for a wow factor no matter the size of the centerpieces.

Amber & Miguel gave out packets of sweet pea seeds as their wedding favor. Not only is this a great way to personalize, it adds a unique and memorable touch to the table.

I just love the fabric used for the cocktail tables. The fuchsia tulips add a feminine, modern touch. Pink, but not too much!

Not only is this a great emotion-filled image, but it’s also lit beautifully. Oh the perfection!

Party time!

Congratulations to you both Amber & Miguel!

Nestled among the redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains, you will find one of our favorite venues for weddings. Nestldown is one of the most beautiful, lush properties available for weddings in the Bay Area. Located on over 150 acres, the property is professionally landscaped, and the abundant flowers change with the seasons. This place is just unbelievable.

Most weddings take place in the outdoors “Chapel” overlooking the pond. Cocktail receptions take place near the barn, and the newly married couple can choose to arrive by train to greet their guests.

Dinner is typically held in the barn or on the lawn, with cake cutting and dancing held in the barn. In cold months, the light a fire in the enormous fireplace, and sometimes outdoors as well. It’s one of those very special, magical places you’ll never forget.

Nestldown is naturally beautiful, and will not need a lot of decor. Most brides choose to reflect the natural, outdoorsy setting in their decor and florals.

If you are looking for a dramatic entrance, you couldn’t do better than Nestldown. The bride enters down a long staircase build into the hillside, and then down the aisle.

Once you get down the hillside, this is the start of the aisle. Notice the ferns, flowers and tall redwoods.

That’s an infrared image above. Infrared works well at this location due to the many trees everywhere.

The ceremony area overlooks a great big pond, which has a fountain you can turn on during the ceremony.

The lawn is perfect for dinner when the weather is nice. This area overlooks another pond, and is surrounded by gorgeous flowers bordering the entire area.

The photo above is from Courtney & Peter’s  Nestldown wedding. I love when dinner is served outdoors, it creates such a memorable evening!

Since the entire location is filled with shade from the towering redwoods, you can take great portraits practically anywhere.

We created some wonderful portraits Nicole and Wellington at Nestldown if you want to get more ideas for casual, romantic wedding portraits.

During colder months, receptions are held inside the barn. You can see the fireplace in the photo above.

The barn also has a loft where guests can mingle away from the music downstairs. It’s also a great location for photographing dancing from above.

Hopefully you can see why this is one of our favorite locations to get married in the Bay Area. Good luck with finding your perfect venue!

Cake, cake cake! A number of our couples’s cakes were featured in the recent issue of Wedding Cakes magazine.  I must admit, it’s quite the secret thrill to be out and about shopping with my mom, pass by a magazine stand and begin handing her magazines that have our work featured in them. Look at me Mom! My photos are in this magazine, and this one, and this one…

Top left photo is from Krist & Fred’s yellow themed wedding cupcakes. I loved how they were displayed, very cute idea!

Bottom row, middle image features the cake from Sonia & Andreas’s wedding. This cake was displayed on top of champagne glasses filled with flowers for a very eye catching look.

Bottom left: yellow wedding cake with initials topper is from Kristi & Fred’s wedding at Treasure Island. They had a really gorgeous cake display, with and assortment of yellow cupcakes for guests and a small wedding cake for the couple to cut.

Here is another shot of the yellow themed wedding cupcakes, by Suzanne’s Bakery.

The cake in the top right is from Rachael & Adrian’s wedding at Flood Mansion. That venue has one of the best cake display spots in San Francisco!

And finally, bottom left is from Amanda & Chris’s wedding at Palm Event Center.  Looking at all these cakes makes me hungry! Enjoy!