Imagine the excitement I felt when my friend Shannon Stellmacher of Stellmacher Photography called me to tell me about an amazing call she had just received from a bride who was planning to elope in the Napa/Sonoma area that weekend… The first thing I said to her was, “Well, they will also need an officiant… You do remember that I am ordained, don’t you?” We squealed with glee (seriously, we were so excited to work on this together!!) and she went off to call Cyndie and finish helping her plan her whirlwind wine country wedding! Shannon recommend her favorite florist and bakery, I researched locations in Jack London State Park, and prepared a lovely ceremony for them. Cyndie & George wrote vows, lined up their wedding outfits, and just showed up! I have performed a number of ceremonies, and always enjoy officiating almost as much as photography. No sooner were the words, “…and you may now seal your union with a kiss…” out of my mouth, than I picked up my camera, and started photographing some romantic portraits of them together snuggling and emotional from their ceremony!

This couple’s passion for each other is super-hot, and it was so fun to play with them at several locations, and capture some really memorable images for them to share! The other funny part to the story is that I had it in my brain that I really wanted to bring a cool chair out to the location to use for their portraits… those of you who know me know I have a thing for chairs, especially unnaturally occuring living room furniture in nature… LOL! I kept my eyes peeled for an antique store on my way to the ceremony site, and when I found this really cool ivory upholstered vision of loveliness, I snapped it up, loaded it in my car, and drove around all day with it! I know, I am just quirky like that, but hey… anything for great images, right? Enjoy!!

Sonoma Wine Country Wedding

Wine Country Wedding Grandeur!

Elopement Passion & The Chair

First of all let me wish my dear friends Eric and Melissa such warm congratulations on their daughter’s birth and arrival. The long rocky road to become parents, speed bumps nothwithstanding, seems to have wound its way to a spring meadow with flowers, sunshine, and a beautiful baby girl. Tiny Eleanor joins two families in a permanent bond of mutual trust and love – Eric & Melissa to Eleanor’s lovely first family including her birth mother, Shannon. What a perfect and amazing thing to have been a part of! I joined them and their wondeful adoption consultant, Ellen, for some family photos. This smiling baby was so anticipated and loved by so many who anxiously followed along on Melissa’s blog. She so eloquently and honestly has told the tales over the years of many heartbreaking setbacks, to most recently of their desire and journey to have an open adoption. It takes special people to realize and really consider a baby’s first family in a situation like this. Of course they love this child, and place her delicately into this new family in a sacred covenant between them. My heart is so full of wonder, love and admiration for all those involved in this amazing process. May you always remember these days with love, and know this village will joyfully do its part to keep Eleanor happy and safe and most of all… loved!!

I know I am Loved

Bridal Details

Golden Gate Park Wedding Images

Suzanne & Leonard, your wedding was so fun! Thanks again Jill for having me along…

Ok. I lied. I did not go to bed. The post before was something old… here’s something new (funky image), something borrowed (Jill’s wonderful bride & groom) and something BLUE! I really love this image!!! Ok, seriously… now going to bed!!!

Playing Around at The Warming Hut

Oh so fun to shoot a wedding today in Golden Gate Park at the Tulip Garden with my great friend, Jill of Jill Doherty Photography. Just finished downloading my cards, and this one struck me as a favorite, and felt like an old postcard…  Enjoy!!! I am now officially off to bed!

Golden Gate Park Wedding

Yummy Ice Cream From Cold Stone Creamery

Whew, it’s been a hot time in the City this summer… we have had numerous days that we could play in the backyard, which in the 10 years we have lived in this house in the fog, have been a rarity until the past year or so… what does that say about global warming?? I digress… Josh and I had to take a trip to Cold Stone Creamery where we had a wonderful treat for our tastebuds… Jello pudding ice cream. OMG. so good. Josh just had the basics… “gramilla” (his word for Vanilla) and m&m’s… He seriously enjoyed it! Here’s a cute image…