Wine Country wedding season is about to kick in and I can’t wait to photograph my first wedding of the season in Sonoma in a couple of weeks. Before things get too busy it was nice to have a free weekend to head out with my hubby and check out Wineroad in the Russian River wine country and go barrel tasting! If you missed this weekend, don’t worry… it’s happening next weekend too!!

We went with our dear friends Bonne & Peter Posert, who are in the wine business, so it doesn’t get much better than that! First stop was Lynmar – I am not a chardonnay girl, but man, this was so delicious, crisp and yummy! Then we went to Joseph Swan,which had delicious pinot noirs and zinfandels… mmmmm!

 Then we picked up Dave, and we were off to the “Love Shack” at Porter Creek… Here the second generation wine maker, Alex Davis, shared delicious barrel samples, and a finished Chardonnay that was completely amazing! Peter & Bonne and Dave have been going here for many years, and the small tasting room, aviary, and friendly staff kept us here for quite a while!

Next (and what turned out to be the LAST… LOL) stop was Moshin, and it turned out to be my favorite stop! I knew I loved it right away when we pulled up, and I saw this

weird pacifier hanging from the barb wire fence… photo-op snatched! The fine folks at Moshin had a great band, Bucky Walters, and anyone having a wine country wedding outdoors should consider hiring these really fun bluegrass musicians from Arcata. Man, they just rocked it! I have never heard a bluegrass version of Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer, and it was a musical highlight. Serious fun for a rehearsal dinner among hay bales or a country themed outdoor wedding… The wine was phenomenal, the people were very welcoming, and we just stayed… we had our yummy picnic, a behind the scenes tour of the gravity tanks that gently move the wine from grapes at the top of the hill to the bottling machines at the bottom and mmmmm pinot fantasticalness… OMG! Get yourself some of this wine!!!  Here’s some images for you!! Thanks again to Peter & Bonne for the great company, and for driving… my glass is full, and the wine is great!!

I love being a wedding photographer, especially when I get to see the window into a couple’s personality by the creative touches they put into their wedding details! I also love when my dear friendtographer, Jacki V comes to town because we have been shooting together for 8 years, and its really like a highly sophisticated synchronized swimming routine minus all the water… I totally love shooting a Clos la Chance Wedding too… The views are breathtaking, and Michele is one of the best venue coordinators in the business!

Clos la Chance Wedding Details | Custom Wedding Gown

Al the beautiful bride

Al & Len say "I Do!"

They used the Grimmerie from Wicked as their guest book...

LOVE the pigs in a blanket and cactus cooler...

amazing sunset...

Kit & Ginny's Wedding Book

One of my album “babies” goes to its rightful home… I put so much heart and soul into every wedding I photograph, and it doesn’t stop there… This beautiful book went home today… an amazing clouded glass cover with exquisite leather details, and a really beautiful design. Ginny, the lovely bride, took it out of its box, and just looked at the cover and said that would have been enough for her, but continued to glow as she paged through it, commenting on how it totally reflected their style as a couple, and pausing to remember the memories the images invoked. (Gin, you had me smiling from ear to ear with your compliments on my work!) For a peek at the whole Hans Fahden wedding album design, view the slideshow!

First wedding of 2010, and what a day it was! We kept having to remind ourselves that it was January! Beautiful sunny skies with white puffy clouds, temps in the 60’s, and a beautiful wedding venue, The Silverado Country Club! Got to shoot with my dear friend, Jill Doherty, whose work you’ll find featured on the cover of their wedding information brochure (way to go Jill!)  Just as I promised in my blog post about film for wedding photography, I brought along my Holga, and took some shots of the bride’s beautiful dress… It’s hard to ration myself to one or two shots per photo shoot…

The stunning bride Io was absolutely sweet and wonderful, and the strong love between her and Tim kept us all warm and fuzzy! Her impeccable taste was evident in every wedding detail, and when Jill pulled the wrapping off her wedding gown we both gasped… WOW – there could have been no more perfect dress for this lovely lady! Thanks to Jill for having me along, and all the best wishes for only happiness in the future for Io and Tim!

Shoes and rings and bling, oh MY!

bride Io on the stairs before her Napa Valley Wedding

Perfect Dream wedding dress!

Stolen Kisses on a beautiful Napa wedding day

So much love with these two...

Something new for the New Year from Mill Cottage Photography

To all the brides who are searching for modern, stylish wedding photography from an award winning professional photographer but are tired of sifting through tons of appointments, coverage options and trying to make sense of all of it in terms of your wedding planning… Mill Cottage Photography has something new for the new year… check back for our announcement!!! Coming really soon… :^P

Gorgeous Wedding Flowers at V. Sattui WineryRose Petal Wedding Aisle at V. Sattui Wedding

This beautiful wedding at V. Sattui Winery  was a highlight of the season, … I am completely LOVING all the red rose petals, and the amazing barrel room, and the grounds are incredible, and the soft light, well, just knock me over with a feather… Another gorgeous coverage from the dream team for Shannon Stellmacher Photography! I always have so much fun working with you Shan!! More posts from this wedding: wedding dress details and obsessed with wedding shoes and rings

Best Wedding Officiant at V. Sattui

Wedding Details from V. Sattui

Personalized Table Decor for the Barrel Room

Reception Warmth at V. Sattui Winery Wedding

Wedding Portrait by the Tracks at V. Sattui

Private moments at Viansa Wedding

Wedding Details Among the Barrels

Viansa Winery

my favorite wedding chairs - Chivari!!!

Wedding Ceremony at Viansa

When I got married a few years back, I looked at many wedding locations in Sonoma! One that came really close to being the wedding venue for us was Viansa, and I always love to shoot weddings there!! Thanks again to Shannon Stellmacher Photography for having me along. Here are some of my favorite images from the day. I particularly love the ceremony location at Viansa… a beautiful Tuscan like courtyard with those big wooden doors as the back drop… amazing. The food is always great, and the wine is delicious – We were in the wine club for many years, and looked forward to our monthly shipment of yumminess!

Napa Valley Wedding Details - love those blue shoes!!

The Beautiful Bride at Meritage Resort

Delicious Wedding Dinner at Meritage Resort

Meritage Resort Napa Wedding - Candy Stations

Finally getting another few minutes to post some wedding images from an amazing wedding I shot this summer with Shannon Stellmacher Photography. It was such a gorgeous Napa day, and the couple was incredible as well! I love the Meritage Resort - it is simply stunning… warm Tuscan colors, great cave, and beautiful accomodations. Oh, and really amazing food… Here they are!!!

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

wedding dress by Paloma Blanca, photo by Kimberly Sayre

Wow, as I download and look at the images from Kit & Ginny’s wedding at Hans Fahden Winery in Calistoga (a favorite place for weddings!), I almost have to pinch myself… Was it a dream?? All the ingredients were there… Sweet couple absolutely enraptured by each other, crazy gorgeous location, impeccable details, rich vibrant colors of jewel toned purples and blues, and a whole lotta love! Ginny’s Paloma Blanca wedding gown fit her perfectly and she was every bit the elegant, adorable bride!!

Hans Fahden Wine Cave - photo by Mill Cottage Photography

Kit & Ginny's Hans Fahden Wedding

It was a huge pleasure to work with Chris Flitter of Events by Twist for the first time (and I am sure not the last!!), and the staff at Hans Fahden are impeccable. The catering from Wine Valley Catering was delicious, and Paige and the crew from Passiflora Designs made this wedding a perfect jewel!

Paloma Blanca Wedding Gown Detail

Of course we had cake… Laurie Lucov Wedding Cakes heavenly confection was not only gorgeous, but melt in your mouth-make you want more GOOD! DJ Abe was in da house… and spinning all our favorites, and Kit & Ginny’s first dance was INCREDIBLE!!!!!

Kit & Ginny's Wedding First Dance

My associate photographer for the day was the wonderful Shannon Stellmacher, and we chattered all the way home about how great lucky I am to have the wonderful clients I have! It was so wonderful to see former (and future…hopefully!) clients as Ginny & Kit were referred by Valerie & Drew whose beautiful wedding I photographed 3 years ago! Kit & Ginny, I am so glad you shared your wedding day with me!! Happiness always!

So excited that 7/11 has finally arrived! Kit & Ginny, and their wedding coordinator, Chris Flitter have been a dream to work with from the very beginning! In a couple of hours I’ll be headed up to Calistoga to the beautiful Hans Fahden Vineyards! Here’s a spread from their really cool guest book I designed for them with their engagement pictures! Sure to be a hit!! Of course, check back for more images from the wedding in their “sneak peek!!”

Engagement photos in a guest book

As many of you may know, I have a specifically soft spot in my heart for Sonoma Weddings, since Ray and I were married at the Sonoma Mission (Mission San Francisco Solano) in 2001. Well, yesterday’s wedding was awesome for me… I was the associate photographer for Shannon Stellmacher Photography. The couple married in the Sonoma Mission courtyard under the olive trees, and their reception was about 20 feet from where ours was… It was such an amazing feeling to see a wedding in the same venue look so different, and yet so familar. The bride was lovely, very much like Grace Kelly, and the love between them is the stuff legends are made of!!

Details, details… I also love getting the chance to photograph the details of a wedding in an interesting way. I have always admired one of my colleagues, Jill, who manages to get amazing reflection shots, so this one’s for you!