I’m excited to share that the UK wedding blog, Beyond Beyond picked up Rob and Becky’s love story for a two day feature of their lovely elopement in Santa Cruz CA. You can view part one here and part two here.
Tag: ‘redwoods’
PUBLISHED | Beyond and Beyond UK Wedding Blog
Thursday, November 1st, 2012ELOPEMENT | Rob + Becky
Tuesday, September 18th, 2012Who can resist a couple head over heels in love ? Not me. I sure can’t. That is my favorite type!
When Karissa Paxton from Coastside Couture contacted me regarding an elopement two days before the bride had to fly back to England I was giddy. Lucky for the bride, Becky, she was getting married to a gentleman, Rob who happen to be good friends with Karissa who plans weddings for a living. Karissa hooked the lovely couple up with all the local goodness, starting off in our coastal redwoods and leaving them at the Dream Inn for an oceanside dinner and first night as a married couple. Becky had traveled here a couple months back to visit a friend when she was caught off guard by a handsome fella in the bike shop. Upon laying eyes on him, she went mute and could only blush in response. A couple days later, upon the urging from her mother and friends, she mustered up her flirting genes, put on a dress, brushed out her helmet hair and went back to chat with him. He. was. not. there. 
Just about to leave, she spied him in the back and very non-chalauntly says, “Hey Rob.” He promptly hung up the phone and stood there talking to her in the bike shop for two hours straight.
The lovely Karissa in her sunny Santa Cruzian home.
A few calming words.
SNEAK PEEK | An Elopement in the Redwoods
Thursday, August 16th, 2012Here is a sneak peek of the intimate affair in the redwoods.
MARRIED | Andrew + Katie
Monday, July 23rd, 2012My six year old comes running upstairs, “Mommy, Mommy, Andrew is getting married and I told him you could take the pictures!”
At our old place, there was a massive grass field that the kids played on with ALL the neighborhood dogs. Katie and Andrew lived across the street with their golden retriever, Eto, who my kids ADORE. Andrew would come across daily to throw Eto the ball and chat it up with my kiddies, Luke and Bella. So it began. Fast forward to after the wedding, I now get flash backs to Andrew’s ferocious dance moves everytime I hear “Call Me Maybe” and his secret hidden talent of the weed wacker on a mic.
The weather, details, food and friends were all amazing!! Not to mention a full dance floor that was pumping the entire night! Thank you so much guys for allowing me to be part of your day. It was so great to get to know you both more and be part of your beautiful celebration. Roaring Camp Railroad was a killer venue. The trees, the props, the sunshine and redwoods, even the dining hall have made it a new favorite venue for me! Love that place.
The group partied the whole train ride back with a little flip cup to pass time. 
SNEAK PEEK | Roaring Camp Railroad Wedding
Wednesday, July 18th, 2012What an amazing wedding! We took a trainride into the redwoods for their intimate standing room only ceremony in a redwood grove and then partied all the way back on the train ride back to the reception. Even more fitting is the school house the bride got ready in given they are both school teachers! Schools out for summer. Stay tuned!
ENGAGED | Mark + Melissa
Monday, June 18th, 2012I found the perfect spot just up the road that had both yellow flowers that Melissa wanted and redwoods that Mark had requested! The redwoods were filled with light too, my favorite kind. Mark was a trooper walking through gopher holes while battling an old injury that left him with some pins and screws in his leg. I had no idea until after I asked them to do a little run together, he finally spoke up. Hope Mark will remember this as a sweet adventure with his girl. Congrats on your up coming wedding this summer!
MARRIED | Chris + Kelley
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011While most people think of camp, they think of those akward teenage years, first kisses, team building games, and kp duty (kitchen patrol). You can probably remember your favorite summer camp leader, but only by their camp name- Opal, Irish, Wingnut, Honeybee. What was your camp leader’s name? To you, they don’t even have a real name- that was their real name. Camps are now becoming not just a thing for your youth years, but brides are starting to bring that whole week of fun to their weddings. Why not? It’s crazy to see 100 people in less than 6 hours as they celebrate one of the most important days of their lives. Why not bring in all your friends and family for a weekend of fun. You get to bunk with friends, have bon fires with smores, and go on a scavenger hunt! That’s what Chris and Kelley did for their wedding weekend up at Camp Campbell.
Chris and Kelley met at the newspaper agency. They contacted me and shared that Camp Campbell recently revamped their camp venue in Boulder Creek and were planning on a weekend of it with a small crowd of friends and family. I loved it. I loved the idea that you get to enjoy your guest on either side of your big day. I love nature and all the beauty the redwoods are when graced with a couple in love. Camp Campbell was lovley. It offers a sweet little chapel in a redwood grove and acres of beauty to explore with the couple. Luckly, Chris and Kelly were more than willing to spend sometime in the redwoods. Not to mention the many DIY details Kelley poured into her day.
DAY AFTER SESSION | An Enchanting Fairytale
Saturday, March 12th, 2011Ah, yes, sunshine. We got sunshine after a couple months of rains. Michael and Jenny wed on New Years Day, however, I was so sad that the day slipped past us without any lovely portraits of them in her lace adorned gown in a sunshine filled field that I suggested a day after session. We headed up to a small field near Westlake Elementary and UCSC that I’ve been eyeing for a few years now. It was perfect. There is a rocky wall that doubled as her castle and a field field with grass and tall redwoods, very enchanting looking. If there really was a castle, I may have made Jenny throw down those locks. She has hair like a true princess and all the lovely qualities of a princess. Full of grace. Next we had plans to go to the Arboretum only to find they lock their gates at 5pm. It was 4:58pm. SO… we headed North to a beach up the coast. Since we were all freezing and blown to pieces we worked the cliff view from a top before wrapping it up. Now I can complete an album for them with some gorgeous portraits.
ENGAGED | The Adventures of Brian + Jenai
Thursday, February 17th, 2011Oh, how I wish I could share their amazing video that their mega talented friend made for their up coming wedding days. Yep. Two weddings. One on the East Coast and one on the West- my first double header. Well besides my own. Yeah- we did the official one with just the parents present, then the huge shabang a year later. There will be no video though, as it is top secret. I got a peek though because I will be “working” while it plays. With their many years traveling from coast to coast to keep up a relationship, the two are planning a travel themed wedding. I’m very much looking forward to seeing all the details she’s oozing about come to life. In the meanwhile, here was her other vision for her engagement session… first a hike in Nisene Marks, then a trip to the beach for a coveted photo of them on boards in their clothes. Crazy I know. She had me at, “so our backs will be to you…” There is something so enchanting to me about two people in love looking away from the camera. It holds so much curiosity and unknowns.
After Nisene Marks… we headed over to the village. We did a little stroll around town, before hitting the water.
Lucky for these two, there was no swell. The surf was as flat as a lake. They were able to paddle out unscathed for this shot she wanted.
Thanks for the fun adventures guys! I’m looking forward to more with your bi-coastal weddings. xx ~J
