A Foggy Hilltop California Wedding: Joan + Jay

foggy wedding

Sometimes the most wonderful + memorable weddings are the most simple + intimate. Joan + Jay wanted their day to be just that. A small + relaxed wedding with their closest friends. Their wedding day might have not been exactly as they had planned – people were late, there were parts that they forgot to plan and a crazy fog rolled in for their ceremony! But those are the things that made it so memorable and they wouldn’t have had it any other way. Plus the fog created some pretty gorgeous photos! I’m also a huge Brett Dennen fan and he played the music for their ceremony – what a lucky couple to have such a talented friend to provide the music for the day! Big thanks to the lovely Kelty + Hannah of Steep Street for the gorgeous photos.

foggy wedding

foggy wedding on a hill

foggy wedding on a hill

What song did you walk down the aisle to? Real Love performed by Brett Dennen. We exited to a group sing along of All You Need is Love led by the lovely Brett. 

foggy wedding on a hill

foggy wedding on a hill

foggy wedding on a hill

foggy wedding on a hill

foggy wedding on a hill

foggy wedding on a hill

Most memorable moment of your wedding day?
The memories started the night before in our hotel room with a small group of friends laughing and telling stories. Seeing each other for the first time. Arriving at the wedding site and realizing that we hadn’t organized the ceremony (the most important part of the day!). Stepping off the trail on the way to the ceremony to let tourists pass. Freezing on the mountain top, surrounded by thick fog. The reading of our personal vows. All the smiles and laughter. The speeches. Our jazz band! Joan’s dad dancing in the “circle”.

foggy wedding on a hill

foggy wedding on a hill

bride and groom in the trees

bride and groom in fog

green boutonniere

Totally love these two photos below of Joan + Jay after the ceremony!!

bride dancing

After the ceremony, they enjoyed an intimate + yummy dinner at Heirloom Cafe.

cafe reception, simple succulent tablescape

heart card, bride and groom as children

cafe reception

cafe reception

Any advice for those planning now?
• Know what you want as a couple and stick to it because everyone wants something and will openly give their opinion.
• Figure out what projects you will take care of and what you need others to do.
• The night before our wedding we had a friend spontaneously organize how the next day would go, and we thought,”why didn’t we have her help us all along?!” If organization is not a skill you possess, get a planner or organized friend to help.
• The day-of is so bananas so delegate to others what they can do so you can keep your sanity.
• Ask for what you need.
• Take a honeymoon right after…even if it is brief.

Our wedding was so intimate that even our photographers felt part of it. We had boutonnieres made, but didn’t have them when we arrived at the ceremony, so Hannah found a beautiful twig covered in moss and voila, a new boutonniere! Our photographers where so fantastic and had such a calming effect before the wedding that we felt relaxed for the ceremony. Kelty and Hannah took photos that were gorgeous and captured the event perfectly. We wanted photos of people smiling and laughing and we have 600 photos that just that! We cannot express how much we love them!

Congrats to Joan + Jay!!

vendors:
photography: Steep Street Photography // venue: Mount Tamalpais for ceremony, Heirloom Cafe // floral design: Jill Iger //

wedding dress: Vintage Opulence // bride's shoes: Seychelles // bridesmaid dresses: Anthropolgie // hair stylist: The Bride & her Lady Abby // makeup artist: The Bride & her Lady Abby // groom attire: DKNY // paper goods: handmade by bride + groom // catering: Matt Straus at Heirloom Cafe // music: Brett Dennen & The Scott Anthony Trio // invitations: handmade by bride + groom

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