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Jen + Ryan both fell in love with Big Sur the first time they visited 5 years ago and have made it a yearly Thanksgiving tradition to go camping there. When they got engaged, they both knew that the only place they truly wanted to get married was in Big Sur. They also wanted to have a small, intimate wedding so they could really enjoy being with their family + friends that had traveled so far to celebrate with them. Jen is a photographer so after shooting and being a part of so many different weddings, she really knew what she wanted and didn’t want for the day. They both agreed that there was no need to follow any wedding “rules” or structure so each part of the day was an expression of us as a couple.

All of the special details, like their camping themed photo booth, Ryan’s Bourbon Bar, and their welcome table + sign, were a creative collaboration between them and their amazingly talented friends who were more than willing to pitch in to help. By finding a single location that was perfect for the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and reception festivities they were able to curate a simple and stress free day that everyone could enjoy from the moment they walked on to the property. Around every corner they made sure to find unique ways to express their sensibilities and most importantly, surround themselves with wonderful people who would appreciate the experience from start to finish. Thanks so much to Brandon Kidd Photography for the beautiful photos!

What song did you walk down the aisle to? Jen walked down to Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros and we exited to Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur by Sigur Ros.

What a beautiful ceremony location! You don’t need much in the way of decor with a view like that.

I absolutely love all their pretty dresses by Sarah Seven. And aren’t their bouquets gorgeous!? Jen and her friends + family did all the floral arrangements for the day with seasonal flowers from Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.

Most memorable moment of your wedding day?

Jen: Right after the ceremony Ryan and I snuck away for a few minutes to let what had just happened sink in. It was such a magical, special moment for us to share together. The first couple of minutes as husband and wife, just the 2 of us. I also loved looking around during dinner at all of our guests from different parts of our lives that all mean so much to us. I felt like the luckiest person ever!

Ryan: Brandon [the photographer] told me I had to go away because they were going to do some portraits of Jen before the ceremony. At that moment I got really excited because I knew we had less than an hour before I got to see her for the first time and of course as I stood there and she walked down the aisle, looking so beautiful, there was no where else I wanted to be than standing in Big Sur knowing that forever she would be by my side.

Any advice for those planning now?

Try to plan as you go and just remember that no matter what happens, its going to be the best day of your life. Have your family and friends pitch in, we really could not have pulled it off without them! Enjoy the little moments of the day, pause and reflect on all the wonderful experiences you are having and fantastic people around you. Also, try to stick together during the reception so you are able to share the same memories of the day, wise words from Jen’s Maid of Honor and best friend, McKenzie.

We can’t thank everyone enough who showed up and helped make our Big Sur wedding dream day come true. We would also like to thank our amazing photographers Brandon + Kristin Kidd who captured our day so beautifully and are the nicest people ever to work with!

Congrats to Jen + Ryan on their gorgeous and personal wedding! We wish you cuties all the best!

vendors:
photography: Brandon Kidd Photography // venue: Private Big Sur Estate // event design: Matthew McKee of Archery Goods LTD (friend of the couple + creative genius) // wedding dress: Sarah Seven dress, Ivy and Aster sash; both from Lovely Bridal Shop in NYC // shoes: Christian Louboutin // bridesmaids dresses: Sarah Seven also from Lovely Bridal + Adrianna Papell // hair + makeup: Maggie and Mai (both friends of the bride’s) // groom suit: Hugo Boss // invitations+ paper goods: designed by a friend of the couple // catering: Paradise Catering (locally grown and seasonal; we had many guests tell us that this was the best wedding meal they have ever had) // cake: all baked goods made by Jen and her Maid of Honor Mckenzie // music: ipod + vinyl records during dinner

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.

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. 

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”.

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

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

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, alterations by Summer Titone // shoes: Seychelles // bridesmaid dresses: Anthropolgie // hair + makeup: The Bride & her Lady Abby // groom suit: DKNY // invitations+ paper goods: handmade by bride + groom // catering: Matt Straus at Heirloom Cafe // music: Brett Dennen & The Scott Anthony Trio

I absolutely fell in love with Meg + Tim’s wedding as soon as I saw it last year on Jasmine Star ’s blog. When a wedding photographer gets married, you know it’s going to be beautiful + full of unique details – and Meg’s was no exception! Meg + Tim choose one of my favorite San Francisco venues, The Marin Headlands Center for the Arts. They wanted their day to feel really elegant but still casual and that venue is the perfect location with the exposed light bulbs, tin ceilings, mismatching chairs and peeling paint. To contrast those details, they wanted to bring in elegant florals in deep reds + golds – sort of a throw to the Tudors. While Meg craved elegance for their day, Tim and her both wanted it to feel like a comfortable dinner party for our guests not a stuffy affair, so they let go of a lot of the traditional wedding day formalities in favor of lots of dancing, eating, and drinking. My kind of wedding! Thanks so much to the super sweet Jasmine Star  for the photos!

Meg wore her mother’s locket and a gorgeous pair of Chanel heels.

Just LOVE Meg’s gorgeous Carolina Herrera wedding dress

How pretty are the bridesmaid’s dresses!? They are all vintage and were purchased at Shareen Vintage in Los Angeles. Meg wrote a fun post on her blog about shopping for the dresses for those looking for more details on them. :)

Obsessed with her bouquet by Studio Choo.

All the amazing design + planning was by the lovely Yelena Johnson of The Stylish Soiree. I’m loving the plum, pomegranate and deep purple palette – perfect for a Fall wedding!

What song did you walk down the aisle to? My brother is a composer so he wrote and performed our entrance music… a beautiful piano piece. We had a fun “strike up the band!” moment when we were pronounced husband and wife and had our cocktail hour band, Gaucho, break out in All You Need in Love by The Beatles- horn section and all :)

Most memorable moment of your wedding day? Tim surprised me with the wedding ring of my dreams at the altar- only I was too caught up in the moment to notice it. So after the ceremony, during our bridal party pictures, he leaned over to me and whispered, “Do you like your ring?” and I looked down and gasped. JD caught it all in photos so I have the moment amazing series of images documenting my reaction.

Another great memory for me was riding in my dad’s VW bus from the hotel to the venue and breaking out singing, “going to the chapel and we’re gonna get marrrriiiedddd…”

Any advice for those planning now? Don’t sweat the small stuff… just make decisions quickly and if you’re anything like me, let go of the formal aspects of a wedding and embrace the idea of a fun party and it will be just that! Oh yeah, and HIRE A COORDINATOR, it’ll save your life!

Such an amazing wedding! Thanks so much to Meg + Tim and the awesome Jasmine Star for letting me share this wedding today! Meg + Tim’s wedding is also featured in the current issue of The Knot Magazine Northern California edition. Congrats guys!!

vendors:
photography: Jasmine Star // design + planning: Yelena Johnson of The Stylish Soiree // venue: The Marin Headlands Center for the Arts // catering: Katie Powers Catering // floral: Studio Choo // wedding dress: Carolina Herrera // hair + makeup: Lisa Strutz and Elizabeth Chang of Symmetry Beauty // lighting: Creative Lighting SF // ceremony recessional + cocktail music: Gaucho Gypsy Jazz // reception music: The Garage Band // linens: Classic Party Rentals and La Tavola Linens