A-WEDDING LOCATIONS- Foothills

Kristin and Derek married on a beautiful September day, not far from where they call home, at the gorgeous Mettler Family Vineyards in Lodi. Earlier this year, Kristin made my day when she contacted me asking when “I” was available to photograph her marriage to Derek. They were checking my schedule before they booked their venue. I’m lucky to be a photographer but even more lucky to have appreciating clients like her. Such an honor. Having captured the weddings of both her sisters, Courtney and Erin, I was excited to get to tell the story of the final Zgraggen wedding celebration.…

The Flower Farm Inn is simply one of my most favorite locations to work at. Not to overshadow their impeccable grounds that provide so many amazing backdrops for wedding photography, the staff is first rate; always helpful, always service oriented and always recognizing that this is a BIG day for their couples and they are pro-active to make it the best they can for each couple, while also staying in the background. It’s like this each and every time I photograph at the Flower Farm. That said, Erin and Cameron, high school sweethearts, “take the cake” on being such gracious…

When I first met Jennifer and Tim it was winter and we were trekking through three feet of snow along the south side of Jenkinson Lake, chasing the light during their engagement session.  I wasn’t worried about them at all, as they are both runners and into outdoor activities. Adventurous and active couples are my favorite. David Girard Vineyards is a wonderful location to get married; winding roads, sun-splashed vineyards, and 360 degree views with an amazing west facing landscape. Jen and Tim are wine lovers too. When we arrived, Camino Flower Shop and Cocomont were creating their magic along…

The first time I connected with Mary on the phone in regards to their Serrano Country Club wedding celebration, we talked for a long time. We talked alot about education as my daughter Jaz was having her first year away at boarding school. Mary is a mathematician/teacher the kind you know the students adore, and Bill is retired with a passion for all things outdoors, biking, paddling, mountain climbing. Together they enjoy hiking and traveling. He also makes wine…some very, very good wine, infact. They had a tasting station set up and their friend Steve insisted I try a few.…

For their summer wedding, Brianna and Dave transformed the elegant Sequoia Mansion into a nautically-inspired dream!  The best part about it was that the couple made many of the beautiful decorations themselves, which gave their special day a heartfelt and authentic touch.  Creating your own decor is a tall order for any bride and groom, but was made even more impressive by the fact that they pulled it off long distance from their home in Alaska!  Honestly Brianna, I truly think you have a future in wedding and event staging.  Your eye for detail and composition is nothing short of stunning! So…

When I met Jennifer and Abner photographing their engagement, I knew their wedding was going to be special. Jen and Abner, share a strong and playful love and I felt privileged to be invited to witness their vows.  They are each other’s rocks, they are soulmates, and they are a perfect match.  It’s no surprise that their summer wedding at the Sequoia Mansion was a great day! Jen wanted an elegant, classy, Victorian celebration, a style that she pulled off without a single flaw (big kudos to Dottie at Camino Flower Shop and Matti and Ben from Cocomont Vintage…basically their wheelhouse!) From Jen’s incredible lace…

Ashlie and Jay may have tied the knot a year ago, but waited until a beautiful summer evening in the El Dorado Hills before making it official in front of their friends and family.  And who could blame them?  The Serrano Country Club provided a beautiful setting for their stunning sunset reception.  Ashlie’s mother in law helped plan an evening that was equal parts warm, personal, intimate, and elegant.  For this beautiful couple it was all about the fellowship, food, fun and – luckily for me – photography!  I love it when my couples want to get the absolute most…

Ellee and Jonathan – what a couple!  This was not our first wedding with a full-scale Jenga set, but it definitely was the first where the Jenga did double-duty as a guest book!  It was so cool to see how these two incorporated their love of games and good times into their wedding, giving their guests an opportunity to leave a lasting memory on each of the wooden blocks.  But the individual touches didn’t stop there: hand-wrapped car cans with sentimental sayings hung in the lounge, a birch tree bedecked with Marvel Comic heroes directed guests to their seats in the ball room, and…

Proof that it doesn’t always take months of planning, Steve and Stephanie organized a breathtakingly-lovely riverside wedding in only a few weeks!  Having worked closely with Steve in the wedding business, I am completely versed on his easygoing, calm style, so there was never a doubt in my mind that he and his bride could pull this off without breaking a sweat.  They even handled a last minute venue change with ease: when many more guests arrived than what the couple had expected, they moved their ceremony from the hilltop to the river to accommodate all their friends and family.  Any…