I was so excited when Cherise and Chris chose me to document their 3-day camping wedding in Los Gatos. The whole weekend had an air of an intimate family reunion. They started with a welcome party on Friday night as everyone was arriving. Great food (thanks Joshua Charles Catering) and laughter warmed the evening as everyone checked out what each other had written on the cool, custom designed response cards; it was the perfect way to start the weekend. I quickly made friends with Ben, one of the groomsmen, and jokingly became his drinking coach for the weekend calling out, “Ben…have another water!” every so often, for three days.
Saturday morning started with everyone relaxing and getting ready for the big day. So many times, a bride can seem rushed as the time for the ceremony approaches, but both Cherise and Chris seemed to have such a relaxed air about them as the day went on. They decided to do a First Look around midday so that they could spend the rest of the evening simply enjoying everything that they had planned and everyone who had made the trek to join them. The light on the bridge was stunning. We had so much fun exploring the property, from the dorms, to the cabins, and we even found an old, empty pool to work in. Every detail, from the bicycle gears hanging from the trees, to the newspaper accents, was well thought out and added to the atmosphere of the weekend. Cherise may have a secret calling as a wedding planner!
The weekend ended with a Sunday Brunch, bloody mary’s, mimosas and all, as everyone was waking up and getting ready to say goodbye.
Because most everyone was able to stay on the property, it felt like a destination wedding, while still managing to be close to home. I loved having the whole weekend to not only connect with Cherise and Chris, but with their family and friends as well. One of the best compliments I can receive is when the mother of the bride says “thank you for being a part of our family this weekend.” Thank you Cherise and Chris for your free spirits, warm family and friends and allowing me an abundance of creative freedom! Thank you for making me part of your family for the weekend!
Click here for your slideshow, Warning: it’s epic like your three day wedding!
Assisted by Anna Vollmer
On location at the Laurel Mill Lodge
Music provided by Tim Phelps
Catered by Joshua Charles
