I remember the light in Nathan’s eye as he told me about his elaborate plan the following weekend to propose to Blair during brunch with their family hidden strategically around the restaurant. And, I remember watching the video of total surprise and their embrace after she said yes. In the moments leading up to their wedding, I was treated to sneak peeks of their first dance on hot summer nights and watching them brainstorm all of their wedding day ideas together.
September 28th came with crisp autumn vibes, copious sunshine, and the beautiful landscapes of San Benito county filled with golden rolling hills and stunning native oaks. The barn had been transformed into a Victorian steampunk masterpiece. The lush, rich maroons perfectly paired with the gears creating a dreamy, steampunk slice of heaven. Sleek elegance intertwined with an industrial theme polished with a tophat of Victorian charm. Every last detail was created by hand by the bride, groom, and loving parents. If you look closely, you’ll see every clock and decoration was set to 4:30 to represent the union of these two.
The ceremony quickly approached and Nathan stood beaming as his soon-to-be wife walked down the aisle with her parents glowing on either side of her. I didn’t think it was possible for Nathan’s smile to get even bigger, but somehow it did. They exchanged hand-crafted vowels soulfully written. Nathan sweetly dabbed Blair’s tears away with his handkerchief. Their friend and officiant, Rudy, gave a fist pump. “You may now kiss the bride!” And kiss, they did!
When Blair and Nathan walked back down the aisle as husband and wife, they both looked so happy they could float away. And yes, somehow, Nathan was smiling even bigger. These two were melting all of our hearts!
I whisked the newlyweds off for a sweet moment to grab photos and let them enjoy that amazing feel of being married. We recreated some Victorian styled photos on the rustic Grogan porch and then danced around in the lawns and walkways in the twinkling gold light. Blair and Nathan dazzled with timeless beauty and hearts of gold. Absolutely meant to be with one another.
The grand entrance lead into the most incredible first dance I’ve seen. The lights dimmed and these two rocked it as cogs and gears projected and twirled on the floor around them. The applause thundered throughout the barn.
After a stunning meal by Tres Pinos Inn and a sweet, nose frosted cake cutting, the dance floor filled up. Moondance, their six piece band, curated the perfect playlist.
For their sendoff, their friends and family formed an alley way of love and sparklers. Blair and Nathan ran through hand in hand smiling like two kids who had just found an eternal supply of candy!
After our sendoff, we went to one of my favorite spots on the ranch to capture our Milky Way shot that Nathan had requested. After much scouting and figuring out the night skies, we had the perfect spot beneath a Valley Oak tree overlooking the reservoir. Nathan and Blair propped an umbrella up and kissed beneath the thousands of twinkling stars. Could it get any more romantic? Not in a million light years.
Venue: Paicines Ranch
Floral: Morgan Johnson
Makeup: The Beauty Lounge
Hair: Painted Hair By Ciara
Band: Moondance
Catering & Bar: Tres Pinos Inn
Cake: Lighthouse 55 Bakery
Coordinator: Emily Skow
Photographer: Chasing Chickadees
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