After shooting so many weddings there, I’ve come to realize that there’s just something about Pema Osel Ling that draws in laid back, offbeat-in-the-best-way, wildly-in-love couples. Part of it is probably that if you’re getting married at the Amphitheater of the Redwoods, you’re doing so because you have a bunch of people you love and cherish who want to spend a whole weekend celebrating with you. Part of it is that it’s hard to be stressed in a gorgeous redwood forest far away from civilization. Whatever the reason, we were thrilled to go back there for Melissa + David’s autumn wedding. There’s way too much to mention here - the lush colors, the music (including the processional that the groom composed for his bride-to-be), the coolest grandma in the entire world, who was sporting glitter platform boots and a mischievous grin the whole day, even Melissa’s fit-for-Grace-Kelly dress - so I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. We’re so fortunate to have been a part of this day.
Read MoreAdeline + Mike's Epic Redwood Forest Wedding // Pema Osel Ling // Watsonville, CA
It’s no secret that Pema Osel Ling is our favorite venue to shoot at, and Adeline and Mike’s wedding really showcased what’s special about the place: the cabins, the redwood forest amphitheatre, the fountains and the flowers and the shrines and the campfire-roasted marshmallows.
Read MoreJacques + Walter's Poetry-Filled Redwood Forest Wedding // Pema Osel Ling // Watsonville, CA
Justin and I are heading back to Pema Osel Ling Retreat Center for another wedding tomorrow, so I thought it was time for a blog post about Jacques and Walter’s incredible wedding day last summer. I recently wrote a long piece for them. magazine about their nuptials that you can read here, if you’re so inclined, but I’ll keep this brief: this wedding moved me, not just because these two are friends of ours, and not just because marriage equality has only been legal for three years. They are a perfect match. Their families and friends knew it, too, and the atmosphere of this wedding was electric, the details and the styling were impeccable, the whole thing was wonderful and magical and adjectives upon adjectives upon adjectives. I’m talking custom-made blue suits, polka dot bow ties, a Boy Scout camp-turned-Tibetan Buddhist retreat-turned wedding venue, Golden Girls divinity candles. I’m so excited to go back to Pema Osel Ling this weekend to experience the redwoods and the stars and the wild quail all over again, and I’m thrilled to share these pictures of Jacques and Walter’s wedding.
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