There are some weddings that just hit differently, and Tessa and Tom’s colorful summer wedding at Vine Hill House was absolutely one of them.
As a Sonoma County wedding photographer, I get to photograph some pretty incredible celebrations, but this one quickly became one of my favorite weddings of the year. It was colorful, creative, relaxed and FUN. There were handmade details everywhere, champagne in floral pajamas, a magician entertaining guests during cocktail hour, gorgeous August light, vineyards, a sparkly second dress and, eventually, a giant orange moon rising over Sonoma County while everyone danced.
Basically, it was a damn good day to have a camera in my hand.
A Summer Wedding at Vine Hill House in Sebastopol
Vine Hill House is tucked into the countryside outside Sebastopol, California, surrounded by vineyards, gardens and the rolling landscape Sonoma County is known for.
And on a beautiful August afternoon, this place was showing off.
One of the things I love about photographing weddings at Vine Hill House is the variety you can get without having to leave the property. You have the vineyards and gardens, beautiful open spaces, intimate little pockets for portraits and plenty happening around the property during cocktail hour and the reception.
For Tessa and Tom, that meant their entire day could unfold in one place without constantly pulling them away from their people.
A Wedding Filled With Color
Tessa and Tom weren’t afraid of it, and I loved them for it.
Instead of putting every bridesmaid in the same color, Tessa’s bridesmaids wore dresses across an entire spectrum of colors. Each bridesmaid’s bouquet was designed to coordinate with the color of her dress.
Then Tessa’s bouquet brought everything together with a variation of those flowers and colors.
It was SO GOOD.
Standing together, the wedding party created this incredible rainbow of color against the green vineyards and gardens of Vine Hill House.
From a photography perspective, it was a dream.
Handmade Wedding Details That Were Actually Personal
Another thing I loved about this wedding was how much Tessa and Tom created themselves.
They designed and made their invitations, signage and many of the little visual elements throughout the wedding.
Because of that, documenting the details was especially important to me and my photography team.
These weren’t just pretty things sitting on a table.
They were pieces of something Tessa and Tom had spent time creating together.
We photographed the invitations, signage, flowers, tables and all those tiny pieces that helped tell the bigger story of their wedding day.
Because years from now, I want them to remember those things too.
Why Tessa + Tom Chose a First Look
Tessa and Tom decided to do a first look before their ceremony, which gave us a huge advantage with their photography timeline.
After their first look, we were able to photograph their wedding party and family portraits before the ceremony.
And you know what that meant?
They actually got to enjoy their cocktail hour.
Instead of disappearing for an hour of photographs immediately after getting married, they could grab a drink, hug their friends, laugh with their families and experience the party they had spent so much time planning.
We still grabbed them for portraits throughout the day when the light was beautiful, but we didn’t have to sacrifice their entire cocktail hour to make it happen.
That balance is always important to me.
I want beautiful photographs.
But I also want my couples to actually experience their wedding.
Cocktail Hour…With a Magician
And speaking of cocktail hour…
Tessa and Tom had a magician.
YES.
A magician.
And it was freaking awesome.
He started with a show involving Tessa and Tom and then made his way around cocktail hour entertaining their guests.
It was such a fun and unexpected addition to the day.
While everyone was drinking, laughing and trying to figure out HOW THE HELL he just did that, my team and I were able to spread out and photograph everything happening around the property.
We captured guests hanging out, cocktails being poured, the tables and reception details, people reacting to the magician and all of those candid interactions happening in between.
We also sent the drone up during cocktail hour.
Seeing Vine Hill House from above gives such a different perspective of the property. You can see the tables, vineyards, guests gathering and the entire celebration happening within the surrounding Sonoma County landscape.
Those wide aerial photographs mixed with the intimate documentary images help tell the complete story of the day.
Golden Hour in the Vineyards
And then August gave us exactly what we were hoping for.
Golden hour perfection.
As the sun started getting lower, we slipped away with Tessa and Tom for a few portraits around the property.
Nothing crazy.
Nothing that required disappearing from their reception forever.
Just the two of them, beautiful light and a few quiet minutes together.
The warm summer light coming across the vineyards was absolutely gorgeous.
These little golden hour escapes are something I always try to build into a wedding photography timeline when possible. Ten or fifteen minutes can completely change the variety of photographs you receive without making you feel like you spent your wedding day at a photo shoot.
We got what we needed.
And then…
Back to the party.
A Sparkly Second Dress + One Hell of a Dance Floor
Later that evening, Tessa changed into her second look.
SPARKLES.
The perfect dress for what came next.
The formalities were over, drinks were flowing and everyone was ready to dance.
Tessa and Tom jumped right back into their party and spent the rest of the evening drinking, dancing and having fun with the people they love.
And then something happened that none of us planned.
The moon started rising.
Not just any little moon either.
This enormous orange moon appeared above the Sonoma County landscape while everyone was out on the dance floor.
Obviously…
WE HAD TO GET THE SHOT.
Those are some of my favorite moments as a photographer.
You can create timelines. You can scout locations. You can watch the weather and figure out exactly where the sun is going to set.
But sometimes nature decides to hand you something completely unexpected.
And you run with it.
Photographing Tessa and Tom dancing with that glowing orange moon rising behind them was the perfect ending to an already incredible summer wedding.
One of My Favorite Sonoma County Weddings of the Year
From the beginning, this wedding felt like Tessa and Tom.
Colorful.
Creative.
Personal.
And really, really fun.
Planning a Vine Hill House Wedding?
If you’re planning a wedding at Vine Hill House in Sebastopol, there is SO much photographic potential without ever needing to leave the property.
The vineyards and gardens give us beautiful backgrounds for wedding party and family photographs. The property is perfect for a first look. Cocktail hour gives us an opportunity for candid documentary photography and aerial drone images. And when that Sonoma County summer light starts getting low, we can sneak away for a quick round of golden hour portraits before sending you right back to your party.
My approach to wedding photography is a combination of candid, documentary moments and just enough direction when you need it. I want the beautiful portraits and all the little details, but I also want photographs of the things you didn’t even realize were happening.
Most importantly, I want you to spend your wedding actually getting married, drinking champagne, hugging your people and having one hell of a time.
If you’re searching for a Vine Hill House wedding photographer, Sebastopol wedding photographer or Sonoma County wedding photographer, I’d love to hear what you’re planning.
Come as you are.
I’ll bring the cameras.
Check out Tessa and Tom’s Highlights here.
Getting married or know someone who is? Here are some other wedding venues I love:
Timber Cove Resort (Henry + Tyler)
Timber Cove Resort (Candace + Harry)
