There is something so classic about a summer wedding at Villa Chanticleer in Healdsburg. Tucked into the trees on Fitch Mountain, the property gives you that beautiful Sonoma County greenery while still being just minutes from downtown Healdsburg. For Nicole and Michael, it was exactly what they wanted: relaxed, simple, family-focused, and surrounded by the people they love most.
For Nicole and Michael, it was exactly what they wanted: relaxed, simple, family-focused and, once the party started, an absolute blast.
Check out their highlights from their wedding here.
A Simple Summer Wedding at Villa Chanticleer
Nicole and Michael weren’t interested in overcomplicating their wedding day. Their friends helped put together the florals using flowers purchased from Costco, and everything came together beautifully.
What mattered most to them was being together, enjoying the day and making sure the people they loved were part of their photographs.
Villa Chanticleer was such a great fit for that.
The outdoor ceremony area is surrounded by mature trees and greenery and feels tucked away from everything. During the summer, all that shade is especially wonderful. It creates a softer, intimate setting for the ceremony and photographs beautifully.
Their First Look
Nicole and Michael chose to do a first look before their ceremony, which gave us a little breathing room to photograph the two of them before everything really got started.
I’m always a fan of a first look when it makes sense for the couple. It isn’t something you have to do, but it can make the timeline much more relaxed and gives us the opportunity to complete some portraits and family photographs before the ceremony.
For Nicole and Michael, it meant that once they were married, they could spend more time celebrating with everyone.
Family Was a Huge Part of Their Day
One of Nicole and Michael’s biggest photography priorities was family.
They were lucky enough to have grandparents from both sides there to celebrate with them, and making sure those relationships were documented was incredibly important.
These are always photographs I encourage my couples not to overlook. Wedding days have this incredible way of bringing generations of a family together in one place, and those images become even more meaningful as the years go by.
And then there was their flower girl.
Their niece completely stole the show.
She had the sweetest smile, the funniest little sense of humor and so much personality. Watching her make her way down the aisle was one of those perfectly unscripted wedding moments that you couldn’t recreate if you tried.
Those are the moments I’m always watching for.
Why I Love Photographing Weddings at Villa Chanticleer
One of my favorite things about photographing weddings at Villa Chanticleer is the variety you can get without having to leave the property.
You have the greenery and trees surrounding the outdoor ceremony space, beautiful areas for family portraits and couple photographs, and then an entirely different atmosphere once everyone moves inside for dinner and dancing.
The trees also give us something photographers are always looking for on a bright summer afternoon: beautiful open shade.
Instead of fighting harsh midday sunlight, we can use the surrounding greenery and shaded areas to create flattering portraits while still showing off the setting that made you choose Villa Chanticleer in the first place.
A Quick Photography Tip if You’re Getting Married at Villa Chanticleer
If you’re planning a wedding at Villa Chanticleer, there’s one photography question I would absolutely ask before hiring someone:
Are they comfortable using off-camera flash?
Once the reception moves inside, the lighting changes dramatically. Natural-light photography is beautiful when the light is there, but your photographer also needs to know what to do when it isn’t.
I use professional off-camera lighting during receptions so that speeches, first dances, cake cutting and all the craziness on the dance floor still feel bright, dimensional and full of life.
Good flash photography shouldn’t take away from the atmosphere. It should help preserve it.
And Nicole and Michael’s reception was the perfect example of why that matters.
And Then the Party Started
Once the formalities were finished, the energy completely changed.
During the parent dances, Michael and his mom surprised everyone by breaking into their own choreographed dance. Then money started flying through the air and being tossed all over Nicole, and suddenly everyone in the room was cheering, laughing and ready to get onto the dance floor themselves.
It was hilarious, unexpected and SO much fun.
That moment basically kicked off the party.
From there, everyone hit the dance floor and the reception turned into exactly what you want at the end of a wedding day: people letting loose, dancing, laughing and completely forgetting about the camera.
Those are some of my favorite photographs to make.
I can give a little direction when it’s needed, but once a party gets going like this, my job is to watch. I’m looking for the reactions, the ridiculous dance moves, people laughing in the background, hugs between friends and all those little moments happening around the edges.
This is also where having the right reception lighting makes such a difference. When the dance floor gets dark and people start moving fast, I can still freeze those expressions and keep the photographs feeling colorful, energetic and alive.
Cake, the Bar + A Few Final Photographs
Before the night wrapped up, Nicole and Michael cut their cake and we grabbed a few last photographs around the bar.
I love ending coverage this way.
By this point, everyone has relaxed, the formal photographs are finished, and the couple can just enjoy themselves. Sometimes those last few photographs end up being favorites because there isn’t anything left on the timeline to worry about.
Just married. Surrounded by friends and family. And probably ready to take their shoes off.
Planning a Villa Chanticleer Wedding in Healdsburg?
If you’re planning a wedding at Villa Chanticleer, take advantage of what makes this property special.
Leave a little extra time for portraits beneath the trees. Consider a first look if you want more time with your guests after the ceremony. Make a list of the family photographs that really matter to you, especially when grandparents and multiple generations will be attending.
And don’t feel like your wedding has to be overly complicated to be beautiful.
Nicole and Michael kept things simple, leaned on their friends and family, and focused on what mattered to them. They got the beautiful ceremony underneath the trees, the family photographs they wanted, and then threw one hell of a party.
As a Healdsburg wedding photographer, that’s exactly what I want to document: the beautiful parts, the funny parts, the family, the unexpected moments and everything that happens once people forget I’m even there.
If you’re searching for a Villa Chanticleer wedding photographer or planning a wedding in Healdsburg or Sonoma County, I’d love to hear what you have planned.
Click her to inquire about your upcoming wedding.
Other Wedding Inspiration
If you’re planning a wedding in Napa, Sonoma and or the Mendocino Coast, you may also enjoy exploring some of my other weddings and venue guides throughout wine country. Every venue offers something unique, and I’m always excited to help couples find the perfect location for their celebration.
Timber Cove Resort (Henry + Tyler)
Timber Cove Resort (Candace + Harry)
