Woody and Steph :: Sonoma Wedding Photography

Well my wedding season is rapidly winding down and I could not have asked for a better wedding to end my “shooting in America” part of the year. Steph and Woody were an awesome couple who have some amazing family and friends.  And they know how to throw an awesome fucking party. Great guests, check. Delicious food, check. Bourbon Bar, check. Live band, check. Great wedding planner (who also made my life easy!), check. More food in the form of a late night taco bar, check. And an after party (because Sonoma is a town full of old people, so the noise ordinance is waaay too early), check. Also, if you want a lesson on how to be the chillest bride in the world, take a note from Stephanie: hire people you trust and then let them do their job. Even the venue complimented Stephanie on being one of the most relaxed brides they had ever worked with. On with the photos! And if you would like to see a longer slideshow head on over here.

Woody is a bourbon affectionado and made his own Manhattan cocktail for all his dudes!  Stephanie actually sent paint chips to her bridesmaids and told them to get whatever dress they liked as long as it matched her chips! Love it! 


It was HOT in Sonoma, so once we finished with our photos we stopped by Ben and Jerry’s for some ice cream. It seemed appropriate that there was a kid there with a Stanford shirt on, as ALL the people in the wedding party were Stanford Alum. 

I loved Steph and Woody’s ceremony and give them credit for having some of the best readings during their ceremony. Having been to A LOT of weddings, I’ve heard a lot of the same readings, so it was refreshing to hear something new and I LOVED that they included an excerpt from the Goodridge vs. The Department of Public Health Ruling that deemed that same sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts. I believe the excerpt they chose was “Marriage is a vital social institution. The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support; it brings stability to our society. For those who choose to marry, and for their children, marriage provides an abundance of legal, financial, and social benefits. In return it imposes weighty legal, financial, and social obligations.”

My sister came along with me to help out and I LOVE this photo she captured during the first dance!

Stanford grads know how to dance. I have never seen this before, but at one point two guys laid out (imaginary) double dutch jump ropes and people jumped in and danced.
Nothing like ending your wedding with a bloody nose! 
And since Sonoma is such a small town it was inevitable that we run into another bride and groom at the bar. 

Congrats Steph and Woody!

 

Wedding Info: Location and Catering by Ramekins Culinary School // Wedding Planning and Flowers by Elizabeth at Lowe House Events – Stephanie and her bridesmaids played a big hand in assembling the flowers // Hair by Lindsay Delagarza // Makeup by Nikol Elaine Artistry   // Dress by Allure Bridal  // Shoes by Jimmy Choo // Woody’s Suit by Wilfred Newman //Rings by Chabo’s Jewelry //  AMAZING Live Band by Wall Street