MICHELLE + ARTHUR'S Family Focused Celebration in Occidental, California » Martha Stewart Weddings

I am over the moon to share that Michelle and Arthur’s wedding has been published by Martha Stewart Weddings! I adored shooting this wedding and am so happy to have reached this career milestone with such a genuine and warm hearted couple. Huge thanks to Chanda from A Monique Affair for orchestrating a beautiful and magical backyard wedding for Michelle and Arthur! See more from their wedding on Martha Stewart Weddings.

Venue: Private Home // Photography: Vivian Chen Photography // Wedding Planning: Chanda Daniels for A Monique Affair // Videography: Shutter and Sound // Flowers: Esscents of Flowers // Officiant: Olivia King // Bride's Attire: Aqua via Bloomingdales // Bride's Shoes: Sam Edelman // Bride's Accessories: Lado a Lado (bracelet); Macy's (earrings); Na Hoku (necklace) // Groom's Attire: BLACK by Vera Wang; Calvin Klein // Groom's Shoes: Stacy Adams // Groom's Accessories: Ryan Seacrest Distinction (cuff links) // Barber: Charles Blades Barber Spa // Catering and Cake: Laurels Catering // Rentals: Encore Events Rentals // Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: Sweet Olive Jewelry // Music: Jeremy Green (ceremony & cocktail hour); JustIntertainment (reception)

Lands End + Manus Lux Tattoo + Chez Maman COVID Elopement » San Francisco, California

After waiting exactly a year to reschedule their elopement, Shannon and Matt were finally able to have the tiny celebration they originally planned on April 20, 2021. The day started by getting ready together at their home and a quick first look in their backyard. We then headed over to Lands End for their ceremony. In front of their families, Shannon and Matt exchanged tearful vows and high fives overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. After the short and sweet (and windy!) ceremony, Shannon and Matt met up with their tattoo artist, Nakona at Manus Lux Tattoo. Both of them have Nakona’s work on their bodies so it only seemed fitting that they both get wedding ring tattoos from their favorite artist. Matt works with his hands so a traditional wedding ring wasn’t very practical. Nakona (who is also my tattoo artist and an all around lovely human being) took his time creating complimentary designs for their ring fingers and set to work in his beautifully remodeled shop. After the session, we headed over to Potrero Hill for the classic city skyline portraits before joining their families for a delicious dinner reception at Chez Maman. Not one for traditions, I absolutely adored capturing Shannon and Matt’s uniquely San Francisco celebration and spending time with our mutual friend, Nakona.

Mount Tamalpais + Muir Beach COVID Elopement » Mill Valley, California

Saatchi and Luvreet originally planned to get married in Luvreet’s parent’s backyard but after seeing some of the outdoor elopements I shot last year, they were curious about Marin. Once I shared some galleries from Mount Tamalpais, they decided to change course and plan an outdoor Marin elopement. We started the afternoon on Mount Tamalpais for some portraits of the two of them among the majestic oak trees and rolling green hillsides. Sweet florals from Charlotte & Daughters added that special bit of warm to their wedding outfits. Afterwards, we headed down to Muir Beach where we met up with Saatchi and Luvreet’s families to hike up to a cliffside overlook for their ceremony. Luvreet’s sister officiated while both of their parents shared poems and words of wisdom with the couple. When it came time to exchange vows, Luvreet surprised everyone with what was essentially a lighthearted roast of Saatchi that got everyone laughing. After exchanging rings and sealing the ceremony with a kiss, they all hiked back down to the beach where everyone celebrate with cake from Butter&, champagne and celebratory flower petal toss.

Santa Cruz County Courthouse + Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park COVID Elopement » Santa Cruz, California

When Joe and Daphne made their appointment to elope at the Santa Cruz County Courthouse, they had no idea that the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard would be in full bloom. They drove up from Los Angeles and met up with Daphne’s sister and brother-in-law to celebrate together. Everyone stood underneath the fluffy pink blooms as a light breeze periodically sent petals fluttering down like delicate snowflakes. Like a scene out of a springtime Japanese anime, Joe and Daphne exchanged vows and rings while a few happy tears were shed. After the sweet and simple ceremony, we headed over the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park for some redwood portraits and a celebratory picnic. We wandered the trails while listening to the birds singing among the canopy before they found a spot for champagne, charcuterie and cake. We could not have asked for a more lovely day.

Springtime Cottages of Napa Valley COVID Wedding » Napa, California

Shanna and Kevin had to reschedule their wedding three times due to the pandemic but third times the charm as they were finally able to get married on their 10 year anniversary. While they had always planned for a smaller celebration, a ceremony at San Francisco City Hall and a dinner at a winery in Los Gatos had to be shelved fairly quickly at the start of 2020. But after spending a little vacation at the Cottages of Napa Valley, a favorite of Kevin’s parents, they realize that this quaint resort featuring eight cottages in wine country would make the perfect place for their tiny family only wedding plans. The hotel’s owner graciously allowed Shanna and Kevin to book out the whole place for the weekend which made it perfect (and easy) to host festivities. The afternoon started with Shanna and Kevin getting ready together. Fiona from Urban Beauty Loft helped Shanna with her hair and make-up while Kristin from KO Floral Designs provided some lush blooms to brighten the day. As it was too early in the season for winery photos, we headed over to nearby Alston Park for some spring time portraits and we even stopped on the side of the road for some photos with the bright yellow mustard flowers. We headed back to the Cottages for their wedding ceremony in the courtyard garden, officiated by a close friend of theirs. Afterwards, everyone relaxed and enjoyed a deliciously catered meal while mingling in the garden. Such a simple and sweet way to celebrate!

Intimate Winter Ravenswood Historic Site COVID Elopement » Livermore, California

Melissa and Tom were married on an unseasonably warm January afternoon. Surrounded by a small group of their closest friends with many more tuning in via cellphone Zoom, the celebrated with a tiny ceremony at Ravenswood Historic Site in Livermore. The star of the day was definitely their pup, Janey, who was so excited that her humans were getting married that she couldn’t stay on the sidelines. After the ceremony, we wandered the gardens for some portraits before Melissa and Tom headed off to have a virtual dinner party with their friends. They planned to have everyone pick up a meal from Range Life and then log on together for a Zoom dinner reception where everyone enjoyed their food from the safety of their own homes. Such a sweet and simple way to honor their wedding day!

Marin Headlands COVID Elopement » Sausalito, California

Kimber and Brendan reached out to me with a wild idea. They planned to get married and elope somewhere in the Marin Headlands in a week but wasn’t sure if it was possible. I checked my calendar and said I was up for the challenge and sent them a list of my favorite spots in the Marin Headlands. After a quick scouting trip a few days later, they settled on this beautiful spot on the bluff above Tyler’s Beach. Grey clouds hung low in the air as the evening sunlight played hide and seek along the Northern California coast. Kimber and Brendan and their good friend, Suus, hiked down to the bluff and we set up a cell phone to record the ceremony for friends and family who couldn’t be there. Suus officiated while Kimber and Brendan shared personal vows. Happy tears were shed and a kiss was exchanged before we all celebrated. Afterwards, we headed up the hill to explore the trails overlooking Rodeo Beach before wrapping up our time together over at the Headland Center for the Arts.

// You can read more about Kimber and Brendan’s experience planning their elopement on A Practical Wedding blog.

Goat Rock Beach COVID Elopement » Jenner, California

When Mei-Lani and Luke had to postpone their Alaskan wedding plans, they sought out to find a simpler and safer alternative that still captured their love of the great outdoors. After driving up and down the California Coast, they settled on this beautiful stretch of land at Goat Rock Beach in Jenner. Surrounded by Mei-Lani’s family, Luke’s brother, and two dogs, Mei-Lani’s sister officiated while the tiny ceremony on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Afterwards, we all headed down to the beach where Mei-Lani and Luke had prepared a delicious dim-sum picnic for everyone to enjoy while the sun set beneath the waves.

Mount Tamalpais + Muir Beach Sunset COVID Elopement » Mill Valley, California

Even though Gao and Jose eloped by getting married virtually, they still wanted to mark the occasion and celebrate with a portrait session. We started the shoot on Mount Tamalpais where they wore traditional Hmong wedding outfits as a nod to Gao’s heritage before changing into their traditional Western wedding clothes. Gao carried a DIY bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley, one of her favorite blooms, while we did a first look and some more exploring along the steep hillsides. Afterwards, we headed down to Muir Beach for sunset portraits along the rocky shoreline. We were able to time the day perfectly to catch the prettiest golden hour light right at the end of our shoot. There’s nothing quite like these winter sunsets in Northern California.

Old Mill Park + Muir Beach COVID Destination Elopement » Muir Beach, California

Megan and Jeremy envisioned themselves getting married on a bluff overlooking the ocean but also love redwood forests. So when they reached out to me for their elopement and said “We just want to enjoy ourselves and capture our happy moment in the mystical setting of Northern California”, I knew exactly where to go: Marin. The redwoods in Mill Valley’s Old Mill Park would serve as our first stop for a quick engagement session before changing into wedding outfits. After a few more photos in the grove, we hopped in our cars and drove out to Muir Beach for their ceremony. Together we hiked up to a little overlook above Muir Beach. This spot was the same place where Jeremy had originally planned to propose to Megan but due to an unexpected case of food poisoning, the plans were temporarily abandoned. But on this day, they returned to exchange vows and start the next chapter of their lives together. As it was just the two of them, Megan and Jeremy started their ceremony by reading letters their family sent them, sharing words of encouragement and love. They exchanged vows and rings before sealing it with a kiss and a little happy dance. Afterwards, we walked back down to the beach where Megan and Jeremy celebrated with champagne picnic just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Five Reasons Why Bay Area Elopements are the Best - A Guide for Planning your Intimate Celebration

Everyone can agree that weddings look different nowadays. Instead of my usual large weekend affairs, my 2020 was filled with lots of intimate and often last minute events. Every tiny union I photographed felt magical and wonderful and fueled my heart, especially during dark moments. The celebrations may be small, but the love and warmth I feel at each one is as potent as ever. After a year of shooting exclusively elopements and minimonies, I wanted to share some tips and thoughts on why I love photographing these tiny weddings.

Old Mill Park & Muir Beach COVID Elopement in Marin (See more here.)

1 — INTROVERT FRIENDLY

Don’t like being the center of attention? Elopements are a great fit for couples who don’t want a lot of fuss. Keeping the guest list small (if you even have guests at all) helps from feeling too overwhelmed and makes organizing logistics easier. You still get to dress up, get married and take some fabulous photos. Everything else is optional. And the wedding part of the day is usually over in two to three hours so you’ll be back home and comfy in your pajamas at a reasonable hour. Also, less guests and shorter celebrations means saving a lot of money overall. (And who doesn’t love saving a bit of green.)

Mount Tamalpais & Muir Beach COVID Elopement in Marin (See more here.)

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Muir Woods & Mount Tamalpais Elopement in Mill Valley (See more here.)

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Carmel Valley Ranch COVID Elopement in Carmel Valley (See more here.)

2 — SO. MANY. PRETTY. LOCATIONS.

Living in the San Francisco Bay Area means we have access to lots of gorgeous outdoor landscapes and all of these spots are potential elopement locations. Willing to drive a few hours? Go on a little location scouting road trip together. From national parks to tiny piers in the middle of Lake Merritt, the options are endless. And if you’re planning a backyard ceremony, you can still set aside some time to go to a local regional or city park in your neighborhood. Not sure what your options are? I’m happy to help suggest a few. Coastal rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, forests, ancient redwood groves, mountains, rolling fields of grass? Take your pick.

Sunset Cavallo Point COVID Minimony in Sausalito (See more here.)

3 — THE PERFECT LIGHT & FLEXIBLE scheduling

As a photographer living in Northern California, I am grateful for the stunning golden hour light every evening. During the short days of winter, our light turns even softer and “glow-ier” as the sun hangs low in the sky. This means elopement celebrations can be planned within the two to three hours before sunset when the light is at its prettiest. (Not to say there isn’t any flexibility as the early birds like me can also enjoy amazing morning light as well. And if Karl the Fog decides to show up, we roll with it and make it magical too.) And because the sun sets around the same time every day, elopements aren’t restricted to the weekends. Weekday celebrations offer lots of flexibility. And another bonus, most outdoor locations are way less crowded during the week.

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Oakland Rose Garden & Lake Merritt Pier COVID Minimony in Oakland (See more here.)

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Calistoga Ranch COVID Elopement in Calistoga (See more here.)

4 — TECHNOLOGY KEEPs US CONNECTED

2020 was the year we learned to socially distance and video technology became our lifeline to loved ones. Many of my couples livestreamed their weddings this year so family and friends could still participate in the celebration. With a strong WiFi signal/cell reception, guests can tune in from all around the world. And no worries if you’ve picked an off the grid location, you can still record the ceremony on your cell phone, camera or GoPro so grandma won’t miss out. A good tripod helps with the logistics, and if you don’t have one, you can always borrow mine.

Lands End Labyrinth COVID Minimony in San Francisco (See more here.)

5 — OPPORTUNITIES TO BE CREATIVE AF

Because you’re eloping, the sky’s the limit with how you chose to celebrate. Without the restrictive social trappings of traditional weddings, you are free to express yourselves and your union in all the creative ways imaginable. Creative doesn’t have to mean complex either. Focus on simple joys like: Celebrate with a pizza party or at the In-N-Out drive-thru. Have a dim sum picnic. Make yourself the ultimate cheese plate and charcuterie spread. Wear that favorite outfit of yours that just doesn’t get out of the closet enough. Hike to that one spot where you first said “I love you.” Have your family and friends who can’t be there in person share poems, thoughts and words of wisdom for you to read during your ceremony. Splurge on that really nice bottle of champagne. Include your rescue pup in the festivities! As long as it brings you both joy, I can’t think of a better way to honor your relationship.

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East Bay COVID Backyard Elopement in El Cerrito (See more here.)

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East Bay COVID Backyard Elopement in El Cerrito (See more here.)

Carmel River State Beach COVID Elopement in Carmel (See more here.)

Carmel River State Beach + Carmel Valley Ranch COVID Minimony » Carmel, California

Stacey and Scott always wanted a small wedding so when their intentions for San Francisco City Hall elopement fell through due to COVID, they realized they could open their plans up for something even more their speed. Big fans of the outdoors, they chose to invite close family and friends to Carmel Valley for a quick mid-week celebration. I met them at Carmel River State Beach where we hiked down to the water for some portraits among the waves and large rock formations. Afterwards, we headed back to Carmel Valley Ranch where we walked through the vineyards just as the sun was beginning to dip behind the hills. We met up with everyone down on the ceremony lawn where Scott’s brother-in-law officiated a short but sweet ceremony. Everyone celebrated with some champagne and toasts before heading to dinner back at the hotel.