oakland
For Ree and Osceola’s engagement session, we chose my favorite redwood grove in the Oakland Hills. They, too, find nature a grounding force so it felt right to spend some time among the trees. They arrived on that cool spring morning barefoot and dressed in gorgeous bright outfits that popped against the dark forested backdrop.
Michelle and Drue's intimate wedding in the redwoods was a magical affair that unfolded amid the natural beauty of the Oakland Hills. The day began with a heartfelt exchange of private vows in the morning at Joaquin Miller Park, creating an intimate atmosphere that set the tone for the day. The couple, surrounded by towering redwoods, ventured into the forest for some portraits amidst the serene and picturesque surroundings.
Later in the afternoon, the celebration continued at the Madrone Picnic site at Roberts Regional Park, where a small gathering of friends and family eagerly awaited. The atmosphere was relaxed and convivial, with snacks and drinks setting the stage for the main event. A clearing in the forest adorned with charming DIY paper flowers became the backdrop for Michelle and Drue's wedding ceremony in additional to other DIY touches decorating the picnic site. Officiated by a dear friend, the short and sweet ceremony included exchanging heartfelt vows and rings, before sealing their commitment with a kiss. Afterwards, the newlyweds led their guests down the makeshift aisle to a baseball field, where a large group photo was taken in the stands, capturing the joyous spirit of the occasion.
The festivities continued with a picnic reception featuring several paellas by Ñora Cocina Española and an impressive charcuterie spread. Laughter and love filled the air as the couple's siblings and parents shared touching and humorous toasts, creating a warm atmosphere as the sun began to set behind the trees. The evening concluded on a sweet note with a delicious cheesecake dessert, marking the end of a day filled with love, laughter, and the enchantment of the redwoods.
When Arlene and James reached out, they asked about finding a redwood grove for their intimate wedding. Having spent so much time in hiking Oakland hills, I knew of the perfect spot that could host a small gathering of 30 people. Their sweet and short ceremony was officiated by James’ roommate and afterwards, we explored the forest for some portraits alone. For their reception, they rented out the back garden of Good Neighbor on Piedmont Avenue where local caterer Ñora made huge portions of paella paired with colorful drinks. The atmosphere was joyous and vibrant with all the guests beaming and glowing with laughter. Moving toasts continued the evening before Arlene and James cut the cake and shared in a little sparkler celebration. Truly a super fun and intimate evening!
Teddy and Claire met up with me on a warm spring morning for our redwood grove engagement session. Our session was part of my “Give Back” mini sessions where couples donate $200 to a charity of their choice in exchange for a 20 minute engagement session. It may not seem like a lot of time, but with the redwoods, I have my favorite spots to make our shoots go by efficiently. Teddy and Claire chose the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center. Thank you for supporting our local community!
Erin and Real really lucked out on the morning of our mini engagement session at Joaquin Miller Park. It was the last Saturday of my holiday mini sessions and the forecast was predicting rain the week before. I was ready to reschedule when the storm shifted earlier but left us with a misty, foggy morning. These are the types of mornings I dream about in the redwoods. (Rainy day hikes in the redwoods are my absolute favorite.) Needless to say, I was excited when Erin and Real showed up for their session as the fog added an extra element of magic to the forest. I am so grateful to my couples who trust me to brave less than dry conditions weather conditions. I love being to capture and share my favorite place at its best: foggy, moody mornings.
M knew he wanted to propose to A somewhere in Oakland and wanted it to be a surprise. I suggested the redwood grove in Joaquin Miller Park as it provides a lot of privacy and space, especially during the weekdays. It turned out to be the perfect spot as he planned to use the excuse of a midday hike to take a break from work as his cover. I met up with M a few days before for a little scouting mission and helped pick the perfect spot and set the plan. When the day finally arrived, my heart was beating in my throat when I finally spotted M and A walking into the grove. I hovered several steps behind and used the low hanging branches as cover as the sweet proposal unfolded in the quiet of the forest.
F and I love living in Oakland and when their plans to get married at the Camron-Stanford House had to be postponed, they decided to hold a smaller minimony at Lake Merritt. After exploring the lake, they found the tiny little pier right next to Lake Merritt Hotel that would be perfect for their minimony. I met up with the couple at their home for a quick first look in their backyard before heading over to the Morcom Rose Garden for some portraits among the bright blooms and reflecting pool. Afterwards, we drove over to Lake Merritt where their small group of friends and family were waiting for them. F and I exchanged vows and rings as gorgeous fluffy post-rain clouds floated by. The flock of pelicans on Lake Merritt even made a little appearance during the festivities. As the cafe lights encircling Lake Merritt illuminated for the evening, everyone celebrated with a little champagne toast before heading off to Drake’s Dealership for pizza and beer.
When their wedding plans had to be postponed this year, they decided that they still wanted to do an engagement session, especially since their sweet pup Otis had just joined their lives. We met up on a warm summer morning at my favorite redwood grove in Oakland and explored the forest as the sunlight filtered through the trees.
On a cool morning back in February, I met up with Jeanne and Chris for a magical redwood forest maternity session. We lucked out with a low mist that hung in the air a little later than normal, illuminating the sun rays through the trees.
Jeannie and Isaac chose my favorite redwood grove for their engagement session. Even though they got legally married last year, they are planning a larger celebration in the fall and wanted engagement photos to create a guestbook for their guests to sign. We met up on a slightly chilly spring morning and spent some time in the grove before heading over to a near by eucalyptus grove for more photos. The eucalyptus grove is a second favorite spot of mine in the Oakland Hills, especially in the springtime when the grass field turns bright green again with new growth. No matter how many times I visit these groves, I’m always leave inspired.
Yun and Will’s wedding at Mills College was actually their third wedding celebration. Originally from China, they celebrated with a small wedding with Yun’s family earlier this year. Their second wedding celebration was at Burning Man which was a nod to the fact that Yun and Will had their second date at Burning Man. For their third wedding, they officially tied the knot at Mills College in Oakland with an intimate wedding surrounded by close family and friends. The ceremony took place in the gorgeous cedar chapel on campus where a former professor of Yun’s officiated the wedding. She was able to translate the ceremony into Chinese so that Yun’s parents who were visiting for the first time could be included. After the ceremony, everyone headed to the Reinhardt Alumnae House for live music and a delicious brunch reception. One memorable moment of the day was after Yun’s cousin and maid of honor An’s toast, her boyfriend proposed to her. Yun and her cousin An are very close (they consider each other sisters) so everyone was so excited and blown away by the surprise. The daytime festivities wrapped up as the sun finally peeked out from behind the morning fog.
Wedding Venue: Mills Chapel and Reinhardt Alumnae House // Wedding Planner: Boheme Tipi Events // Caterer: Classic Culinare // Florals: DIY // Hair & Make-Up: Stephanie Cardenas // Music: Bay Area Strings // Wedding Bands: Crown Nine
Emily and Akshai love taking their dog Jasper out for walks in the woods so after falling in love with the redwood grove photos on my website, they knew they wanted to take their engagement photos there. Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, forests have a special place in Emily’s heart. We met at the park on a warm summer morning and explored the woods with Jasper in tow. While Emily and Akshai smooched and posed for photos, Jasper enjoyed dashing about the forest floor finding sticks often too big for his mouth. Such a fun morning with these three!
