December Wedding at the Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA

Through the hustle and bustle of the holiday I was fortunate to have captured this lovely and breathtaking wedding at the very majestic Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Nestled in the mountains of northern California is a sweet little venue with vineyard that lead you to a stunning ampitheater that overlooks the southern bay area.

Because this was a December wedding and the sunset is so early and the ceremony capture closest to sunset we had to adjust the schedule to capture everything earlier on in the day… and as a photographer, it made me a little nervous to have to capture the beauty of this venue on a very bright and sunny day (yet very chilly). This wedding taught me that stepping out of my comfort zone of sunset light, or even filtered light can give results that are so powerful and stunning it makes you just want to take it all in.

The decor of this wedding was an obvious choice being that it was less that a week since Christmas had passed. The place cards were set in cinnamin sticks and holy, the centerpieces were made of wreaths and the venue was lit up in white holiday lights that brought on such a festive glow.

I couldn’t finish this post with out talking about the one thing that inspired me most about this day, and that is the couple. This is a couple that you look at and can visually see the love they have for each other, its in every look, every smile, every gesture towards each other. They have weathered the distance of colleges keeping them farther apart than they’d like and survived a romance that was meant to be and I am so happy to have captured the start of their next chapter of happily ever after.

Wedding Photography in Saratoga / Jason and Tijana, Sanborn County Park

What I loved about this wedding is watching this from the perspective of a mother. I have had the pleasure of knowing Jason’s mother for the last ten years, and have admired the way she has been able to raise her two grown kids while nurturing her two babes, run a successful business, and be an amazing partner in her marriage. Watching Lauren at her son’s wedding and how proud she is of seeing all that she has given to her children and be able to live in this magical journey on such a special day left me feeling fulfilled. She has given them roots and now in turn gets to watch them blossom into amazing adults in their next chapter of life.

There is so much respect and love between Jason and Tijana that as a photographer capturing the chemistry between them was pretty darn easy, and inspiring. Talk about a rustic and simple venue that elegantly contrasted the beauty and shabby chic style that Jason and Tijana brought into their day. Sanborne County Park in Saratoga has a beautiful redwood cathedral that instilled the peace and love these two have with nature. Their ceremony was so perfectly orchestrated by Reverent Lisa Warner-Carey, I don’t know why I love female officiants, but I do. I think it has something to do with the intuitive love us women have for romance. I love, love , love the dress that was chosen for this day, an elegant classic dress from Simone Carvalli that would have been beautiful in a ballroom setting, but take it out to nature and it is amplified a thousand times over in its beauty. In fact all the details of the day were so perfectly chosen from the cake with bark like elements from Studio Cake in Menlo Park, to the simple and breathtaking designs of the flowers from Willi Wildflower. It was a perfect day for Jason and Tijana and I am so glad I was the one to capture it!

Wedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor WeddingWedding Portraits by Shanti DuPrez / Rustic Elegance Outdoor Wedding

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Venue: Sanborn County Park, Saratoga, CA

Wedding Photographer: Portrait Design by Shanti

Wedding Flowers: Willi Wildflower in Capitola

Wedding Cake: Studio Cake in Menlo Park

Wedding DJ: Denon & Doyle, Pleasant Hill, CA

Wedding Officiant: Reverend Lisa Warner-Carey of Half Moon Bay Community United Methodist Church

Wedding Dress: Simone Carvalli

Bride's Shoes: Lulu Townsend

Groom's Attire: Vera Wang

Bridesmaids Dresses: Bill Levkoff