If I didn't live in Colorado, no doubt I'd be on the Northern California coast. Since flying to California for Santa Cruz engagement photos with Ashley & Ryan I became obsessed with NoCal. I fell in love with the beaches and the forests, the food and the people, and promptly planned a trip to Napa with my college bff Kristina for that October - including a night in Half Moon Bay! We stayed at the Half Moon Bay Lodge where champagne was waiting for us. (I had called ahead to let them know it was Kristina's birthday - best surprise ever!) We shopped for little treasures at Abode and Half Moon Bay Wine & Cheese, watched sunset on the beach near the Ritz Carlton, and drove at sunrise to walk beneath the redwoods on the Purisma Creek Trail. HMB is such a magical little place, I started hoping for a reason to return. And I got it when Candyce & Mike hired me to shoot their wedding in the redwoods this fall!
It seems like the coolest people get married in the coolest places, and Candyce and Mike are the proof. We met at Cerebral Brewing in Denver and when I saw their chemistry together and learned that we were all IPA fans my heart just knew that we were going to work together. Before we left the brewery I was booked for an October wedding at Nestldown in Los Gatos and I was stupid excited about it. We decided to meet in California after my trip to Joshua Tree in January for some wintery beach engagement photos. However, winter in the Bay Area means something TOTALLY different from winter in Colorado. The afternoon was perfectly warm and sunny as they played with their puppy, King. We ran on the beach, talked about their vinyl collection, and captured some really amazing moments. The following morning we toured Nestldown and let me tell you, if you're looking for a redwood forest wedding venue your search has ended. Nestldown is a family owned and operated 180-acre property near San Jose that feels like its own world. As I said, the coolest venue. C+M I cannot wait to see you in October!
