California and Classic Cars
My beautiful friend Ashleigh got married!
I’ve known Ashleigh for a long time. We went to church together in Milwaukee. I’ve helped her move apartments and she’s eaten at my house many times. I’ve even collaborated with her on photo projects.
As a nurse, Ashleigh worked at a hospital in downtown Milwaukee in the maternity ward where I’d eventually have my first baby!
As for Ashleigh, she eventually decided to become a traveling nurse and decided to travel across the United States. We all missed her, but knew that this lifestyle fit Ashleigh’s wandering adventurous spirit perfectly.
After a couple spots, Ashleigh ended up in Sacramento and fell in love with the city. She stayed there and a couple years later met an awesome guy. After they got engaged, she immediately thought of me to be her wedding photographer and hired me to come out to photograph her wedding.
It was such an honor and so exciting for me to photograph a wedding in another state. I was doubly excited, because I’m from the western United States and from my home in Montana I’ve traveled a lot all over the west including California. California is nothing short of a gorgeous state. I’m extremely biased, because I think Montana is a gorgeous state, but California is equally beautiful, if not more. Plus, the weather is incredible.
Julietta Winery
My flight into Sacramento arrived on Friday afternoon. I grabbed an Uber and headed straight to the venue, since Ashleigh and her fiancé Logan were going to be in the middle of their dress rehearsal.
Their venue was at Julietta Winery in Clarksburg, about 20 miles south of downtown Sacramento. It was out in a country setting and it was secluded and beautiful with a river running by the property and wide fields and wide views surrounding it.
Like a lot of larger venues, it seemed like the place was split up into two venues, one north and one south. Ashleigh and Logan were in the southern venue area and from what I remember the northern venue was where the main store was and was the place a wine drinker could come for a single night out.
The southern portion featured a house for the women to get ready, including a large courtyard and yard area, a barn for the reception and dance floor outside, and an outdoor ceremony space between the barn and the river.
Logan and the guys got ready in what was technically the parking lot, but was more of a grassy field, so it was scenic for photos as well.
The vineyard itself was south of the barn and dance floor, just a short walk through some trees that separated it from the dance floor.
A Classic Car
Since, I was close friends with Ashleigh, I didn’t end up staying at a hotel, but she set me up with a room at Logan’s house. So, I ended up spending a lot of time with Logan, which was great because it turned out that we had a lot in common.
We both grew up more country and working class and we both liked working on cars and both owned classic vehicles.
I’m being generous to myself, since I’m far and away a novice on mechanical matters, but Logan is not. He’s a stellar mechanic and auto body specialist and owns multiples vehicles that he is working on.
One of these vehicles is a classic blue and white Packard car from the 1950s.
It was a show stopper of a car. It was old enough that it had those bench seats, no seatbelts and an authentic suspension system that gave you a bouncy ride. It also had no automatic windows, so you had to crank them down yourself. It really made you feel like you went back in time and as Logan would talk about the “cruising” lifestyle of California it made me feel nostalgic for a romantic time period that I wish I had experienced!
Needless to say, but by the time the wedding day rolled in I was eager to use the Packard as the backdrop for many different scenes, including the guys getting ready, Logan’s portraits in and out of the car and portraits of the groomsmen.
By that night, Logan and Ashleigh also used the Packard to drive away after a sparkler sendoff. So, as they packed up the car I quickly took my flash off my camera, popped it into the back seat and took a silhouette of them kissing in the front seat.
It really brought a little extra style to the whole wedding and the photos.
Prayer
There are quite a few traditions or activities you can add to your wedding day that really add a little oomph not only to the photos, but can you give you moments to remember. Having a first look with your dad can show you how much you actually mean to him when he tears up at the sight of you in your wedding dress.
Exchanging letters with your future spouse without looking at each other, can give you something tangible to hold onto for the future. The letters you write are being written at an emotional and special time of your life, so the things written in those notes may be things you never say or think ever again.
For Ashleigh and Logan, one of these traditions was the wedding party praying for each of them separately.
One of the things I love and appreciate so much about Ashleigh’s family is their outspoken and sincere faith. Even during the reception, Ashleigh’s dad shared the gospel of Jesus, how He died on the cross for our sins, took our place and provided a way to God and eternal life through His sacrifice as long as we repent and believe.
So, it was very natural for prayer to be emphasized before the ceremony. The bridesmaids and mother of the bride all prayed for Ashleigh in the getting ready space and the groomsmen and his parents and Ashleigh’s dad all prayed for Logan out near the ceremony.
They all put their hands on Ashleigh and Logan’s shoulders and prayed for them and the photos turned out very meaningful.
Favorite part of the wedding
This was a unique wedding as my favorite part wasn’t actually the wedding, but spending time with Logan during the Friday night and Saturday morning. Aside from that, it was just special to feel a part of the family and friend’s circle with Ashleigh and Logan, not just another vendor who is more of a stranger than a friend.
Verse of the day:
“The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26
