Becca + Bryan were married on the first day of Autumn in the Santa Cruz mountains. They invited their friends to Becca’s parents beautiful home situated on a hilltop surrounded by redwood trees and lush vegetable gardens for a weekend of ceremony and celebration. A big thanks to my second shooter Robin Clark and I hope that you enjoy the photos. Congratulations Becca + Bryan!
Thankfully Becca + Bryan are the kind of people who are oriented to life in such a way as to see the first rain in six months on the morning of their wedding as a blessing of fertility. This awareness was even more synchronistic in that they had asked all of their guests to bring them gifts of seeds to plant in their gardens. And later in the fall they will have a feast with the foods they have grown and invite everyone again to come and enjoy the richness of this giving and growing.
Becca + Bryan had their close friend, Bodhi, custom make both of their wedding outfits. To see photos from Bodhi’s wedding, click here.
The ceremony began with two of their friends reading beautiful love poetry, and while the guests on each side of the aisle stood, each group faced each other and repeated the poetry back and forth across the aisle. During the ceremony they honored an ancient tradition of the ‘breaking of the bowls’, where any negative energy stored up before the wedding is released so that the couple can move forward unencumbered. This involved the wedding party and family members coming up to the altar during the ceremony and breaking clay pots on a special stone, each time to everyone’s cheering and celebrations.The rain had stopped just before the ceremony began and this magic continued as the ring bearer brought the rings to the officiant, Elayne Doughty, and just then the sun started to shine through the clouds for the first time all day. Becca + Bryan are both really artistic and had worked with a metalsmith who helps brides and grooms to make their own wedding rings for one another.The dinner was prepared by Blossoming Caravan Catering and was made from organic, locally grown, sustainably farmed vegetables and meats. Every detail was impeccable and delicious.Rather than have a traditional wedding cake, Becca + Bryan chose to take it way back to the tradition of pies and had an abundant pie counter with a giant bowl of whipped cream which everyone loved (including me and Robin).
Shortly after all this amazing food, Dogon Lights played a rocking afro-fusion set before DJ Alia took over and dropped some bass on the late night dance party.
Catering: Blossoming Caravan Catering
Sustainably raised meats: Sonrisa Family Farms
Reception Music: The Dogon Lights + DJ Alia
DIY Wedding Rings: diyweddingrings
Custom Wedding Outfits: Bodhi
Coordination: Freida Sebastian Neiman (415.602.7585)
Music: Ben Howard _ Promise