bride and groom kiss during their wedding reception at dana powers house in nipomo california. natalie and chris were married on a full moon night, and their wedding was captured by san luis obispo wedding photographer poppy and vine

It took me until November 29, 2020 to learn what a Beaver Moon was.

Thank you, Natalie & Chris, for enlightening me.

These two cute humans specifically selected the evening of the Beaver moon for their Dana Powers House Wedding in Nipomo. What is a Beaver Moon, you ask? According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, it is when the beavers have finally built up enough food storage for the winter and begin to take shelter in their lodges. It allegedly also has ties to love and marriage, and these two lunar enthusiasts (ha, no wonder they hired us ;)) specifically chose this date to get married.

Alright enough with the moon theories, here’s their story:

Natalie & Chris met on the fateful Bumble and pretty quickly realized they were each other’s best friend. Both Natalie & Chris have two kids, a son and a daughter, so they were able to connect this way and see each other without the judgement they were normally met with in dating. In addition to all things moon related, they chose to make their wedding a day that truly reflected more than just two people coming together, but two families blending to become one.

Their day began by getting ready with their guys and gals, respectively. Chris and the guys hung out on the rustic grounds of the Dana Powers House, with Chris’ mom shuttling beer from the bar to the guys throughout the afternoon. Chris wore a green tux (my new favorite thing), while Natalie looked beautiful in a dress she found on Pinterest (and she made that thing look STUNNINGGGGG!). Their bridal party wore all different jewel tones to round off the fall theme, and their gorgeous bouquets & boutonierres tied off the look so perfectly.

Natalie & Chris’ sunset ceremony in the Dana Power House barn’s backyard area featured the two making vows not only to one another, but to each other’s children, as they officially became their adopted parents. Just before Natalie & Chris sealed the deal with a kiss, the typical sand ceremony was one between each member of the family: both the couple and the kiddos.

Blue hour was upon us as the ceremony ended, and Natalie, Chris, and I roamed all around the gorgeous Dana Powers House property, soaking up last light and waiting for the beaver moon to rise. After taking alllll the photos with that big full moon, we all headed into the barn for one of the only real receptions I’ve seen all year.

Highlights included the kids’ McDonald’s Happy Meal delivery, Chris dancing with both his daughters during the father daughter dance, and Chris’ oldest son tearing UP the dance floor. Natalie & Chris’ Dana Powers House wedding was one of the happiest occasions we’ve had the honor to witness in such a long time. In the midst of a tremendously difficult year for so many, these two brought their families together and threw an epic party.