A deeply intentional summer wedding—

A key component in the planning phase of Rachel & Sumner’s Higuera Ranch wedding was prioritizing stillness and a slow pace throughout the day, so they could genuinely enjoy every moment of their wedding day, and let the emotions fully breathe. This desire played perfectly with the venue itself, as couples get the venue and farmhouse for the whole weekend. We talk so often about making venue selection a priority in the planning process, and prioritizing a venue that gives you access the whole wedding weekend, if financially possible. In addition to the wedding day, the whole weekend slows down this way, allowing for a more peaceful feeling, just as Rachel and Sumner hoped. When we arrived on Saturday afternoon for their summer wedding, everything felt incredibly calm, the perfect start to the day!

Rachel and Sumner chose a slower pace for their getting ready time, so we could spend a little more time with each “event” that happens pre-ceremony. I loved the way nothing felt rushed. You could feel the peace so palpably in these early wedding day moments. We began the day with Rachel and her bridesmaids in the farmhouse, and with Sumner and his groomsmen in the distillery. The girls began coverage with a walk around Higuera Ranch, with Rachel taking it all in before the events of the afternoon truly began. The distillery is the ultimate man cave (we love the new, sleek black look!), and the guys settled in to simply relax before portraits began. Rachel hand wrote letters to her bridesmaids, and the moms, and we gathered in the house’s living room to read them, over a glass of champagne of course.

Rachel and Sumner opted to see each other for the first time at the altar, but we still were able to get a bunch of their formal portraits done before the ceremony. While Rachel and the girls got ready, we took portraits of Sumner and the groomsmen and his family. One of the reason we love Higuera Ranch is because there are so many different places to take portraits around the property, there truly is a location for every taste. Rachel and Sumner loved the lush greenery surrounding the lawn, in full bloom in late summer, so we used this location for most of their formal portraits! While the guys took photos, Rachel got ready in the pool house (we love the way this little building looks with its big windows!). Then, she began her first looks. First, with her bridesmaids— the excitement and love they have for her was just beautiful to see. After, she saw her dad for the first time under the bougainvilleas, an ethereal setting if you ask me! When we headed out to the lawn for Rachel’s bridesmaid and family photos, she saw her brother for the first time, a completely unplanned, yet deeply emotional moment. Lastly, she saw her grandmother just before heading down the aisle to see Sumner for the first time.

Guests began to arrive, exchanging hugs and laughs on the Higuera Ranch lawn before taking their seats for Rachel and Sumner’s wedding ceremony, officiated by her childhood pastor. Some of my favorite photos to come from this wedding are from the moment Rachel walked out of the house to be walked down the aisle by her father. The look they exchanged, while Sumner and his mom simultaneously shared an emotional glance up at the altar, was so full of emotion. The ceremony was just as sweet, with personal vows shared, readings read, and stories joyously recounted. Rachel and Sumner were pronounced husband and wife, and joyously headed back to the house, joined by their bridal party and immediate family. This moment is always buzzing with excitement, and this one might have been the most electric. Drinks were poured, hugs were abundant, and everyone cheered and showered the newlyweds with so much love. Again, these are some of my favorite photos we captured all day, and we let this moment linger to allow the emotions to fully play out.

After we * quickly * got the bridal party and family through formal portraits (getting Rachel and Sumner to as much of their cocktail hour as possible was a big priority!), we headed over to the Higuera Tree to begin the reception. An informal grand entrance by the newlyweds got the party started, with all the hugs and joy exchanged in the golden hour light. August in San Luis Obispo is gorgeous and warm, especially in Higuera Ranch’s valley, and so Rachel and Sumner opted for dinner outside the barn, under the glow of string lights. What a gorgeous setting for dinner, their first dance, and toasts! Midway through dinner, we snuck Rachel and Sumner up to a hilltop overlooking the ranch for sunset photos. This was, as expected for this time of year, a gorgeous golden sunset, and we even had time to leave R&S up for a private moment as the sun dipped below the hilly horizon. This is something we always offer our couples during golden hour, and I love when they take us up on it 🥲.

After a round of sentimental and hilarious toasts were given by Rachel and Sumner’s siblings, we headed into the Higuera Ranch barn for dancing, kicked off with parent dances. The lone disco ball and checker board dance floor played perfect contrast to the rustic barn, and the dance floor was packed. Just before we wrapped coverage for the night, Sumner took over in the DJ booth (he works in the music industry and knows a thing or two about mixing!), and the crowd went nuts! It was the perfect way to cap the night, and truly a dream day for us. We hope you love everything we captured during Rachel and Sumner’s Higuera Ranch wedding—

A special thank you to the incredible team who made this day possible, some of San Luis Obispo’s very best wedding vendors.

Venue - Higuera Ranch / Planning - Events by Emily + Co / Floral Design - Hepburn & Jane / Catering - Old SLO BBQ / Dessert - SeaBreeze Cupcakes / Bar - Daring to Dream Events / DJ & Lighting - Kramer Events / Beauty - The Queens Bees / Rentals - SLO Party Rentals

LOOKING FOR A SLO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER? EXPLORE OUR PACKAGES AND INQUIRE WITH US!

Because this is one of our favorite wedding venues in San Luis Obispo County, we’ve been fortunate to photograph a number of weddings at Higuera Ranch—

Though our editing style has evolved over the years, the heart behind the photos remains the same. In this post, I am going to be sharing recaps of a few more days we cherish still, and offer a few different perspectives of how to best use the gorgeous space Higuera Ranch has to offer. Keep scrolling to see more!

*Mikayla & Jonny’s*
*Pool Party Wedding*

A wedding in which a pool party is a whole line item on the timeline? Count 👏🏼 us 👏🏼 in 👏🏼

If you thought Mikayla & Jonny’s engagement photos were a dream, wait until you see these wedding photos. I mean, come on. I really may have never seen a more crazy for each other, in love couple. Photographing these two is the easiest thing, time and time again. The way their faces light up when they’re around each other, when they look at each other, when they interact with each other, ahhh it is just magic. We were so honored when they asked us to photograph their wedding, and to help them find the ideal venue, as they were less familiar with the San Luis Obispo wedding industry than we are.

Mikayla and Jonny wanted a venue which showcased the natural beauty of SLO’s iconic rolling hills, would make for an effortless gathering space for their family and friends, and, most importantly, had a pool. The pool party at the end of the wedding was the ultimate element of their wedding vision, and something they were not willing to part with. After the best day of their lives, they couldn’t imagine doing anything other than jumping in a pool with all their best friends. It just so naturally happens that our favorite venue, Higuera Ranch, had literally everything these two were looking for.

By the same stroke of good luck, Higuera Ranch had one August date left, and it became Mik and Jonny’s. The epic pool party wedding was on.

This wedding was so special to us, because so many of our friends (past couples, too!) were guests. Mik and Jonny also love Jesus with everything in them, and theirs was a wedding that was centered around the goodness of God. We always, always love the opportunity to be part of the weddings of fellow believers!

This day was, of course, picture perfect. San Luis Obispo in the late summer and early fall is a dream come true. The bridal party was a hoot, Mik and Jonny’s people came to have a good time, and we felt like another two in their friend group. As the clock struck nine, it was time to head over to Higuera Ranch’s heated pool, complete with a waterslide and ample gathering space for everyone to join in on the fun. DJ Pete set up a second station at the pool to keep the music going, and even brought fog machines to add to the vibe.

We had so much fun (and got so freakin’ soaked) photographing the moment everyone truly had been waiting for, before sending Mik and Jonny off into their forever. At the end of the night, we looked at each other and said, “more weddings like this, please!”

Venue - Higuera Ranch / Coordination - Always Flawless Productions / Catering - Taqueria Santa Cruz / Dessert - Madonna Inn / Flowers - Jonny’s Mom! / DJ - DJ Pete / Beauty - Twig & Arrow Salon / Dress - Watters / Groom’s Outfit - Friar Tux

A weekend to showcase & reminisce on all the special qualities of San Luis Obispo- that was Montana & Sam’s main goal for their wedding. The two met at Cal Poly, and dated one another among an incredibly loving, lively, and supportive group of friends. The two saw their wedding weekend at Higuera Ranch as the perfect opportunity to round up everyone who is a cherished part of their life and celebrate in the very place they met, while also celebrating every unique that makes SLO, SLO!

Montana & Sam’s inquiry with us was one of those we immediately hope turns into a booking. They exuded everything we desire in clients- laid back, low-key people, who were more excited to spend a weekend surrounded by their people in their favorite place than putting on a show stopping wedding. When we hopped on the phone with them, we talked for over an hour about our lives and their vision for their weekend, and I’m pretty sure that conversation could have lasted way longer if we all had the time. They became instant friends, and we were so honored when they asked us to photograph their wedding.

Fast forward to their wedding weekend, where Montana, Sam, and their incredible group of friends made us feel like members of the crew the second we got to Higuera Ranch. After their rehearsal dinner, they even invited us to join them all on a good ol-fashioned bar crawl around downtown San Luis Obispo. It was at this point in the weekend we decided these two (and all their friends) were absolute friendship goals, and we were so lucky to be a part of this.

Montana & Sam’s wedding day carried on the same way. Higuera Ranch is one of our absolute favorite wedding venues on the Central Coast (and we hope this gallery gives you a good idea why). There are so many unique settings around the property for everyone to get ready, have first looks, exchange vows, share drinks during cocktail hour, and, of course, dance the night away.

Both sides of the bridal party got ready in the guest houses on Higuera Ranch’s property, and these beautifully lit homes created the perfect setting for some touching moments between Montana, Sam, and their bridesmaids and groomsmen. After the bride and groom got ready, they shared their first look and got to take some time to soak in the moment together. Montana and Sam were so excited they did a first look because it meant they got to spend as much time as possible together on their wedding day (our favorite reason to include one in a wedding timeline!!). After the first look, we were able to take all their formal bridal party and family portraits, so the couple and their people could solely focus on celebrating for the rest of their day.

Montana & Sam’s wedding ceremony was held on Higuera Ranch’s lawn, with the rolling hills of SLO in the background, still holding onto their green from the winter rain. Sam’s best man, Parker, doubled as the officiant, and he led a ceremony full of light hearted moments, and some sweet personal vows. After the ceremony, it was party time! Everyone made their way over to Higuera Ranch’s barn for cocktail hour and the reception, full of modern, earth-toned decor. After a Santa Maria BBQ style dinner (of course), we had the treat of heading up to one of the hilltops on Higuera Ranch’s property for sunset. And BOY was it a good one. This very well may be the largest number of sunset bridal portraits we’ve ever sent a couple!

After tearing up the dance floor with Montana, Sam, and all their people (including Mr. Brightside as the final song, our very favorite part of a wedding day!!!!), we all headed over to the guest house for an after party. When we first talked with Montana & Sam, they shared with us they were planning on jumping in the pool at Higuera Ranch’s guest house after the wedding, a personal dream of mine to shoot for Lord knows how long. And this after party did not disappoint (especially the groomsmen jumping in, scroll to the end to see!!!).

This day, this wedding, this group of people truly helped us remember why we do this, and what an honor it is to document wedding days. Thank you Montana & Sam!!

Venue - Higuera Ranch / Coordination - Heart Melting Events / Photo & Video - Poppy and Vine / Floral - Aurelia Flora / Catering - Old San Luis BBQ / Dessert - Dako Bake Co. & SLO Donut Company / DJ - Epic Entertainment / Hair & Makeup - Bellizzimo Beauty / Dress - Alyssa Kristin / Bridesmaids Dresses - Love and Lace Bridal / Groom & Groomsmen Outfits - The Black Tux / Invitation Suite - Gingerly Design Co. / Rentals - All About Events