Loomis Barn Arroyo Grande Wedding | Carolyn & Kenan
The classic SLO summer wedding— a rustic barn setting for two beautiful people!
You likely recognize Carolyn and Kenan from their incredible sand dune engagement photos last summer. And this summer we got to be present as they married each other at Loomis Barn just down the road in Arroyo Grande. We first photographed a wedding at this rustic venue deep in the Huasna Valley a few years back and absolutely fell in love with it. The big barn set in the middle of dense oak trees and rolling hills really transports you to another world, and the owners are truly the kindest people we’ve worked with. And so it was very easy to say yes to returning to photograph Carolyn and Kenan’s summer wedding.
The day began for us at the very tail end of getting ready time for the girls and guys. Kenan rolled up in a limo as Carolyn was putting the finishing touches on her bridal look. Before Kenan saw her, though, she had a surprise for his groomsmen. She iced the rowdy group of gentlemen to really get the party started, and then walked up to an unsuspecting Kenan as we were taking “individual” photos of him. We love first looks for so many reasons, but the biggest is how significantly nerves disappear after our bride and groom see each other for the first time that day.
After Carolyn and Kenan got to soak in the moment of seeing each other, we walked over to the little forest of oak trees adjacent to the Loomis Barn for formal bridal party and family portraits. Kenan loved the country look of Loomis Barn, and wanted that captured as much as we possibly could. The groomsmen refused to miss a single opportunity to toss Kenan in the air, and after spending this time with the whole bridal party, we knew we were in for a stellar night.
Carolyn and Kenan were married under the oak trees by her brother in law, and their ceremony featured personal vows, and a performance by Kenan’s brother in law, aka the flower man. There was so much laughter during the ceremony, really showing off Carolyn and Kenan’s best friend kind of love for one another. After the ceremony, guests made their way to the barn reception space to the outdoor cocktail hour in the glittering afternoon sunlight. Kenan, a firefighter, incorporated a vintage firetruck into their reception decor.
Guests then dined on Santa Maria style barbecue at long farmhouse style tables in front of the barn as the sun dipped behind the hills. Carolyn and Kenan requested tables be dismissed for dinner by having a member from each table sing karaoke, which got everyone in a party mood. Before the real dance party began, we snuck up to Loomis Barn’s hilltop for bridal portraits of Carolyn and Kenan as the sun set and that classic Central Coast fog rolled in. We returned them to the barn as the dance floor was heating up, with guests in transparent flame glasses and cowboy hats to really set the yeehaw-firefighter mood this wedding embodied. What an honor (and a blast) it was to be part of Carolyn and Kenan’s day!
MEET THE BEST San Luis Obispo WEDDING VENDORS!
Planning & Coordination - Tara Sanchez / Venue - Loomis Barn / Florals - Carolyn’s Mom! / Catering - Auten Boys BBQ / DJ - Kramer Events / Dessert - SLO Delicious & The Churro Cart / Beauty - Cal Coast Wedding Beauty / Dress - Epiphany / Groom’s Outfit - The Modern Groom / Rentals - SLO Party Rentals
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Here are our favorite photographs from Carolyn and Kenan’s rustic barn wedding ~
Howdy! We’re Katie & Joseph, a husband & wife team, and wedding photographers in Phoenix
We are big fans of documenting wedding days in an unposed, raw, genuine, and honest way that allows our couples to maximize their experience on their day while also receiving a gallery full of stunning images that communicate how it felt to be there.
Though we’re based in Arizona, we’ll travel anywhere for a good love story (and dance party). We invite you to follow the links below to learn more about us and our services, and to get in contact with us!
Featured Weddings~
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