A Rainy Day Hilltop Wedding | Los Olivos, CA
A Private Estate Wedding in the Heart of the Santa Ynez Valley—
Known for its rolling hills lined with vineyards, this area of the Central Coast has become a favorite retreat for us over the years, and quite the ideal location for a wedding. Jenna and Alex thought so too 😉. On a family friend’s property perched atop a hill overlooking the lush green landscape in every direction was the place where these two, who met back in high school, would marry each other. Being photographers who love weddings that are equally picturesque and people focused, we jumped at the opportunity to be part of this one, celebrating one of the sweetest, most gentle couples we’ve met along the way in this career.
When they inquired, and as we were building their timeline, Jenna and Alex placed a specific emphasis on the community they chose to surround them on their wedding day when it came to their photos. Family members traveled near and far to Los Olivos for their weekend, and the couple wanted to be free to soak up as much time as they possibly could with everyone, and come away with a gallery full of photographs that echoed this sentiment. We were a perfect match! As we built the wedding photography timeline for their SYV celebration, we opted for less time spent photographing the getting ready portion of their day (we were able to snap a few sweet ones though!), and more time spent photographing the reception into the evening.
I've chosen to keep track of all the ways God has shown up for our business this year, and one of those early 2025 bullet points is from this one— rain was forecast for Jenna and Alex’s entire wedding weekend, and the whole morning it quite literally poured. We’d photographed a beautiful rainy day wedding in Carmel last year, so we knew not to worry, but we always appreciate not being soaking wet when at work. When I tell you the rain stopped the moment we pulled up to the Los Olivos estate (and didn’t start again until the moment we drove away at the end of the night), I mean it. As we moved toward ceremony time, the clouds were even parting, giving way to blue sky and rays of sunshine that lit up the whole Santa Ynez Valley.
As I mentioned before, we focused less on formal getting ready photos during our pre-ceremony time with Jenna and Alex, and more on the interactions of everyone gathered. Jenna and her father had a sweet first look moment in a quiet corner of the property, while Alex welcomed loved ones as they arrived. We all ascended the hill to its highest point overlooking the Valley, with a sprawling oak tree serving as the ceremony backdrop. The emotion that filled the space when Jenna saw Alex for the first time was so rich and sweet and beautiful!
Another part of Jenna and Alex’s timeline that I loved was the slowness they incorporated into it post-ceremony. They made a point to sneak off at the beginning of cocktail hour to exchange wedding gifts with each other, and to take a moment for the two of them. Cocktail hour lingered into two, purposefully, so Jenna and Alex had adequate time to greet all of their guests, and genuinely have a conversation with each person. Future brides and grooms, if you’re reading this, take note! I feel like we get so caught up in worrying about entertaining our guests that we forget we are the guests of honor! Make time to chat with and be loved on by your people! (And everyone loves a good open bar 🤷🏻♀️).
At some point in the midst of it all, we snuck Jenna and Alex away for their bridal portraits during the sunniest part of our day. I love how these capture their sweet love for each other as the Santa Ynez Valley absolutely glitters behind them. By this point, too, I like to thing Jenna and Alex were more than comfortable in front of our cameras (the goal of having an engagement session prior to the wedding!), and felt like they could be fully themselves in these photos that will live forever in their family!
The couple opted for a clear tent for their wedding reception, which became absolutely magical as the sun set. We could still see the sprawling oak trees above the reception space, and the cafe lights that twinkled inside the tent created a cozy vibe perfect for the chilly winter evening. Dinner was shared, toasts were made, and dancing got underway, with so much energy, I must add! Everyone present was just so excited for these two! As the quaint evening winded down, Alex and Jenna exited via sparklers and made their way to their classic getaway car, on their way to their honeymoon in Paso and forever together as husband and wife!
A special thank you to the incredible team who made this day possible, some of the Central Coast’s very best wedding vendors.
Venue - Private Estate / Catering - Old San Luis BBQ / Dessert - SLO Delicious / Beauty - The Queens Bees / Rentals - Santa Ynez Valley Elite Events / Dress - Mareh Couture / Groom’s Outfit - Men’s Wearhouse
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Hello! We’re Katie & Joseph, a husband & wife team, and destination wedding photographers!
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 (like our beloved Central Coast) 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!
