Terra Mia Wedding | Paso Robles, CA
A Warm Summer Day in the Middle of the Paso Robles Vineyards—
With two people who felt like our friends from the moment we hopped on our first call with them, one of the greatest things we could ask for as wedding photographers. We couldn’t have asked for a better weekend and group of humans to photograph on this beautiful September day at Terra Mia in San Luis Obispo county. The energy was so high this entire sunny afternoon, as is pretty much standard for any wedding of a Cal Poly couple (my personal favorite demographic to work with 😉). Stephanie and Anthony are two people who are surrounded by such deep, quality relationships, and wanted their wedding day to reflect this in its entirety.
Something I love about Terra Mia is its ample getting ready space and ability to accommodate our couples and their people on its gorgeous vineyard property all weekend long. Steph and Anthony and their wedding party got ready on site, which, I believe, contributed greatly to the overall relaxed vibe we walked into in the early afternoon. Steph and her dad made all her floral arrangements together, and everyone’s ability to be on property made this project so much easier too! Everyone was having a great time together when we arrived, and with a very slow, lingering getting ready timeline (something we’ve been recommending to all our couples lately), each moment got to be savored.
Other than Steph and Anthony’s first look, during which they exchanged private vows, we didn’t make a big event out of all the pre-ceremony moments. Family members trickled into the getting ready suites to say hello and see each other for the first time that day, Steph shared a completely informal, yet very emotional, first look with her bridesmaids, and we were able to ease our way through portrait time, the energy high the whole time. As we delve more and more into what it means to be documentary photographers, I am learning more that people don’t need to be prompted in these often “scheduled” moments. Real emotion often happens in a more raw state when we simply let them happen. Nearly all of the hugs and interactions that happened all day were completely authentic and “unplanned,” something that lends itself to the genuine joy in the photos you see.
Guests began to arrive under Terra Mia’s iconic willows, a moment we were able to be fully present for because of our slower pace before the wedding began. The soft yet golden afternoon light poked its way through the trees and cast an idyllic glow on the pondside ceremony space. Terra Mia’s amphitheater of a ceremony site creates a feeling of deep intimacy, couples are surrounded by all their people. It was here that Steph and Anthony became husband and wife, in an emotional ceremony, immediately followed by cheers and lasting hugs.
Because we got all their formal portraits done before Steph and Anthony’s ceremony, they were able to be present for the entirety of their cocktail hour, something they told us from the beginning was important to them. How fun it is to follow our couples around their reception as they greet, and have a quality conversation with, every single one of the people they chose to surround them on their wedding day!
Guests crossed the pond to Terra Mia’s reception space, and a rowdy evening began with the newlyweds’ first dance, in the dreamiest golden hour light I’ve ever seen. A sunset dinner is something I’ve loved photographing lately, snapping moments of guests interacting with each other and the couple. We snuck Steph and Anthony away for a few moments alone in the vineyard as the sun dipped below the horizon, before promptly returning them to their reception for toasts that had everyone crying and laughing. Dancing was kicked off with an anniversary dance, honoring Steph’s grandparents, who were celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary that day. This was a wedding in which we stayed late into the evening, after our coverage concluded, to join in on celebrating two people who have become our friends over the last year and a half working together.
A special thank you to the incredible team who made this day possible, some of San Luis Obispo’s very best wedding vendors.
Venue - Terra Mia / Planning - Karly Troutt / Catering - Phil’s / DJ - Muir Music / Beauty - Cal Coast Wedding Beauty / Rentals - All About Events
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Hello! We’re Katie & Joseph, a husband and wife team, and San Luis Obispo 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 SLO, we’ll travel anywherefor 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!
