I knew this intimate Santa Ynez wedding would be different because of the pandemic.
All of the guests had been cancelled except for immediate family. We turned off the highway onto to country road where only a few houses were located. Driving past a beautiful barn, we made our way to the end of the road to a country house.
After meeting everyone, we were shown into a rustic cabin about 30 yards from the house where Ashley was getting ready. It served as the de facto “bridal suite”. The cabin was directly next to a creek with flowing water, an amazing setting. There was also a small road behind the suite which made for some incredible “first look” photos between the bride and groom.
The backyard was small, but cute and a few chairs and an awning had been setup for the ceremony. A family member had set their phone on the table so people not there could watch the wedding live. A technological, yet sentimental touch that reminded me of my family. You could hear everyone on the line clapping, laughing and crying – it seemed all at the same time. It really got me and as I snapped photos I started to tear up a bit.
After the ceremony, there was magnificent family conversation along with cake. I felt honored to be a part of this day, especially during the pandemic. We snapped some more photos by the barn, and then day was complete.
