Ok, ok. So, normally, it takes me a wee bit to get my most recent wedding images on the blog. But this wedding was just so great, I just couldn’t wait to put these up.

What can I say about Nat & Ty? They are FABulous. (I can’t believe I just used that word either, but there you have it, I did.) Working with them over the past few months has been a sincere pleasure, and I was so looking forward to photographing their big day.

The day started off with Natalie getting ready at her home in Russian Hill, with her mom and close friends by her side. Once we hailed a cab, we were off to Ina Coolbrith Park. From this cozy park you get an amazing view of the downtown skyline!

The ceremony was intimate….just under 50 close friends and family. The Blue Angels were out practicing this day, but stopped just long enough for everyone to hear the touching ceremony. I particularly liked the part where Natalie and Tyler nailed shut a wooden box, which held love letters to one another. When Natalie wiped away a tear, and then Ty followed suit, my own glasses started to fog up! I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. (Note, photographing a wedding with foggy glasses is not advised!)

After the ceremony, there was a champagne and cigar reception, which made for some great photo fun. Then we were off to catch the sunset at San Francisco’s Aquatic Park, where Natalie often swims.(You’re brave girl….burr!!!)

This day was just beautiful, and Nat and Ty were absolutely gorgeous to photograph, as I’m sure you’ll agree.

Days like this remind me how lucky I am to have the job that I do. A big thanks goes out to Nat and Ty for making my job one that I love so dearly.

Congratulations you two! xoxoxoxo

001_IMG_9419rw copy 002_IMG_9444rw copy 003_IMG_9270rw copy 004_IMG_9284rw copy 005_IMG_9346rw copy 006_IMG_9356rw copy 007_IMG_9369rw copy 008_IMG_9403rw copy 009_IMG_9432rw copy 010_IMG_9437rw copy 011_IMG_9298rw copy 012_IMG_7111rw copy 013_IMG_9443rw copy 014_IMG_7101rw copy 015_IMG_7117rw copy 016_IMG_9461rw copy 017_IMG_9463rw copy 018_IMG_9450rw copy 019_IMG_9492rw copy 020_IMG_7169rw copy 021__MG_7534dm-1 022__MG_7495dm 023__MG_7540dm 024__MG_7504dm 025__MG_7602dm 026_IMG_7199rw copy 027_IMG_7215rw copy 028_IMG_9605rw copy 029_IMG_9594rw copy 030__MG_7900dm 031_IMG_7353rw copy 032_IMG_7314rw copy 033_IMG_7341rw copy 034_IMG_9677rw copy 035_IMG_9840rw copy 036_IMG_7623rw copy 037_IMG_7477rw copy 038_IMG_7538rw copy 039_IMG_7574rw copy 040_IMG_7518rw copy 041_IMG_0010rw copy 042_IMG_0031rw copy 043_IMG_7728rw copy 044_IMG_7775rw copy 045__MG_7813dm-1 046_IMG_7832rw copy 047_IMG_0081rw copy

Ina Coolbrith Park
Taylor & Vallejo Streets
San Francisco, CA 94101

San Francisco Aquatic Park
Beach Street and Hyde
San Francisco, CA 94133

P.S. I can’t forget to give a big shout out to my assistant photographer, Diana. She captured the great, colorful shots of the boys before the ceremony.

If you haven’t been to the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco, then you MUST go. I had the pleasure of shooting a wedding here recently, and can’t believe I had forgotten how incredibly gorgeous this hotel is. They seriously don’t make buildings like this anymore. If you can appreciate art and architecture, it’s a must see. And even if you don’t, you will appreciate the amazing views from the Top of the Mark Lounge at the top.

Max and Alyson were the lucky, and incredibly cute, couple to be wed at this palatial venue. Alyson is this wonderful mix of cute, warm & fuzzy, and saucy. As soon as I met her, I felt incredibly at ease….her whole presence was really wonderful to be around, and made photographing her a joyful experience.

Max, the lucky groom, was just as great. A warm, welcoming smile, friendly eyes, and such a gracious and helpful nature. Wow. This couple embodied all the greatest qualities you could hope for.

To make my day even better, they were super FUN to be around. Laughing, joking, smiling. Taking everything in stride. So incredibly friendly. Max and Alyson are obviously special people, as evidenced by the family and friends that attended the wedding. I can honestly say, each and every guest I met was just so incredibly warm, welcoming and friendly. What a blessing to have such a great group of family and friends!

This wedding was not only fun and gorgeous to photograph, but I actually felt like a guest…..a friend who just happened to have a couple really big cameras around my neck all day!

So, thanks SO much Max and Alyson for putting on such a wonderful event, and for allowing me the honor of photographing your important day. I hope it is just one of many incredible days on your journey together!

Here’s a teaser. More on the blog soon….stay tuned!

I’m a nerd when it comes to learning about the history of San Francisco, so I researched the history of the Mark Hopkins. Turns out it has a wonderfully rich story, and it’s no wonder so many important folks, from celebrities to dignitaries, make this their first choice when visiting San Francisco.

If you wanna know more about the Mark Hopkins InterContinental read the excerpt below from the Intercontinental website. I’ve also included links at the very end so that you can contact them for your next stay in San Francisco. Believe me, after you read the excerpt and see the images, there will be no other place you’d want to stay!

“The Mark Hopkins Hotel opened on December 4, 1926. Located at One Nob Hill (California and Mason Street), the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco stands tall at the crest of Nob Hill, several hundred feet above San Francisco’s downtown business and shopping district.  The 19-story hotel’s architecture is a combination of French chateau and Spanish Renaissance, embellished with elaborate terracotta ornament.  Because the hotel consists of a tall central tower and two wings outstretched like arms, the rooms offer spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay, the city, the surrounding hills and the ocean.

Of these homes on Nob Hill built by such magnates as Stanford, Crocker, and Huntington, none was grander than the gabled Victorian mansion of Mark Hopkins, a founder of the Central Pacific Railroad.  Hopkins’ wife, Mary, was given free reign in the mansion’s design which included: a built-in pipe organ, oak paneling inlaid with ebony, and several-story-tall entry hall/art gallery.

Mark Hopkins died just before completion of the grandiose structure.  In 1878 his widow moved into the multi-turreted $3 million Gothic castle built entirely of redwood.  Several years later, Mary Hopkins moved to the East Cost and married Edward Searles, her interior designer and junior by 30 years. After Mary Hopkins death in 1891, Edward Searles donated the long-unoccupied Nob Hill mansion to the San Francisco Art Association, which converted the building into classrooms, studios, and galleries.

The mansion burned in the fire, which followed the 1906 earthquake, and only the hillside property’s mammoth granite retaining wall remained.  One night in 1910, mining engineer George D. Smith and a friend were strolling past the modest Art Association building when he said, “Someday, I’m going to build a hotel there.”

At once, the hotel became a leading social center of San Francisco.  In the 1920′s, 1930′s and 1940′s, the glamorous Peacock Court hosted such memorable dance bands as Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Anson “Dancin’ -with-Anson” Weeks, Xavier Cugat, plus the era’s top supper club entertainers like Betty Grable, Dorothy Lamour, Rudy Valley, Hildegarde, Dorothy “The Broadway Hillbilly” Shay, and exotic Peruvian songbird Yma Sumac.  The banquet rooms were filled with debutante balls, wedding receptions, and glittering dinners, sometimes served on the hotel’s 24 -carat gold dinner service.

The Mark Hopkins’ guests included US. Presidents, statesman, international royalty, and Hollywood celebrities.  Twenties and thirties film idol John Barrymore was a frequent guest.  His pet monkey, Clementine, was less welcome at the hotel after she climbed the curtains in Barrymore’s suite, shredding the brocade as she went.

In 1939 hotel owner George D. Smith created a sensation at The Mark Hopkins Hotel when he converted the 11-room penthouse on the hotel’s 19th floor into a glass-walled cocktail lounge featuring a 360-degree view of San Francisco.  This became known as the Top of The Mark.

Although Smith later told friends he wasn’t sure that people would ride an elevator 19 stories just to enjoy a drink and the view, the Top Of The Mark was an immediate hit after it opened on May 11, 1939.  That year, San Franciscans and visitors alike flocked there to view the twinkling lights of the Golden Gate Bridge International Exposition on Treasure Island.

During the Second World War, The Top of the Mark was a favorite spot for Pacific-bound servicemen to enjoy their last liberty before shipping out.  As the ships left the Golden Gate, anxious wives and sweethearts often gathered in the Northwest corner to watch the departure, earning that section the nickname, “Weepers’ Corner”.

After the Second World War, The Mark Hopkins remained one of San Francisco’s most fashionable sites for dancing and supper club entertainment, debutante balls, weddings, and banquets. Its guests included the leading statesmen, royalty, and celebrities such as Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, Prince Philip of Great Britain, Queen Juliana of Holland, Emperor Hailie Selassie, ElizabethTaylor, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Michael Jackson (who required a personal chef to prepare his vegetarian meals) and The Rolling Stones (who took two entire floors for themselves and their entourage).

During his 1961 visit to America, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev stayed in the Mark Hopkins’ 17th floor Presidential suite.  For the duration of his visit, the suite boasted a one-button black telephone with a direct line to The Kremlin and Russian security guards that periodically paced the rooms with Geiger counters looking for any sources of radiation.

In 1973, Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation, commenced a painstaking several-year renovation of The Mark Hopkins.  This project included the restoration of the landmark facade and its elaborate ornamentation, redecoration of the lobby and all public rooms, redecoration of all guest rooms, and installation or upgrading of all mechanical and safety systems.

In 1987, a 10 million renovation gave The Mark a new, fresh look.  All 391 guestrooms and suites were remodeled in the neoclassic style employing custom designed furnishings and plush fabrics.  Also included were the Lobby, Lower Bar Lounge, and the Nob Hill Restaurant.

During 1995 the Mark unveiled the historic renovation of The Peacock Court and Room of the Dons. Highlighted by a dazzling display of intricate colors and design, the Peacock Court’s impressive ceiling holds its esteemed place as the focal point of the ballroom.

During the summer of 1996, The Mark Hopkins redesigned it’s legendary “room with a view”, The Top of the Mark. San Francisco’s famous sky lounge made its reopening debut in the fall, after a three month, 1.5 million-dollar renovation. The change was significant. The bar, once located as a focal point of the room, has been moved to a corner over looking the Golden Gate Bridge. An elevated mahogany dance floor surrounded by conversational seating, featuring comfortable modern sofas, classic settees, and upholstered chairs with “Bay Area Legends” signature plaques, has replaced this. Alabaster and sculptured metal chandeliers; Italian banisters, beveled mirrors wall and European-style plaster prepare this lounge for the next century.

In 1997, understanding the needs of the discerning business traveler, the Mark Hopkins launches 22 guest “Business Rooms” and a Business Center. Rooms were designed to include a combination printer/fax/copier, large surface desk, ergonomic work chairs, halogen lighting, and multi- line telephones with voice mail services and data port. The Business Center provides secretarial and copying services, computer stations with Internet capability, supplies, and delivery/telecommunication services.

During 1998, adding to the numerous other environmental programs that the Mark Hopkins and Inter-Continental Hotels & Resorts have initiated over the years, the Mark becomes the first major luxury hotel in San Francisco to offer a charging station for electric cars. The electric vehicle-charging unit is located in the hotel garage and available 24 hours a day.

A multi-million dollar restoration was completed in 2002, with restorations enhancing the hotel’s original character of old-world luxury and style, with new-world amenities and services.

Mark Hopkins InterContinental
999 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 392-3434
http://www.intercontinentalmarkhopkins.com

I recently had the pleasure of photographing a group portrait for the San Francisco law firm Hanson Bridgett, LLP. This year, Hanson Bridgett hosted Globalaw’s Annual Members Meeting in San Francisco. Hanson Bridgett is a member of the Globalaw international legal network, which gives them access to lawyers at firms in 165 major jurisdictions around the world and provides critical international resources for their clients. Hanson Bridget has been a San Francisco and California mainstay since 1958. Based in Northern California, Hanson Bridgets’ 150+ attorneys serve clients nationally and internationally.

In addition to being able to work with a great bunch of folks, I loved this shoot because Hanson Bridgett’s San Francisco and Marin offices are certified Green Businesses and their Sacramento office is a certified Sacramento Sustainable Business. In addition, they are the only law firm we know of that features a Rock Band, a Jazz Trio and a Grammy award winning violinist. Cool, eh?

To top it off, the shoot was held at the fabulous Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Since 1907, the Fairmont hotel has hosted the rich and famous, kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers, and stars of the stage and screen. If you didn’t know, the United Nations charter was signed at the hotel, and Tony Bennett first sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” at the hotel’s famous nightclub, The Venetian Room. In addition to hosting some of the most influential meetings and events, the hotel also is well known for its breathtaking weddings and other special occasions.

The Fairmont San Francisco luxury hotel is centrally located, just a short cable car trip from downtown, the Financial District, Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s also located at the only spot in San Francisco where each of the City’s cable car lines meet. I encourage anyone visiting San Francisco to spend even just one night in this amazing hotel. If you do, be sure to check out the hotel’s incredible panoramic view of San Francisco and the Bay!

Special thanks goes out to my assistant, Mischa, and Hanson Bridget staff Rob Corwin and Brandi Hewlett who worked as an incredible team to help me arrange and capture this fun group portrait.

Hanson Bridgett LLP
425 Market Street, 26th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
www.hansonbridgett.com

The Fairmont Hotel – San Francisco
950 Mason Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 772-5000
www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco

I’m happy to share that recently I was asked to participate in, and photograph, an event at Oakland’s Lake Chalet. I go past the Lake Chalet several times a week while going running around Lake Merritt, and I’ve always wanted to peek inside as I’ve heard the restaurant is just great!

The green event was put on by the Lake Chalet, in conjunction with Karine Brighten of Karine Brighten Events, and Pilar Zuniga of Gorgeous and Green. Karine specializes in coordinating ‘green’ events, both private and corporate. Pilar offers wonderful eco-friendly gift, decor and floral arrangements, both for events and through her retail boutique in Berkeley.

The Lake Chalet has been working towards greening its facility, and is now available to host green events, such as weddings, corporate meetings, and more! I was really excited and honored to be chosen to be on the Lake Chalet’s “Preferred Vendor’s” list, as their only green-certified photographer…woo hoo!

Here are some fun photos of the event. I can’t wait to do more at this great venue. Oh, and they do a awesome 3-6-9 Happy Hour in the Pumphouse, and a great Taco Tuesday that you can enjoy right out on the dock when the weather is nice. Be sure to check them out, and commission a Gondola Ride on the Lake after dinner!

Event photographer for Lake Chalet Oakland Lake Chalet Green Weddings event Eco-friendly wedding flowers Lake Chalet Green Weddings event Sustainable Wedding Flowers Oakland Green Event Coordinator Oakland Green wedding flowers San Francisco Gorgeous and Green Weddings Berkeley Blue and Green wedding flowers San Francisco charity event photographer San Francisco private party photographer Green Wedding Coordinator San Francisco San Francisco gala event photographer Corporate event photography San Francisco Corporate Event Photography Oakland Oakland event photography Oakland Event Photographer Berkeley event photographer

A little history on the Lake Chalet (in case you didn’t know….I sure didn’t!)

Originally a tidal estuary formed by several creeks, Lake Merritt’s gets its name from former Oakland Mayor, Samuel Merritt, who proposed to dam and clean up the estuary in 1868. After funding the project with his own money, Merritt laid the groundwork for the urban sanctuary we know today as Lake Merritt.

The Lake was further transformed into a recreational park around the turn of the Twentieth Century as the roads and paths were built and in 1925 the Lake got its Necklace of Lights.

Municipal Boat House - The Lake Chalet building began life in 1909 as a high-pressure salt water pumping plant for the Oakland Fire Department; John Galen Howard designed the original concrete building.

In 1913, Walter D. Reed designed the two building wings to serve as a municipal boathouse. The building hosted excursions, regattas, locker rooms, a tea room and several restaurants.

The original pump station remained in operation until 1955 when building was converted to offices by Superintendent of Parks William Penn Mott Jr. to move parks staff there from downtown. The Lake Merritt Rowing club has used the lower south wing for their activities since 1961.

Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill – The restaurant, which opened in August of 2009, was created by veteran restaurateurs Gar and Lara Truppelli (Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant and Park Chalet Garden Restaurant in San Francisco) working with Executive Chef Jarad Gallagher.

I hope you enjoyed my post. Click here if you’d like to see my Wedding Photography, View My Portfolio, or Contact Me.

Jerry Hart is a veteran radio broadcaster and morning show radio personality, including KISS FM in San Francisco. His weekly show, Smart Green Travel, is just one of many popular shows on Green 960 AM, which regularly features nationally syndicated talkers, including local and live news programming and environmental editorial content.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Featured on this program:

Corina Ann Beczner
Owner & Green Wedding Consultant
Vibrant Events
www.vibrantevents.net
(415) 613-3778

Rebecca Wilkowski Photography
Certified Green Wedding Photographer & Photojournalist
(347) 413-4747
Web: www.RebeccaWilkowski.com
Blog: www.RebeccaWilkowski.com/blog

Bride Chic is the fabulous blog of couture wedding fashion designer, Amy-Jo Tatum. Amy-Jo has been a columnist for San Francisco Art and Fashion News and written articles for The Wedding Gazette. She founded The Design Project of San Francisco, a networking organization of fashion professionals collaborating their skills and talents on projects. She’s currently working on a book called—you guessed it—’Bride Chic’, all about that white gown and very special designer/client relationship. Want to see more of her fabulous gowns? Check out her site at www.amyjotatum.com

To read the article on my company in full, please visit Bride Chic. I hope you enjoyed my post. Click here if you’d like to see more Wedding Photography, View My Portfolio, or Contact Me.

About the Couple:
Sarah and Anthony met while they were students attending the Art Institute of California in Santa Monica. Anthony works in film and Sarah is an artist. According to their photographer, Rebecca Wilkowski, Sarah and Anthony are “stylish, young, and fun, and with a great aesthetic as they are both artists…” In college, the couple had the same circle of friends, but somehow managed not to meet each other for three months. Then, late one night at the end of a party, Sarah showed up and Anthony was smitten. A week into dating, Anthony asked for her hand in marriage but she promptly said “no.” After 3 1/2 years of asking, Sarah finally said yes! They tied the knot on January 31, which is Sarah’s grandparents’ wedding anniversary. They thought it would be a nice tribute to them, as they have been happily married for more than fifty years.

The Decision to Go Green:
The couple’s shared love of nature led them to throw a gorgeous green wedding. Anthony loves to write, draw, and go camping. Sarah likes hiking, camping, riding horses, and all things outdoorsy. They invited a group of close friends to keep their wedding day small and simple, very in tune with the outdoors. Using their creativity and working with the gorgeous scenery of their venue, Anthony and Sarah incorporated their unique personal styles into their celebration.

Venue:
Before the wedding, the couple stayed at the Claremont Resort Hotel and Spa.  The ceremony took place at Tilden Park in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden, a naturally stunning and serene living museum of California’s native plant species. This garden encompasses many of the state’s rare and endangered plants and is a place for visitors to wander among trees, shrubbery, and flowers from different plant communities throughout the state. Sarah and Anthony had both always wanted to get married outside, and the gorgeous Botanical Garden seemed like the perfect place.

Rings:
Anthony and Sarah chose a green and meaningful option for their wedding rings—they exchanged vintage rings that had belonged to Anthony’s grandmother.  This idea is eco-friendly, and offers a way for the bride and groom to make a special connection to important family members.

Florist:
The couple decided to use a local, family-owned and operated florist, Darling Flower Shop, for their floral arrangements. The Darling Flower Shop came highly recommended and created the gorgeous succulent bouquets that Sarah wanted. The yellow flowers in the bouquet are wattles, Australia’s national flowers, which perfectly represent Sarah because she is from Sydney, Australia and yellow is her favorite color.

Reception Food:
Sarah and Anthony both love Italian food, and Oliveto, close to Oakland, CA is their favorite restaurant in the whole city for Italian cuisine. Sarah’s heritage is English and Italian, so it fit very well and was a natural choice for their reception dinner. The venue created a delicious menu of fresh, local and certified organic foods for the bride, groom, and their guests.

Table Linens and Decorations:
The couple rented their table linens and decorations, an option that is both budget and eco-friendly. The white tablecloths added to the simple, elegant look that Sarah and Anthony created.

Entertainment:
Instead of having a live band, Sarah and Anthony decided to use their iPod for music as a money-saving strategy. They made their own playlists and hand picked songs that were meaningful to their relationship, as well as their friends and family.

Cake:
Sarah and Anthony wanted an Alice in Wonderland type cake, unique and a little silly, similar to the Mad Hatter’s hat.  Fortunately, they had a close family friend who was willing to make the beautiful cake from scratch. This is a great way to save money and add a personal touch.

Final Thoughts:
The bride acknowledges that planning a wedding can be stressful at times, but it’s worth it.  Sarah says that she and Anthony realized this “the moment we saw each other right before the ceremony. In that instant, all the stress of the day melts away, and you remember why you love each other.”

—–

The Green Bride Guide (GBG) has everything you need to plan a green wedding! Here you can find pictures from real green weddings, articles and advice on eco-chic decor, and a wide range of green wedding gifts including: organic bedding, Recycled Glass Dishes, and eco-friendly appliances. GBG also has the largest green wedding directory in the country, to help you connect with local vendors.

To read this article in full, please visit the Green Bride Guide. I hope you enjoyed my post. Click here if you’d like to see more Wedding Photography, View My Portfolio, or Contact Me.

If having a green wedding is important to you, it’s a good idea to choose green vendors to accommodate you on your big day. This week’s Macro Monday featured photographer, Rebecca Wilkowski, definitely belongs in the green group.  Not only is Rebecca a Certified Green Photographer, she also serves on the board of directors for Greener Photography and is a member of Green America, Green Chamber of Commerce and the Bay Area Green Business Program.

In 2006, Rebecca modified her business practices to be more environmentally friendly.  This included reevaluating her practices, technology, office work flow, services and products.  Rebecca Wilkowski Photography even offers environmentally-friendly wedding albums, canvas wall prints, and DVD folios made from recycled materials.

So, who is Rebecca and what is she all about?  Here’s what she has to say …”My background is as diverse as the people I’ve come to photograph, and includes photojournalism, commercial work, portraiture, fine art and travel photography. Weddings, however, are my first love…people are my passion! I treat each wedding as if it were my own. I spend copious amounts of time planning and preparing. I get pre-wedding jitters. I’m overwhelmed with the joy of the first kiss. I get nostalgic when the bride and her father dance. I get down and boogie with the guests on the dance floor. And, (yes, I’ll admit it), I even cry as I edit the photos from each wedding. These images….my client’s images…are that beautiful. And it is this emotion that I strive to evoke in individuals when they see my work.”

The wedding she’s sharing with us today is one with plenty of green elements.  Sarah and Anthony met in school at the Art Institute of California.  After a week of dating, Anthony asked Sarah to marry him.  She quickly said “no.” Then, she finally said “yes” … after 3 1/2 years of him asking.  They were married at the East Bay Botanical Gardens on the anniversary of Sarah’s grandparents to honor their marriage of over 50 years.

If you are looking for some fabulous inspiration for your wedding, here it is! This wedding is ecofriendly, with a touch of DIY, and a lot of fun! Along with some amazing photos, here is the story of Krista and Tim’s wedding told in their own words…

Describe any special parts of the wedding, or people who attended.
The ceremony was created surrounding the 7 foundations we wanted to nurture in our marriage: grace, honesty, generosity, respect, community, growth, and love. Our community of family and friends are a big part of what makes our lives so rich, so it meant a great deal to us to have so many people be a part of our wedding. In addition to the wedding party and officiants, we had Chuppah carriers who not only brought the Chuppah up, but stood surrounding us during the ceremony. It wasn’t supposed to be this way, but there was a strong breeze and the Chuppah wouldn’t have stayed in the holders if our community hadn’t stayed up there with us. It was a perfect accident! The Chuppah was made by Krista’s sister-in-law and sister. Krista’s nephew played guitar and her sister sang during the ceremony. Krista’s father passed away unexpectedly 6 weeks after we returned from the honeymoon, so the time we had at the wedding became more special to us, including our very non-traditional spontaneous father-daughter fast dance where my dad was “getting his groove on”. He had the entire room laughing and dancing!

Why did you choose Boa Ventura as the venue?
We looked at a lot of sites prior to Boa Ventura. We wanted something outside since we both love the outdoors. I had been to a wedding in an orchard and loved that venue. Boa Ventura had a similar feel. It is slightly rustic, with wild flowers everywhere and a lot of great little details including a bocce ball court. There were animals around the property including a cat, a horse, a few dogs, and even a few chickens in a coup. This was perfect for the relaxed, community feel we wanted to create. Another bonus was that they didn’t dictate which vendors we had to use, allowing us to create a wedding that was unique and truly embraced who we are as individuals and as a couple.

How did you choose your florist, and the particular flower types and colors?
We bought our flowers from Trader Joe’s. The store has a designated person to order flowers. I went a few weeks before the wedding and we talked about what kinds of flowers we wanted and what was in season. She ordered the type, but couldn’t guarantee the colors. The day before the wedding, she let me pick through the order to choose the types and colors we wanted. We had Van Gough Sunflowers, red, yellow, orange gerbera daisies, and celosia flowers among many other flowers. We also had mint, lavender, and roses from a friend’s garden. The morning of the wedding, myself, the bridesmaids, my sister, and other friends made the bouquets and boutonnieres. The balcony of the hotel room where we were working was overlooking the pool where some of the kids from our wedding were swimming and playing. It was a lot of fun to be around all those flowers and have our loved ones laughing below. The centerpieces on the tables were potted organic herbs planted by myself  a week before the wedding.

What drew you to your other vendors?
We chose Whiskie Bits because we wanted something unique, and they had unusual flavors such as malted milk ball and strawberry rose cupcakes. They try to use only seasonal ingredients and organic when possible. It added another original touch to the wedding.

We chose Rebecca Wilkowski Photography because Rebecca is a warm, easy to talk to person, not to mention her photography is amazing.  I used to assist wedding photographers and understood that the wrong fit for a wedding photographer can be a big issue throughout the day. Tim was a photography major in college and has an eye for good photography. We knew Rebecca would not only beautifully capture our wedding day, but she’d also be a joy to have around for our special day…..and we were correct on both accounts!

What was your favorite part of day?
Krista: Surprising Tim and dancing flamenco for him. After my dance, Tim was laughing and crying at the same time
.
Tim: Our time alone together immediately after the ceremony. The owners of the winery let us hide in their garden on a bench and enjoy a glass of wine from their own cellar and a plate of the appetizers. It gave us a chance to connect and take in the ceremony before the party began.

What advice would you give to others on their wedding day?
Take time for just the two of you on the special day! We had about 15 minutes after the wedding ceremony, and our first sighting was just the two of us w/ our photographer. It is such a private moment between the bride and groom, but is usually done in front of everyone. It was nice to have it be just between us, yet captured on film.

If you loved the story and these photos, here’s a vendor list to help you in your own wedding planning:

Photographer: Rebecca Wilkowski Photography  – Rebecca Wilkowski Photography is a proud member of Green America’s Green Business Network, Greener Photography, Green Chamber of Commerce, and the Green Bride Guide, and is available to photography weddings world wide.  Blog: www.rebeccawilkowski.com/blog and Website: www.rebeccawilkowski.com

Venue: Boa Ventura Winery in Livermore, CA.

Groom’s attire: Suit bought from Nordstrom to reuse for years to come

Bridal dress & Veil: demo dress & demo veil from J’aime Bridal & Weddings in Pleasanton, CA.

Rings: Groom’s ring was bought on ebay. Bride’s engagement ring was his mothers & great-grandmother’s wedding-antique ring from Aura Jewelers in Berkeley, CA. 

Bakery: Whiskie Bits Cupcakes used seasonal ingredients to make the scrumptious cupcakes.

Invitations: Recycled papers bought from Paper Source In Berkeley, Flax Art & Design in San Francisco, and Dick Blick’s in Berkeley. Invitations designed by bride, groom and a friend.

Center Pieces: Organic Herbs bought at Berkeley Horticulture & Westbrae Nursery and planted with Organic compost by bride and her mother

Beverages/bar: Home brewed beer, lovingly made by the bride and groom! All materials were recycled on site.

Caterer/Food: Organic Paella by Venga Paella, organic hors ‘d oeuvres made by friends

Table Linens & Decorations: Rented from Pleasanton Party Rentals in Pleasanton, Califonia. Re-used vases, candles, and candle holders from a friend’s wedding. Couple decided to rent everything instead of buy, as many of their friends had done previously, to save from more waste.

Honeymoon: Hacienda San Lucas, Ecolodge in Copan, Honduras. This lodge is amazing with organic foods and organic coffee that is grown up the hill from the lodge.

Bridal Gift: Antique Earrings from Aura Jewelers in Berkeley, CA 

——

The Bay Area Bride Guide is your local resource for wedding planning in the San Francisco Bay Area. Stacy Yamaoka, the founder of Bay Area Bride Guide, is also the co-founder of Marry Me Live. Marry Me Live is a live wedding streaming and wedding webcasting service that enables wedding couples to share their wedding day LIVE with family and friends around the world. Marry Me Live empowers wedding couples to “Go Green. Live Stream.”

Click here to read this article in full on the Bay Area Bride Guide. I hope you enjoyed my post. Click here if you’d like to see more Wedding Photography, View My Portfolio, or Contact Me.

What’s Your Shade of Green?: Bring your environmentalism into your business

by Rebecca Wilkowski and Dawn Tacker

Americans’ interest in things environmentally friendly is booming: from “green weddings” and BPA-free water bottles to solar electric panels and hybrid cars. The photographic industry, long cited for the overuse of packaging, paper and toxic chemicals, is growing a little greener thanks to the nonprofit Greener Photography initiative. By participating in the organization’s certification program, photographers can exhibit their concern for the environment in their marketing and branding.

A member-supported organization, Greener Photography strives to mitigate the environmental impact of the photographic industry by educating photographers, suppliers and the general public about the benefits of going green. In the United States, there are over 155,000 professional photographers and 14,000 photo-related companies generating revenues over $7 billion annually. In just 10 years, annual online photo imaging revenues have grown from $10 million to $7.8 billion. These statistics translate into the largest ecological footprint in photography’s 200-year history, and the opportunity for Greener Photography to make a real difference.

Greener Photography provides photographers well researched information and a roadmap for green success. Through the organization’s certification program, member professional photographers are publicly recognized for their efforts in lessening their impact on the environment. To achieve certification, the photographer must meet strict standards of green business practices. There are three tiers of certification available to accommodate photographers at different stages of greening their business.

Basic level members must demonstrate a sincere effort to integrate a minimum number of greener business practices.

Premiere level members must demonstrate that they’ve integrated greener business practices, as well as greening their product lines.

Leadership Circle members must demonstrate an advanced commitment to greener business practices and products, and be leaders of change in their community as well as the photographic industry.

Greener Photography certification is open to all professional photographers. Branding your business as eco-friendly not only reflects your own environmentalism, but allows photographers to reach an increasing market of like-minded consumers. Supporting Greener Photography helps to advocate for change in our industry. Find more information on Greener Photography’s certification program.

Greener Photography aims to be the single most up-to-date and reliable resource for eco-conscious photographers, vendors and photo-enthusiasts. Plans for 2010 include the launch of a new interactive website, expanding relationships with manufacturers, reaching a national audience through education and advocacy, and growing the organization’s international network of members and supporters. Learn  more about GP’s accomplishments and future goals.

Rebecca Wilkowski is a San Francisco-based photojournalist and wedding photographer. She is a Communications Officer and Board of Directors member for Greener Photography.

Dawn Tacker is a San Diego-based portrait photographer (Eos Photography) and co-founder of Greener Photography.

To check out this article online, please visit Professional Photographer Magazine. For more than 100 years, Professional Photographer, the official magazine of Professional Photographers of America, has helped readers advance careers in the photographic industry. Each issue contains practical yet cutting-edge lessons in the artistic, business, and technological aspects of professional photography. No other magazine offers a more influential presentation of the people, trends, products, and photographs changing and defining the portrait, wedding and commercial photography landscape. Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the world’s largest not-for-profit association for professional photographers, with almost 19,000 members in 64 countries. It seeks to increase its members’ business savvy as well as broaden their creative scope. It aims to advance their careers by providing them with all the tools for success.