Kennolyn | Marisa & Martin

Marisa and Martin got married at Kennolyn, tucked into the redwoods above Soquel in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and the whole day carried that hush and hum feeling only a forest venue can give you. Their palette was burgundy, blush and warm peach, and it showed up first in the florals waiting on the ceremony arch before a single guest had sat down.

While the flowers were going up, Martin was getting ready in his tux with his groomsmen, straightening bow ties and cracking each other up in the trees near the deck.

Then came the moment that gets me every time I look back at these frames, Marisa's dad seeing her in her dress for the first time. He covered his mouth, she covered hers, and by the time they hugged it out neither of them was holding it together, the good kind of undone.

Marisa and Martin had their own first look a little while later, out among the redwoods. He kept his back turned until she reached him, and when he finally turned around I watched the whole day shift for both of them.

We wandered the grounds for portraits after that, Marisa's bouquet a mix of burgundy peonies and blush garden roses that echoed the ceremony arch. They walked hand in hand under the redwoods, and we pulled Marisa's parents in for a few family frames along one of Kennolyn's quiet garden paths.

The ceremony itself was on Kennolyn's wooden deck, under a circular arch dressed in the same burgundy and blush blooms, redwoods rising up behind it. Marisa walked up in her veil, Martin waiting with his hand pressed to his heart, and their officiant led them through vows that had Marisa wiping tears before they even got to the rings.

Then the kiss, the arms in the air, the whole deck erupting. I love this part of every wedding, the second everyone stops holding their breath.

The reception moved to the terrace as the light went gold, long tables set simple in white linens with a floral runner along the sweetheart table. Toasts went long and funny, and Marisa and Martin spent most of them cracking up together on the little tufted sofa at their sweetheart table.

We slipped away once more before sunset for a few last portraits, Marisa's veil catching the breeze under the palms and pines while the golden hour light did all the work for us.

Marisa changed into a white lace jumpsuit for the dancing, and once the string lights came on over the pergola she and Martin barely left each other's arms. The party that followed was pure chaos in the best way, complete with Martin juggling for a crowd of laughing guests and a dance floor packed under the lights until the night wound down. Marisa and Martin, thank you for letting me spend your wedding day with you at Kennolyn. That first look with your dad, that kiss under the arch, all of it is exactly why I love this job.

The Dream Team

• Venue: Kennolyn Events
• Photography: De Joy Photography
• Florals: Willow & Magnolia
• Catering: Kennolyn Events
• DJ entertainment: SIM Events
• Videography: Estrella Films Monterey
• Desserts: Sabores del Sur
• HMU: Blush Hair and Makeup Design