MORGAN AND JACOBS SUMMER WEDDING BENEATH AN OLD OAK

The California Central Coast is a magical place to have your wedding, more quaint and affordable than Napa and just as incredible in terms of wine country. The weather is temperate, the grapes and hills are lush, and you are only 20 minutes away from the Calirfonia beaches. Ella’s Vineyard is an elegant and rustic wedding venue in the foothills of Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. It boasts a gorgeous huge ancestral oak tree to say vows under and a beautiful white rustic barn for your reception. Ella’s Vineyard offers an unparalleled setting for weddings – ocean views, ancient oak trees, majestic mountains and miles of sun-drenched vineyards. It’s easy to see why Morgan and Jacob chose to be married here.

GETTING READY IN STYLE AT THE WHITEWASHED FARMHOUSE

Getting ready side by side but apart is a really great aspect of Ella’s Vineyard- the house is really a rare find in terms of getting ready suites. It’s so important to have the right location for your bridal portraits and getting ready candids with your wedding party in terms of the photos and just how easy it makes the early part of your day. The farmhouse is absolutely gigantic and both bride and groom and their wedding party have more than enough room to spread out. It can be rented for the whole weekend for family and friends to stay in, making it so easy for everyone to get ready right on site. The house has huge windows and is full of natural light, and as you can see by how beautiful Morgan and her bridesmaids look in their getting ready and bridal pictures, having that great light is such an asset. Finding a wedding venue with a house that can be stayed in for the weekend and has more than enough room for your family is a huge plus in terms of a wedding venue.

BRIDESMAIDS IN BEIGE AND GROOMSEMEN IN NAVY BLUE

Morgan is such a dreamy bride, and her dress is just absolutely amazing- chic, modern, feminine, and classy. This lovely California bride prepared for her day in the sun drenched master suite with huge windows and a gorgeous stand alone mirror. She wrote her vows and had a super sweet first look with her father. Her bridesmaids wore soft silk dresses in light beige and looked absolutely stunning as they helped her get dressed in her classic and chic wedding gown. Morgan is modelesque in her beauty and I admit I was wowed at the chance to photograph such a beautiful bride. Morgan wore a delicate heirloom pin in her hair and a long veil that we had so much fun with in the pictures, especially later at sunset as bride and groom snuggled beneath it for a dreamy iconic kiss.

Jacob and his groomsmen readied right next door making it simple for me to dash in between bride and groom for fun candids as he laughed with his groomsmen and his family. His beautiful young daughter also peeked in and out between the couple, super cute in her peach dress and tulle and excited for her important part in their day. His groomsmen wore navy blue suits with matching socks and pale yellow ties that coordinated with the bridesmaids in their pale yellow and gold silk. Their flowers were so beautiful and bright, with pinks, corals, oranges, white and green eucalyptus. Perfect for a summer vineyard wedding. I always love to do getting ready flat lays of the bouquet, boutonnières, and other details and accessories, and I had such fun photographing their amazing florals of blush, orange, pink, white and green roses.

SAYING YOUR VOWS BENEATH A GIANT ANCESTOR TREE

Morgan and Jacob said their views under the cool shade pf the giant 400 year old oak tree that sits surrounded by rolling hills and just beneath the reception barn. The guests are taken down to the ceremony site, which sits lower than the barn reception venue and hillside house, in a big shuttle, and it’s really fun to watch the Paso Robles vineyards go by as you sit and take in the view on the short ride down and up again. On the way back I stole a special moment with the bride and groom as they looked out the window at the view- I love to capture special candids moments like these, they are so meaningful in pictures. The ancestor oak tree is just something you have to see to really take in the full beauty of it. It provides shade on a warm summers day and gorgeous light, then smell of summer wafting through it’s leaves and it just feels like being in a beautiful dream.

SUCCULENTS, STRING LIGHTS, FAMILY STYLE FARM TABLES

Morgan made custom DIY succulent centerpieces for each table, long wooden farm tables where their guests shared a fun and intimate meal. The danced the night away in the rustic barn that became a dance floor, under string lights and in front of the built in bar. Even grandma got busy on the dance floor. We snuck away from the party for a few moments for Morgan and Jacob to take incredible sunset photos in the vines on the top of the property, and they had so much fun soaking in the last of the suns rays laughing, dancing, and just relishing in the moment. It was a day I will certainly never forget, and if you are looking for inspiration for our own California Central Coast wedding, look no further then this beautiful day in the vines.

Here are the Paso Robles and Slo wedding vendors that helped make Morgan and Jacob’s day so amazing!

Venue: Ella’s Vineyard

Coordination: Taffy Gonzalez with All Traditions

Photographer: Leana Myra Photography

Assistant Photographer: Jaeden B Photography

Florist: Bloom n Grow

Makeup and Hair: Tami Bernard Makeup

DJ: Epic Entertainment Slo

Rentals: Got You Covered Rentals