Dana & Daniel // Paso Robles Wedding

After meeting in San Luis Obispo & getting engaged in Italy, the Joneses found their dream wedding venue just 25 minutes up the road from their home. On a warm September afternoon, at a gorgeous sprawling oak-speckled Paso Robles property (RIP Fallen Oaks Estate - this was their last wedding season), Dana & Daniel became husband and wife.

This couple’s wedding was positively overflowing with soooo much love & the BEST energy from friends & family. This was a clear reflection of the couple, who are two kind-hearted and community-driven sweethearts with a calm-playful-magnetic connection that you can feel from a mile away.

Dana is a teacher, and her flawlessly executed wedding day showed her immaculate organizational skill, attention to detail, & leadership. That sounds silly—like the wedding was some sort of job interview—but I’m just so rarely a part of events that flow so seamlessly! When I arrived, Dana was getting her makeup done but ALSO hosting fun games for her almost one-dozen bridesmaids. At every turn, her girl gang knew exactly where they had to be & when, and were SO enthusiastic and stoked to be a part of Dana’s party. I’ve known Dana for over half my life, and being a part of her wedding was equal parts heart-filling and career-affirming. Getting to serve & love on friends I adore by capturing their wedding photos is such a fulfulling perk of my job. My front-row seat to Dana & Daniel’s day was priceless.

Daniel is one of the kindest, most enormous-hearted men I’ve ever met, and I was so thrilled to see that Dana found someone so perfectly suited for her. He is generous, patient, flexible, and loves Dana with a captivating fervor. One of the sweetest moments of the day was when D & D were taking photos with their handsome dog-child Otis. Daniel was holding their pup in his arms & looked over at Dana. Suddenly, he was overcome with emotion and started to cry. Dana started laughing hysterically (that’s how she shows emotion), and I was just so in awe of the groom’s beautiful outward display of overwhelming happiness. In a world where men aren’t always the biggest fan of taking photos, Daniel & his groomsmen were exceptional. They were SUCH a joy to work with, bringing silliness and warmth to the day at every turn.

Top to bottom, this day was just a treat. Everyone simply had FUN the entire day through every photo, event, and moment. It was what I dream of for all of my clients. The 74º sun was shining, the couple’s vows brought tears to almost all 200 guests’s eyes, and we were blessed by the wedding gods with the DREAMIEST sunset. Running around in the hills with the newlyweds after dinner, I couldn’t believe how the sun was peeking through—like I somehow photoshopped it RIGHT where I wanted it—and I remember saying “I think that was the best light of my life?” while we were golf carting back. After sunset pix, it was time for the ~table photo olympics~!

Dana & Daniel wanted photos with all of their cherished guests, so we planned to play Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” the 10 minute version and RACE them from table to table for quick group photos. During the song, almost all of the 20-35 year old guests were scream-singing the lyrics together. The bride & groom & I zipped between tables and the energy was truly immaculate. It was a really cute little human moment I’ll never forget.. in the YEAR of Taylor Swift.

After toasts & special dances (omg—Daniel danced to “Cheerleader” with his ICONIC mom and it was the cutest thing of all time) the couple’s dance floor got going & was ON FIRE. Dana is famously a FORCE on any dance floor, and she spend the evening oscillating between friend groups & her new husband and dancing her face off. I couldn’t stop smiling & cackling while capturing this reception; from Dana’s bridesmaid power squatting her (literally) to guests enjoying ice-cream cones while dancing—it was all a dream.

Congratulations to the Joneses!