Tyla & Scott // Santa Rosa Backyard Wedding
Tyla & Scott met a few years ago while Scott was working at a local bar. He caught Tyla’s eye, and she told her friend that she refused to leave the bar without his number—a hilarious and telling display of her confidence & forwardness. The two hit it off and started dating shortly after, and their relationship grew as they shared experiences, travels, and quality time together. Then, about two years ago, Scott sent me a random email with the subject: “SARA LOOK AT THIS!!!” Attached to the email was a photo of the engagement ring he bought for Tyla. My pal found his gal!!!
I’ve known Scott since high-school, and we became fast friends our senior year. In a crazy time full of life transitions and unpredictability, we laughed constantly & made light of each day to fight the fact that we were growing up and everything around us was changing. We’ve stayed friends for over 10 years now (dang we’re old), and I’m so thrilled I got to help capture this beautiful time in his life with his perfect lady. My work reaches a whole new level of joy when I get to photograph my friends.
When I met Tyla, everything about their relationship made sense. Scott is a kooky, carefree dude with the whimsy of Peter Pan, and Tyla is his perfect complement. She is goofy, beautiful, unconditionally loving, patient as a saint, and sweet as a peach. Let’s just say that Scott got lucky when Tyla snagged his number all those years ago.
Since Scott and I have stayed close friends, I walked alongside this couple as they planned their wedding over the past two years. Between dinners, venue visits, their epic engagement session, and endless texts, I became pretty personally invested in making sure their day was absolutely perfect. When their wedding date finally arrived, I was CRAZY excited to be a part of their celebration.
Due to flawless planning (BIG fat shout-out my girl Tiffany), perfect weather, gorgeous florals by Camarillo Flower Shop, dozens of loving family and friends in attendance, and by virtue of them just being the most care-free & cool couple ever, their entire day went off without a single hitch… except for them.. getting hitched.. y’know.. (I’ll see my way out.)
Tyla STUNNED in her absolutely gorgeous floral detailed gown. It was my favorite dress I’d ever seen—no joke—and it fit her like a fairytale. Her first look with her bridal party was emotional & exciting, her first look with her dad made every person in the room cry, and her first look with Scott as she walked down the aisle brought the BIGGEST smile and tear to her groom’s eyes.
Their ceremony was lovely as could be, and Tyla could not stop crying until she laughed, and laughing until she cried. Their guests were pretty much on same page, giggling and wiping tears throughout their vows, exchange of rings, and first kiss as a married couple.
Their reception was the party of the century: complete with delicious Mexican food, heartfelt + sidesplittingly funny toasts from their loved ones, enough alcohol to float a catamaran on, a couple hundred dollars of late-night Taco Bell, and a freakin’ FIRE dance floor. Their people came to PARTY, and that’s just what they did in honor of this sweet couple.
I had two favorite parts of their day. First, when we were about to take some sunset portraits, Scott casually grabbed a viking hat off the photo booth table and put it on without comment. Initially, we obviously thought to tell him to take it off.. but then I realized: this is Scott. He is hilarious and silly and weird, and also loves Vikings for some reason.. so I told him to wait ONE second while we took a few formal portraits, and then INSISTED he put it back on to take a few more personality portraits. Tyla was on board and we were cracking up. They’re some of my favorite pictures from the entire day.
My second favorite moment of their wedding was during their reception, as I was chatting with Tyla and her wedding planner. We were casually talking, and I kind of just said, “how ARE you?!” to take the bride’s temperature on how the day was from her perspective. Tyla looked out at the dance floor, paused, and replied in a soft voice.. “I AM JUST. SO. HAPPY.”
And that’s the dream.
Congratulations to Scott & Tyla, two of my favorite people on planet earth whose friendship I cherish so deeply and whose love is incredibly fierce. I know that they will have a wonderful life together, filled with boundless laughter and endless ridiculousness. Here’s to you, cuties!!!
