Vanessa and Dan wanted to jump in the ocean together on the morning of their wedding, and of course I loved the idea of being invited to document it! Especially since cold water plunges are one of my favorite things about living on the Northern California coast. We met by the Great Highway and walked through the dunes to Ocean Beach for their short and sweet plunge. I don’t think there’s a more energizing way to begin the day. :)
Afterwards, I drove across the Bay Bridge to meet them at Hacienda de la Flores in Moraga, a gem in the far east bay. The Spanish style house is immersed in nature and surrounded by gardens and pine trees. There are lots of options for ceremony spots, but I loved that they chose to marry in front of a gorgeous old-growth tree, no decor needed. The entire day felt relaxed, intentional, and fun… which I think is a pretty good reflection of Vanessa and Dan themselves. I loved being a participant in this day.
I’m grateful for these kind words from V + D: “We really appreciated every aspect of working with Rachelle as our wedding photographer - from thoughtful planning, to her calm and supportive presence the day of our wedding, and ultimately to the beautiful photographs she created. It was important to me to really enjoy and trust the person who would be with us during such special and intimate moments and I felt that 100% with Rachelle. When we received the photos, I was in awe of how much of the joy and emotion of the day she was able to capture. They bring forth so many moments that could have otherwise been lost in the whirl of the day and bring us so much joy on a regular and ongoing basis.”
BEHIND-THE-SCENES ♡ venue: Hacienda de la Flores ~ catering: Thai Rice Spoon ~ music: DJ Snick at Night ~ hair & makeup: Dreamcatcher Artistry ~ photography: Rachelle Derouin [p.s. If you're planning a wedding at Hacienda de la Flores, contact me and I’d be happy to share more about my experience there.]
