Summertime Mission Ranch Wedding

I’ve wanted to photograph a Mission Ranch wedding in Carmel for some time now. When I was contacted by this sweet couple about their Fall wedding there I knew we were going to be creating some magic.

Megan + Jonathan live locally in the Bay Area and hold Carmel in a special place in their heart which is why they vacation in the area frequently. It’s no wonder why they chose this stunning venue to profess their love to one another in front of family and friends. Jonathan grew up across the pond in London so the majority of his guests flew into town from the UK. I’m such a fan of the British accent that I would talk to any of his guests just to hear them speak.

Boasting country flair, a gorgeous assortment of local foliage, and a collection of happy (and hungry) sheep, Mission Ranch provided to most beautiful backdrop for the day. Megan and her bridesmaids got ready in the morning in an adorable, bougainvillea-covered cottage on the property while Jonathan, his groomsmen, and his out-of-town family stayed in the Farmhouse. Megan + Jonathan wanted to keep things traditional and not do a first look so we took special care in the time leading up to the ceremony that they didn’t get any unexpected peeks of one another.

The bridal party kept it classy with navy blue and accents of blush. The ceremony was held in the meadow overlooking the sheep and guests could shade themselves from the afternoon sun with the pink umbrellas that were laid out. When Megan walked down, covered in the warm afterglow of daylight all the guests were smiling from ear to ear and Jonathan became teary eyed as he watched his bride-to-be approach him down the aisle.

While the guests enjoyed cocktail hour, Megan + Jonathan snuck away with me to the mission down the street. There we captured their portraits in front of exquisite Spanish style architecture. Everyone was seated soon after in the dining room for the reception where gold accents and classic white flower arrangements could be found throughout. The speeches were a great combination of heartfelt words and hilarious stories from the couples’ past. After dinner everyone headed across the venue to the dance floor where the couple shared their first song together as husband and wife and the guests enjoyed cocktails and danced the night away.