northern california wedding – Alex W Photography

Switzer Farm Wedding

You need to drop what you’re doing and come take a peek at this gorgeous Switzer Farm wedding. This newly opened venue is located in Westport, CA, and made for the perfect backdrop for Jen and Andrew’s wedding day. The house was originally built in 1884 by the Switzer brothers and was restored in 2015. Before the renovation, world-renowned photographer Ansel Adams actually photographed the property in 1964! The property overlooks the Mendocino Coast and would be a dream for any couple looking for a unique venue.

We flew up for the weekend to document the festivities. After seeing their wedding photos below, we have no doubt you’ll want a coastal wedding as well!

Getting Ready

Jen and Andrew rented out the entire property for the weekend. Their bridal party stayed on-site and enjoyed the in-house chef and got ready alongside them on the wedding day. While Andrew and his groomsmen prepared downstairs, Jen and her bridesmaids were getting pampered in the upstairs suite. All of the ladies toasted Jen on marrying Andrew and Even their three dogs were included on the wedding day. After Jen finished with hair and makeup she slipped into her dress for portraits. Her mom was by her side to assist and capture some sweet moments in the process.

Ceremony

The ceremony was held on the property’s lawn overlooking the cliffs and the Pacific Ocean. Floral arrangements composed of pampas grass, spray roses, and fountain grass lined the aisle way. There was a flower-adorned wooden arbor at the altar for Jen and Andrew to stand under that framed the coastal rocks perfectly. Soon after the guests arrived, they were ushered down the hillside to their seats. Jen was walked down by her mom and Andrew was accompanied by his pup. After a heartfelt exchange of vows, the couple sealed their marriage with a kiss. Soon after, they made their way down the aisle with their dog in tow as their guests cheered them on.

Cocktail Hour

Guests made their way back up to the house for cocktail hour and to enjoy the sunset. Fresh oysters and handmade signature cocktails were served for everyone to enjoy. The most inviting lounge area was designed in the lower courtyard located beneath the main deck. While heading over to the lounge area with drinks and appetizers in hand, everyone stopped off at the welcome table to write in Jen + Andrew’s guest book.

Reception

Following cocktail hour, the reception space on the main lawn was opened to all the guests. Dinner was set to be served at an alfresco dining space beneath the stars. The tables were decorated with soft blue hues and gilded silverware. Loose blooms and floral centerpieces could be found throughout. Alongside the floral arrangements were the guests’ place settings written on agate. The sweetheart table sat at the head of the lawn surrounded by pampas grasses, overlooking the guests.

Guests soon made their way to their seats and the bridal party was about to make their grand entrance. Everyone stood, cheering on Jen and Andrew as they made their way to the dance floor. The two shared their first dance as husband and wife with views of the sunset over the Pacific. Meanwhile, their closest friends and family watched with adoration as the couple swayed, spun, and dipped one another.

Sunset Romantics

We absconded for a few minutes to capture a few more portraits before the sunset. We visited the home’s garden and captured the pair as they walked the property. After visiting the lounge area down in the courtyard, we headed back to the reception for dinner and a night full of dancing.

Guests raised their glasses and toasted one another during the speeches for the couple.
Jen and Andrew served one another bites of wedding cake while laughing and dancing into the night.

Photography | Alex W Photography

Planning | Two Roads Event Co.

Venue | Switzer Farm

Florals | Little Boy Flowers

Hair + Makeup | Megan Cary Artistry

Video | FonD Productions

Band | Lucky Devils Band

DJ | All Ears

Rentals | Bright Event Rentals

Film Lab | Indie Film Lab

I have been eagerly anticipating Mina + Joe getting married. When I initially spoke with Mina and she told me that she would be having a timeless Stanford wedding I could hardly contain myself! I knew that this was going to be a classic affair. You got to see a glimpse of their impeccable style earlier this year on the blog when I photographed their San Francisco engagement at the Sutro Baths.
What really touched me about these two is how truly in love they are and that their focus of the day was on their family.

As seen in Style Me Pretty.

I spent the morning photographing Mina and her bridesmaids’ gorgeous details in the Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto. The bright and airy suite was the perfect backdrop for Mina’s accessories. We headed downstairs from the suite to the gorgeous lobby for some bridal party photos. Filled with natural sunlight that poured in from the expansive windows, this was the perfect compliment for such a great-looking group of people.

We soon left the hotel and headed out to Stanford Memorial Court. Boasting classic architecture, warm stone columns, and gorgeous cascading ivy, this set the scene for Mina + Joe’s first look. Their love for one another is so real and palpable that it’s hard not to have a smile on your face when you’re around them. We spent the rest of our time there exploring the campus, taking advantage of the golden natural light.

Their ceremony was held at a local church that had the most gorgeous window behind the altar that exposed the giant redwood trees outside. We took the bridal party there after the “I do’s” for some nature portraits and then returned back to the Stanford Faculty Club for the reception. Mina was carried in Joe’s arms for the grand entrance, by far the best way for a groom to introduce his bride. During dinner, Joe and Mina gave heartfelt speeches to their friends and family and shared a song with their parents on the dance floor. Everyone danced the night away and Mina even managed to surprise Joe with a surprise dance performance of her own. I had the absolute best time with these two and can’t wait to return up North for another Stanford wedding!