Mountain Winery Wedding Photography~Emily & Ryan

I have no doubt that Emily and Ryan’s friends and family will be remembering their wedding for a long time! It was just one of those weddings that seemed to have it all. A handsome bride and groom, who are also equally kind and caring. A ceremony site with sweeping mountains as a background. A reception on an outdoor patio with a view that did not disappoint! Add amazing weather, friends and family, great food and wine, a fantastic band and well- it was a wedding for the record books!

With tanks this cute, you had to have a team pic! #shankitoff Look how sweet, the two Moms helping each other get dressed!It was then time for Emily to get dressed and she was so excited!Emily’s Romona Keveza gown was stunning and I couldn’t imagine anyone else looking better in it than Emily!
The guy were getting ready just across the hallway and did what guys do best… stand around and wait til the very last minute to get dressed! Kind of sickening how they easily look so handsome!Ryan had a little help from both his brothers and his dad!Finishing touches and Ryan was off to get in position for his First Look with Emily! They were so excited to see each other, it was adorable!Ryan, looking so sharp in his Hugo Boss suit!What a wedding party! Don’t miss Emily’s nephew in Ryan’s arms!The guys!One of them was so cute he needed a solo picture!The beautiful ladies!!! So pretty in their J. Crew dresses!The flowers were the perfect compliment to the ladies and also the surroundings of the venue. After some pictures, the wedding party headed back while the guests took their seats. Ryan and Emily took this opportunity to toast their friends with the best!The Meadow is the Mountain Winery’s newest ceremony location. In fact, Emily & Ryan were the first to get married there! I’d say that’s a pretty amazing way to kick off a new ceremony location!Ryan is escorted down the aisle by his Mom and Dad.Emily is escorted down by her Mom and Dad too.Even with having a First Look, Ryan is overcome with emotion by seeing his beautiful bride walking down the aisle!
Look at that view! Just 5 minutes prior the sky was completely overcast. It was still pretty but as the ceremony started, beams of sunshine peeked out and perfectly lit up the mountains, the chuppa and Emily & Ryan. It was sensational! This moment. When Judge Jamie Jacobs-May, Emily’s lifelong family friend asked Emily and Ryan to look out at all of those who came to support them.
Emily recited her personalized vows to Ryan. I’m thrilled personalized vows are becoming more and more popular. It adds such a meaningful element to the ceremony.Grandmas were there looking so pretty! Emily’s on the left and Ryan’s on the right.
Emily listens as Ryan says his vows to her. How amazing is this ceremony platform created out of old wine barrels by ReWINEd Designs?! So clever and what a great tie in to the vineyard!Exchanging of the rings….
…smashing of the glass……and KISSing of the bride!!!!!! Whew, a kiss and a dip- that’s the way to do it Ryan!Married!!!!
I love this picture of them making their way back up the stairs- so much happiness!How adorable is this, like they are are sitting on a front porch! But you know… in really nice clothes! About 20 feet off to the right there were some tall grasses that were perfectly being illuminated by the late day sun. Ryan carefully carried Emily into the center of it all so we could get some photographs amongst them. I’m so happy Emily was up for it- I love the way they both look so sun kissed! California bride and groom at it’s finest!This picture brings me right back to how it was that day. It had been so hot in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Even the day before was miserably hot. But Emily and Ryan won the weather lottery, their day was perfect. Warm but not hot with a slight breeze and some incredible sunshine! They deserved it!Family pictures ran so smoothly that we even had extra time to jump in the vines for a few pictures! Then Emily and Ryan surprised everyone showing up at the tail end of their cocktail hour!The smallest member of the wedding party found himself a pretty lady friend!While everyone was at cocktail hour the finishing touches were being done to the patio. The Meadow was an amazing way to start the day- the patio with this view- was the exclamation mark!!!! Wait til later- it just keeps getting better!Yummy signature drinks!Even cute flip flops and shawl’s- these two thought of everything!I loved the enthusiasm on their faces as they got announced into their wedding reception!They then went straight into their first dance……then a dip and a kiss again! The double! Extra points Ryan!Ryan then danced with his Mom with lots of full hearts watching.Emily then danced with her Dad who is a man of many dance moves!So sweet, Ryan and his new mother-in-law watch together.Livewire did an amazing job getting everyone dancing!The Hora! Can’t this just be mandatory at every wedding- no matter the religion?!And up they go! I love the wild raucous energy of this tradition!
Still smiling- what a happy kiddo!Although the dance floor was already in full swing, it was time for speeches. Emily’s Dad started it off.Followed by Ryan’s Dad.Next up was Emily’s brother and her sister in law!Although the toasts were funny, sweet and interesting- it was hard to ignore Mother Nature trying to get some attention too! This day had more than just perfect weather-it also had a beautiful sunset. But just wait- it still gets better- give it some time. Back to the toasts!Next was Emily’s Maid of Honor. Andddd about halfway through her toast Mother Nature gifted everyone with a peek of the full moon!! It’s not often you get to see the moon rise so dramatically like this. And with the sky almost dark now, Ryan’s brother gave the last toast and didn’t have to compete with the show Mother Nature was putting on!
It’s not hard to get the dance floor moving again when it’s lead by Emily’s Dad who was now sporting a t-shirt made for the wedding!I look at this picture and instantly break out into a song in my head….”Dancing in the Moonlight” Haha, I wish this blog had audio!And just to rev it up a notch… a dancing version of spin the bottle!Conga line time!Love this sweet moment between Emily and her Mom! Emily’s Mom played a huge part in planning this wedding as Emily and Ryan live down south. The day was perfection and I’m sure Emily’s Mom was beyond relieved!Grandma getting her groove on!The joy exuding from Emily and Ryan was so contagious. Their smiles are so bright and I loved how they just kept squeezing each other throughout the night!
More toasts? No. Serenading. Ryan’s brother started to serenade the newlyweds with “Friends in Low Places.”Everyone had so much fun chiming in, singing the words….”TAKE YOUR SHIRT OFF!” Wait those arent the words! Yet they were said repeatedly until..
Well until the crowd got what they wanted, Ryan’s brother serenading without a shirt on!Since Emily and Ryan’s family had just basically merged, Emily’s brother could not possibly let Ryan’s brother sing alone… topless. Right? And what’s better than one topless singing brother?Two topless singing brothers!!!
And the crowd went WILD!!!!!!!!!
Emily and Ryan, your wedding was a blast! From your incredible love, to the prettiness of the ceremony at The Meadow to the extraordinary amount of fun on the dance floor! Keep up those dips and kisses and extra tight squeezes!