Kaitlyn & Jonathan were married at Oakmont Golf Course, in Santa Rosa. This was my 3rd wedding at Oakmont, and I was also the MOH in a wedding there last year. It’s always nice to shoot at a location you’re comfortable and familiar with! The ceremony & reception were absolutely gorgeous, and I just loved Kaitlyn’s vision and colors for her big day. All the gold was absolutely stunning, and complimented the venue so well! Here are a few of my favorite (and one that’s just “memorable”) moments from the day, that I just had to mention:
–Kate had a gift for Jonathan, that one of his groomsmen gave to him. He was so emotional when he got it, and we were all trying to respect his space while also capturing the moment (and, wondering what the heck it was!)…turns out it was a pin with photos of Jonathan’s Uncle & Grandfather, both who had passed away before the wedding. The groomsman told Jonathan he had to have ALL his family with him as he gave it to him, and we were all touched. Not only was Jonathan choking back tears, but myself, my second shooter Scout, and the videographer were all fighting them back ourselves!
–Kaitlyn & Jonathan already have a son, Jaxson, who is absolutely adorable. Kaitlyn had told me before-hand that they were expecting their second child, and that Jaxson would walk down the aisle with a sign that read, “Ring Bearer today, Big Brother in February”. Well, Jaxson had other ideas so they realized that wasn’t really gonna work. So, they asked their officiant to announce it to their guests during the ceremony. What an awesome moment! Everyone applauded, jaws dropped, and tears fell. It was truly special!
–After the ceremony concluded, Kaitlyn & Jonathan walked over to a side area to have a couple moments to themselves before starting photos. As I was walking up, I heard Jonathan telling Kate to smile and that he needed a picture of how beautiful she looked. When Kate said, “That’s what DJ’s for!” he responded that he couldn’t wait, and just HAD to have one of his own on his phone because she was so stunning. Holy sweetness! I about melted.
–During the reception, Kate & Jonathan had another surprise. It was an Aunt’s birthday that day, so they had her sit in a chair in the middle of the dance floor while everyone serenaded her with “Happy Birthday”, and a cake with candles was brought out for her! It truly shows how thoughtful and selfless these two are, to include someone’s birthday in their big day.
–Okay, this moment isn’t a “favorite”, but was definitely a first for me… as we walked up to do the cake cutting towards the end of the night, we discovered that someone had already cut into, and eaten, a piece of the wedding cake! Luckily Kate & Jonathan were so easy going, and overwhelmed with happiness from their day, that they really didn’t seem to care. We spun it around and cut into the other side. I know some brides (and grooms) would have flipped, so I totally appreciate their willingness to just go with the flow. I think Jonathan even said something to the effect of, “Wow, that’s savage!”
Kate & Jonathan, your love is truly an inspiration. I loved working with you, and spending time with you guys and your families and friends. Thank you for having us for your big day!
Cheers to forever!
*Image quality reduced for faster load times
