There are some weddings that feel extra special to photograph — the kind where you’re not just documenting a beautiful day, but witnessing someone you love step into a whole new chapter of life. This gorgeous Petaluma wedding at Rosewood Events was exactly that for me.
The bride and I were roommates during our sophomore year at Sonoma State University, and getting to photograph her wedding to Matt felt incredibly full circle. Back in our SSU days, we spent countless nights hanging out in our little jungle of a patio, laughing in the living room, talking in each other’s bedrooms for hours, helping each other through hard days, and making memories I still think about all these years later.
One of my favorite memories with her still makes me laugh every single time. There was one day I was feeling down, and she burst into my room dramatically singing, “Give my regards to Broadway, remember me to Harold Square!” — a line from Bring It On when a guy accidentally auditions for the cheer squad thinking it’s theater auditions. We laughed for HOURS. It was so ridiculous and so perfectly her. Somehow during our college years, we also randomly started saying “MERRR” to each other and occasionally using it as a nickname… and honestly, neither of us knows how that started.
That’s one of the reasons this wedding meant so much to me. It wasn’t just beautiful — it was deeply personal.
Their outdoor wedding in Petaluma was absolutely stunning. Sonoma County always delivers the dreamiest wedding backdrops, but what made this day unforgettable was the love and joy surrounding these two. Seeing her with Matt made perfect sense. Some couples just fit effortlessly together, and these two truly do. The way he looks at her, supports her, and laughs with her made it obvious to everyone there that they found something incredibly special.
One of the sweetest parts of the day was being reunited with her family and so many of our Sonoma State friends. It felt like this beautiful collision of past and present — celebrating not only who she is now, but all the seasons that brought her here.
The dance floor was packed all night, full of energy, laughter, and the kind of celebration you never want to end. And one of my favorite moments of the entire wedding day was hopping into a side-by-side with the two of them and riding across the property for their private sunset portraits. The light was absolutely gorgeous, the scenery felt straight out of a Northern California wedding dream, and it gave them a chance to soak in a few quiet moments together away from the crowd.
As a Petaluma wedding photographer, these are the moments I treasure most — not just the beautiful details or epic landscapes, but the stories, history, friendships, and genuine connections behind them.
Photographing this wedding was such an honor. I’m endlessly grateful I got to stand beside my college roommate on one of the biggest days of her life and document the incredible love she found with Matt. Watching someone you care about so deeply marry the person who is clearly their perfect match is something really special.
MERRR forever. 🤍
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That’s me! <3
