ars magna studio – photography blog

in vino veritas

[or amo, amas, amat]

And they love wine, and good food and joyous dancing. They love each other, sharing their lives with each other and their families. They stand a little in awe of each other, at having found each other.  There were authentic tears of happiness, eyes glossy with love. It was a California wedding; a bit of the Southern California in a spectacular Northern California landscape.

Both the ceremony and the reception took place on Boot Hill at the Kunde Estate Winery.  A.’s brother played the guitar.  Earlier in the day I found him and A.’s mom practicing their harmonies in the backyard of the house while the bride prepped. In the shade of two large trees, A. and J. stood facing each other and listened as the father read a poem he wrote and one brother of the bride read his unique/untraditional/playfully imaginative.

The wind picked up, but the temperature dip didn’t affect the crowd; the dancing and wine drinking keeping them warm enough. Their choice of first dance song was Ray LaMontagne’s Hold You In My Arms, the rest of the wedding party joining the couple as the chorus began. The dance floor perched to watch the sunset unfold over the vineyard, under a canopy of oaks and strings of lights. Port, chocolate truffles in lieu of a wedding cake(second sighting of Port in all its dessert beverage glory in the last few months.  For the record, I’m a fan of Port’s return to the wedding zeitgeist)

Official party winding down, I remembered that the bride confided they would keep the party going at a local dive bar in Sonoma. That’s my kind of couple.

Practicing for the ceremony.

Groom rocking the silver monogrammed cuff-links.

The father of the bride, watching his daughter attempt to re-tie his tie.

A final adjustment of the shoes.

The the cool wine caverns moments before the ceremony.

Ceremony, under the trees, in the afternoon sun.

Proof that this was about the love of wine.

Listening to heartfelt toasts.

At the end of the night, the small ones conked out.

Several glasses in, the guests are nearly impervious to the wind chill.

The Cupid Shuffle.

Congratulations to A. & J!

Wedding Coordinator – Amy Byrd Weddings

Ceremony and Reception Site – Kunde Estate Winery

Caterer – Alex’s Catering

Photographer – me!

Ceremony Musicians – Dan Neilan (brother of the bride)

DJ – DJ EV

Florist – Christine Freeman Floral Design

Hair  and Makeup – Heidi Valesi,  stylist at Lauthr Salon