Sam and Ian’s big day in San Luis Obispo was the perfect Central California wedding! From the warm and sunny weather, to the romantic garden portraits at sunset. Birchwood Nipomo the most peaceful backdrop for the bride and groom to celebrate their marriage surrounded by family and friends. The whole day was centered around truly celebrating love in its purest form.
After the wedding day, we ventured out to Mossbrae Falls in Mount Shasta, CA for their adventure shoot! I highly recommend a Day After session! You and your babe get to dress up in your wedding attire again and take more portraits! This can be a great opportunity to adventure off somewhere wild (like this waterfall!) Even if you don’t have an elopement, you can still get those EPIC portraits out in nature!
“It started when Ian and I met in Haiti, while on a summer mission trip with Upstream International. Ian lived in Wisconsin and I lived in California. I had just finished grad school, and was getting ready to start my first year as an elementary special education teacher. He was applying for a music production program at a university in Chicago. Our time together in Haiti was piled with government protests, unruly chaos, and genuine tests of faith endurance. Yet, through these trials and roadblocks our feelings began to grow, and a new friendship blossomed.
Days passed quickly, and it was already time for me to head back to California. Thank God (literally) my flight was cancelled and I then found myself stuck with Ian for two more days. It was only after then, that Ian worked up the courage to ask me out on his version of a coffee date. On the drive back, he told me he had prayed about our relationship and expressed his interest in pursuing something further. He also said he received an email from the university earlier that same morning stating they were opening a satellite campus in California. Assuming the campus would be in LA, I asked where it was located. He awkwardly attempted to pronounce Atascadero, and I awkwardly attempted to pull myself together after hearing this CRAZY news. I mean really, of all places?!? 30 minutes from where I live!
Jesus had truly orchestrated this whole thing to work out perfectly in our favor. Long story short, after 6 months of growing our relationship long distance from states away, Ian officially moved out to the beautiful Coast of California and began school. Since then, our relationship has only grown and flourished. Ian just graduated school in December and I continue to teach special education. It has been a wild and crazy adventure, but we are grateful we get to do it with one another. The both of us are beyond blessed by how the Lord has so beautifully intertwined the paths that led us here in such sweet harmony.”
Venue: Birchwood Nipomo
Hair and makeup: @meggsahriot @beautybyblakeley
Rings: Brilliant Earth
DJ: Brandon -Daos Entertainment Group
Cake: Kaitlyn Wais
Caterer: L2 Catering
Planner: Jolene Henry (Ceremony) Kristi Schwisow (Reception)
Reach out to book your wedding or elopement here