Kristen & Ryan | Sunol Backyard Wedding Photography
It was extreme croquet and homemade soap that joined them together. But mostly the soap. He had you at the transesterification reaction!
Long story short, they were inside having tea after a game of extreme croquet (crazy wicket placement!) when the fact that Ryan’s family makes their own soap came up in conversation. This otherwise mundane fact was actually quite the revelation to Kristen, who happened to be going through a phase where all-natural cosmetics were just about the coolest thing ever. She suddenly leapt across the couch and wanted to learn more.
To say Kristen and Ryan are a bit off-beat may be an understatement. It’s their quirky love that makes them so endearing and so well suited for each other. They were wed on a Tuesday afternoon (summer solstice) at Ryan’s family home in Sunol. The day was filled with personal touches and beautiful elements of their very special love story. There’s nothing I love more than a very unique and personal wedding, and this one was all that and more!
Back at the orange tree!
Kristen’s nephew served as a wonderful ringbearer, even presiding over the rings as all the guests passed them around to be blessed. The photo on the left was taken by my second shooter Kirsten. On the right, the beautiful quartet of rings. The wooden ring was Kristen’s engagement ring carved by Ryan out of apricot wood! And yes, he got to wear an engagement ring too.
A tribute to their first conversation together over afternoon tea, each table was decorated with a unique centerpiece with different herbs and teapots.
All of the florals were done by the mother of the groom.
There were tears on both sides as Kristen and Ryan each surprised their parents by opening the ceremony with words of gratitude for their parents.
Of course, a tribute to the game that brought these two together. Ryan and Kristen had their first game of croquet as a married couple on the lawn with their friends.
The elaborate cake was handmade by Ryan’s mother. It was made from dozens of eggs from their own chickens and oranges from their own trees.
I love when I get to see my clients viewing their images for the first time!
Toward the end of the night, the weather settles into a cool breeze, and a couple stands on the steps of the house viewing the slideshow again.
And of course, a dip and a kiss.
Thank you so much Kristen & Ryan for sharing your day with us! I absolutely love a personal wedding, and yours was just so beautiful.
Technical note for all my photographer friends out there: a bunch of these images were shot on Kodak Portra film and processed by Richard Photo Lab. Can you spot them? I am a little bit in love with how it all came together!
Wedding Vendors:
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Groom’s family home, Sunol, California
Hair & Makeup: DIY
Florist: Yvonne Crites, mother of the groom
Catering: David Adams, uncle of the groom
Wedding Dress and Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Angelo
DJ/Musicians: Will Pappin/ The Tacchia family
Coordinator: Kim Adams, family friend
Cake: Yvonne Crites, mother of the groom
Photographer: Anna Wu Photography, assisted by Kirsten Julia
