Carolyn & Cynthia | Calistoga Wedding Photography
Carolyn and Cynthia perfectly balance one another, with Carolyn’s quiet ambition and grounded sense of self complementing Cynthia’s joy, energy, and charm. The two first met at their local Crossfit gym in Manhattan, and with a bit of thoughtful creativity (or light stalking), Carolyn eventually worked up an excuse for the them to hang out outside of class. Noting Cynthia’s interest in photography, she asked for her help in photographing her line of gluten free cookies. Soon, they were bonding and chatting for hours over guacamole and fajitas. They marveled at how long they had been in the same community before they ever met. But it turns out, they were both busy in their separate journeys becoming ready to be the perfect partners to each other. As they say, timing is everything.
When it came time for their wedding, they decided to go across the country to be wed at a private estate in California’s wine country. And although the Kincaid Fire was burning nearby on the weekend of their wedding, we were incredibly lucky to be tucked away in Calistoga, protected behind a mountain range, where we all enjoyed their beautiful day.
Here are just a few highlights below!
A beautiful first look. I just love how different Carolyn and Cynthia are from each other but how much they absolutely love and support one another.
Such a perfectly styled wedding party! I love the range of tones and styles across the whole group.
The terraced area served as the perfect place for welcome drinks before the ceremony.
We were incredibly lucky to still be able to have such a beautiful wedding day– and even mostly clear skies– despite the fires nearby.
The perfect ceremony spot in a redwood grove.
During the ceremony the brides put their wedding rings in this tray to be passed around for every single guest’s blessings.
Such beautiful tablescapes for the outdoor reception. Each guest also received a pashmina shawl, Crocs sandals, and gluten free cookies made by Carolyn. I loved all the thoughtful additions to the day.
Just as the sun set, they began the dinner with a Sara Bareilles song performed by Cynthia’s sister Katherine and bridesmaid Kellyn, two incredibly talented women!
Katherine also happens to be a stand-up comedist and an actress, so of course she delivered a perfectly hilarious and heartfelt toast. And beautiful words were shared by Carolyn’s Best Man Omry too.
Dinner and dancing under the stars.
Congratulations, Carolyn and Cynthia! It was such a joy to be a part of your wedding day.
Wedding Vendors:
Photographer: Anna Wu Photography
Venue: Private Estate, Calistoga, California
Hair & Makeup: Megan Franklin, Lauthr Salon & Spa
Florist: Erica Rose Design
Catering: Park Avenue Catering
Dress: Enaura Bridal
Suit: Hugo Boss
DJ: Boutique DJs
Musicians: Corelli Strings
Planner: Marilyn Ambra Party Consultants
Cake: Sweet Cake Sonoma
Anna Wu is a wedding and portrait photographer based in San Francisco, California. She combines a “fine art” aesthetic, with a photojournalistic approach to beautifully capture the moments of a wedding day. Follow her daily adventures on instagram and view more of her work at annawu.com.
