Posts tagged destination wedding
Erin and Jen’s Wedding Weekend at Venture Retreat Center
 

“How do you know Erin and Jen?”
“Did you go to school with them?”

We love when people ask us that. It happens a lot. Guests often think we’re old friends or cousins, and honestly, I take that as the biggest compliment. It means we blend in. We are present. We care enough to truly observe and document each unique wedding story like we are part of it.

That is the heart of documentary wedding photography. We don’t just show up with cameras. We step into the story and capture it as it unfolds, real and unfiltered.

Erin and Jen didn’t want their celebration to last only one day. They wanted a full weekend surrounded by their favorite people. So they invited everyone to Venture Retreat Center in Pescadero, California and said, “Come stay the whole weekend!” A summer camp with a wedding. Perfect, right?

Their story is just as beautiful as their day. They met on Hinge while Jen was hiking through Norway. Their first date was at a climbing gym. Years later, Jen proposed under the stars in Yosemite, and Erin almost lost her ring. Their love story is full of adventure, laughter, and real connection.

Their Venture Retreat Center wedding weekend was filled with hugs, cats, cozy cabins, handmade DIY details, and so much heart. 🏳️‍🌈 Every detail felt like them. It was joyful, colorful, and deeply personal.

As LGBTQ+ wedding photographers, we felt honored to document every part of it. This is what we love about authentic wedding photography in California. Every story is different. Every couple brings their own kind of magic. Erin and Jen’s weekend reminded us why we do this work - to capture love that is true and unforgettable.

📸: by me and Brett

💌 Let’s Make Something Real
If you are planning your own wedding weekend in Pescadero, the Bay Area, or anywhere in California, and you want photos that feel honest and alive, I would love to be your documentary wedding photographer. LET’S MAKE MAGIC TOGETHER ✨

 
Let's tell your story YOUR way!
Durango Colorado Wedding, The Black Diamond Lodge Wedding - Crystal and Hunter
 

Crystal and Hunter’s wedding was our LAST wedding that was postponed and rescheduled from the COVID pandemic. I believe their date has changed at least 4 times, and a couple of location changes as well. Crystal and Hunter are very spiritual, so of course they wanted something simple and unique and gathered their beloved ones to celebrate their “overdue” wedding. Oh, and Brett and Crystal have known each other for many years when Crystal was a musician back in the days. I believe Brett photographed Crystal when she was in California.

Their wedding at The Black Diamond Lodge in Durango, Colorado offered a stunning backdrop, celebrating the couple’s love amidst the mountains. Nestled in the San Juan National Forest, we took a short car ride into lush aspen and pine trees. It definitely provides a picturesque setting that was ideal for their celebrations.

Their day was “perfectly” coordinated by Amber from Perfect Day Co., and the lodge offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with rustic decor that complements the stunning scenery outside. As the sun sets, the lodge transforms into a cozy retreat, where everyone can celebrate into the evening. They created a truly memorable experience, including a candy piñata for children, a kid’s room, pizzas, fires pits, and sparklers send-off to end the night.

 
Casa Florida Wedding, Miami, Florida - Caitlin + Mike
 

It’s amazing how I get to photograph former client’s family and friends. They’re seriously the best. Actually, it’s the best feeling, knowing that they already know how I photograph and that we’re on the same page about our values in photography. It’s a cliche to say this, but I feel super blessed, really.

Demi, one of Caitlin’s best friends and the officiant for her wedding told me, “When Caitlin was planning her wedding, she kept saying, ‘I want someone like Annie Bang for my wedding. Where can I find someone (a wedding photographer) like Annie Bang?’ Soooo… I was like… ‘how about…. you just hire her for your wedding…and the problem is solved!?!?’”

Brett and I photographed the groom Michael’s brother (Eric)’s wedding in Santa Barbara years ago, and now here we are in 2024, flying out to Florida for Mike and Caitlin.

Caitlin and Mike met summer of 2014 through an adult kickball league (aka "drunk kickball"). Their league met on Friday nights in Coconut Grove - their fav neighborhood in Miami- and it's basically one big rowdy party. They were on different teams. Mike came up to Caitlin & asked if she wanted “a Solo cup of boozy punch & voila, 8.5 years later, here we are.”

As a couple, “we're playful & affectionate, & we laugh together a lot. Humor is a coping mechanism for us. We can usually see the bright side, the big picture, the silver lining...in other words, if it rains on our wedding day, we're still gonna party with a smile on our faces.”

It didn’t rain (only cloudy here and there) on their wedding day; but it poured down the next day - hence, Brett and I were trapped at the airport for hourssss to come back home. haha.

The wedding was at Casa Florida, a super cute, historic & funky motel with tropical Florida Keys vibes, in Miami, Florida, and we really LOVED partying with everyone.