Cemetery Wedding

Roberta and Cu held their cemetery wedding at the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery on Halloween, putting together the most unique wedding idea I have ever experienced! In their planning of their wedding day, they sought out vendors and venues to carry out their ideas, but came across a little trouble finding people who could accommodate their unique sense of style. Fortunately, they found me on Offbeat Bride, which is a website dedicated to nontraditional Couples and ideas such as hosting your very own cemetery wedding! Together with 30 of their family and closest friends on Halloween day, they held their cemetery wedding inside a mortuary chapel where they brought liveliness to an other-wise gloomy setting. With a majority of guests dressed in all black, and some in actual costumes, at first glance you would imagine this union was for a funeral. Judging from the big smiles and laughter heard throughout the day, one would soon realize it was an occasion to celebrate the most joyous of days!

Wanting to personalize most aspects of the day to themselves, Cu made all the cemetery wedding related decorations, including a coffin shaped ring box to match their coffin shaped rings. Equally as impressive and unique as the rings themselves, Roberta stunned as she walked down the aisle wearing a custom Videnoir Couture vampire shawl as her own take on the traditional wedding dress. It was easily the most unique wedding I have ever photographed and I hope to encounter more Offbeat Brides because I love the uniqueness of the Couples and their ideas. See below for this cemetery wedding to give you ideas and CONTACT me to discuss your photography!

Venue : Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
Rings : Coffin Gems and Blood Milk Jewels
Cu’s Vest : Infectious Threads
Roberta’s Collar : Videnoir Couture Infectious Threads
Roberta’s Dress : Coquetry Clothing
Cake : Freeport Bakery

Check out these other Offbeat Bride weddings for inspiration

Sacramento Historic City Cemetery Offbeat Bride Wedding Photos - Roberta and Cu (1)
25 - Sacramento Historic City Cemetery Offbeat Bride Wedding Photos - Roberta and Cu (1) (1)
cemetery wedding with the two brides holding hands and the shadow of her wedding gown showing on the wall
Venues
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5 Best Wedding Venues in San Ramon CA

5 Best Wedding Venues in San Ramon The Ultimate Guide to the Best Wedding Venues in San Ramon(with pricing and photos)  Are you looking for wedding venues in San Ramon? With so many options to choose from in the Tri Valley area, it can be pretty difficult in choosing a location. Read below for the 5 best San Ramon wedding venues to get started in your wedding planning for your big day! Canyon View Event Center Rental Fee: $495 – $2,995Ceremony Fee: starts at $950 The Canyon View Event Center space offers contemporary and elegant wedding hosting spaces. It is a private events space with a host of indoor and outdoor wedding sets with breathtaking scenery and expansive views of the tri-valley area through its stylish ballroom windows. The Canyon View event center is perhaps known for its unbeatable location, tantalizing Italian-American cuisine, and warm hospitality. It can host up to 920 people at a time but seated the outdoor spaces will hold 350 people, and indoor areas 450 people. The venue offers panoramic views of the San Ramon countryside, and the venue provides most of the bells and whistles you’d want in an event space. It can host everything from engagement parties, mini weddings and are weddings with ease hence why it is considered one of the best wedding venues in San Ramon, CA. Canyon View Event Center Wedding Gallery San Ramon Marriott Rental Fee: $850 – $4,800 The San Ramon Marriott has been one of the most popular wedding venues in San Ramon CA. For one, it is an incredibly stylish place, and setting it up for any wedding is simple. Since it is a hotel, you get fantastic facilities to go with too. Its convenient location in the East Bay gives it access to plenty of entertainment and dining spots too. It offers guests convenient accommodation, but the highlight is the abundant event space to host most average-size weddings. It is upscale and makes the perfect spot to get hitched in style. Little Hills Ranch Rental Fee: $4,825 – $5,970 The Little Hills Ranch is a wedding venue, picnic, and event space in the East Bay that offers a romantic, rustic and elegant venue to fit weddings of all styles. Located in the middle of the Las Trampas Regional wilderness, it is a scenic and intimate setting to say “I do” in style. It offers 25 acres of tranquil and secluded venues under majestic redwoods and stately oaks for that picture-perfect wedding, be it a micro wedding, elopements, or weddings with over 100 guests, making it one of the more flexible wedding venues in San Ramon. They offer bridal and groom party suites, set up and cleanup services, complimentary guest parking, seating, silverware and utensils, and many other services upon the couple’s request. It is an extremely flexible site and certainly deserves a spot among the best San Ramon wedding venues. San Ramon Golf Club Ceremony Fee: $595 – $995Packages: start at $54/person Set in the heart of the San Ramon Valley, San Ramon Golf Club is one of the more stylish Contra Costa wedding venues in San Ramon. It provides glimmering water views and a romantic atmosphere for any couple wishing to have their special day just outside San Francisco. The golf course works exclusively with Wedgewood Banquet services to host any events to the standard, values, and quality upheld by the San Ramon Golf Club. It has a breathtaking ceremony site under willow trees beside a softly wavy lake and a bubbling waterfall to make for one of the most romantic San Ramon wedding venues. The reception area is a great banquet room with floor-to-ceiling windows, a dance floor, and a sunken bar to make for one classy affair all through. Canyon Lakes Golf Course & Brewery Canyon Lakes Golf Course & Brewery is a public golf course with a restaurant and microbrewery in the East Bay, making it one of the more popular Sunday wedding venues in San Ramon CA for its casual vibe. It offers sweeping views of the San Ramon Valley and has outdoor and indoor event spaces. The indoor event space has undergone a recent remodeling to accommodate up to 150 guests. Your package at the Canyon Lakes Golf Course & Brewery signs you up to a full bar and lounge area, a fully equipped kitchen, onsite catering services, and an outside event area. The uncovered outdoor space is your blank canvas to put your mark on, but you could also customize the indoor space to make the wedding of your dreams. Conclusion If you’re flexible with location, take a look at these Pleasanton wedding venues for more options! Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com

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Venues
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Carmel Valley Wedding Venues

Carmel Valley Wedding Venues The Ultimate Carmel Valley Wedding Venues Guide (with Pricing + Photos) Carmel Valley wedding venues offer an authentically Californian experience with wineries, rustic landscapes, and golf courses, making it a favorite choice for destination weddings. Just a short drive from the Pacific Ocean, Carmel Valley offers a rustic respite from the busy coastal life. Whether you live nearby or are traveling from around the world, there are plenty of perfect options for your Carmel Valley Wedding. Here are some of the top Carmel Valley wedding venues to consider! Gardner Ranch Rental Fee: $8,000 Gardner Ranch is a great location for wedding large and small alike. The sprawling estate provides many locations including three banquet rooms, a clubhouse, an outdoor patio, and many different lawn locations. The backdrop of the Santa Lucia Mountains makes for a great setting for an outdoor wedding in virtually any season. This is also surprisingly one of the more affordable Carmel Valley wedding venues given its elegance and charm. All weddings include exclusive use of Gardner Ranch, plenty of on-site parking, wine barrel cocktail tables, landscape lighting, wooden chairs, and plenty of other perks. This is one of the more popular Carmel Valley wedding venues around for good reason. Bernardus Lodge & Spa Rental Fee: $5,500 – $13,500  This is one of the larger Carmel Valley wedding venues that offers six different wedding locations that range from vineyard views to rose gardens. For intimate ceremonies or elopements of 10 people or less, the Vintner’s Suite is a favorite or can be used as a bridal suite. Of all the locations, the Wedding Garden is possibly the most beautiful with immaculate landscaping, over 100 varieties of roses, and the chef’s own vegetable garden. Wedding packages include luxury accommodations for the couple and an open bar with Bernardus’s own wines.  Los Laureles Lodge Rental Fee: $2,500 – $3,300 One of the more unique Carmel Valley wedding venues, Los Laureles Lodge is a ten-acre ranch with three different options for settings. The largest is the Terrace Garden, a stunning area beneath cascading oak trees where guests watch from wooden pews. This holds up to 200 people. Intimate weddings of up to 30 guests can celebrate at Hill House, a beautifully adorned home with a hillside deck. The Hill House has a full kitchen and, true to its namesake, supports sweeping views of Carmel Valley. Finally, the Terrace Garden Banquet Room can hold a small reception or rehearsal dinner. Quail Lodge & Golf Club (Carmel by the Sea) Contact for pricing Quail Lodge Golf Club provides six different options for your ceremony. Quail Meadows is likely the favorite for outdoor weddings, which features a lush meadow on the banks of a stream, creating a perfect location for wedding photos. The Peninsula Ballroom in the Clubhouse is a great choice for a reception whether opting for buffet style or a sit-down dinner. This venue specializes in weddings from small groups to up to 200 guests. This is one of the more affordable Carmel Valley wedding venues for the budget-conscious bride and groom, providing beauty at a lower price than many local venues. Stonepine Estate Resort Rental Fee: starts at $9,000 As you approach through a road lined with oak trees, you will soon catch a glimpse of Chateau Noel, an architectural experience that will have you thinking you have somehow landed in Tuscany. Guests can opt for a California Country package which includes use of the Paddock Lawns or a Chateau Exclusive which involves use of Chateau Noel. Can’t decide? Book the entire estate to have one of the most regal wedding venues in Carmel Valley all to yourself! For a more Old West style feel, try the Blacksmith Bar where guests can practice archery and horseshoes while drinking beer. Needless to say, this is one of the most varied Carmel Valley wedding venues on this list. Holman Ranch Packages: $18,000 – $35,500 Holman Ranch is one of the few Carmel Valley wedding venues that can accommodate a larger number of guests with a capacity of 500. With 400 acres of land, Holman Ranch provides several wedding location options, but most couples choose the recently restored 1928 stone hacienda, an iconic building with an intimate courtyard. Others opt for a stone terrace adorned with flowers with the Santa Lucia Mountains serving as a great backdrop. Combine your ceremony with an elegant reception at the Carriage House, allowing guests to dine beneath twinkling lights. This huge estate offers something for everyone! The Holly Farm Rental Fee: starts at $28,000 One of the most beautiful Carmel Valley wedding venues, The Holly Farm is filled with winding gravel paths, towering bamboo and banana trees, and rustic cottages. The unique design of the grounds presents a variety of options for photos, ensuring you will have plenty of mementos of your wedding. In addition to no corkage or cake cutting fees, you’ll also find a number of other perks including hundreds of island orchids for décor. CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS CARMEL VALLEY WEDDING VENUES Best Wedding Venues in Carmel Valley for Elopements Joullian Vineyards Rental Fee: starts at $6,500 Located high above Carmel Valley, Joullian Vineyards’ Venue in the Vines is a premier wedding location. This is a place for weddings of many sizes, able to accompany as few as 50 guests or as many as 250. Smaller parties may instead be interested in The Overlook, which allows couples to exchange nuptials in front of a wood and floral arch with the entire Carmel Valley as the backdrop. With 20 to 50 guests, this is one of the more popular Carmel Valley wedding venues that caters to smaller weddings. Best Outdoor Carmel Valley Wedding Venues Chateu Carmel Ranch Contact for pricing Holman Ranch is one of the few Carmel Valley wedding venues that can accommodate a larger number of guests with a capacity of 500. With 400 acres of land, Holman Ranch provides several wedding location options, but most couples choose the recently

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lake tahoe elopement photographer spooner lake wedding bride and sun flare in image
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10 Best Places to Elope in Lake Tahoe – with Pricing

Elope in Lake Tahoe (updated 2025) The Ultimate Guide to Eloping in Lake Tahoe (with pricing, locations, and packages) Considering eloping in Lake Tahoe? Looking for the best places to elope in Lake Tahoe? I’d love to be your Lake Tahoe Wedding Photographer and capture your big day with a focus on candid storytelling and creating unique portraits! Read below for the ultimate planning guide to help you decide if eloping in Lake Tahoe is for you!  Why Elope in Lake Tahoe​ Lake Tahoe is known for its tranquil blue waters and quiet solitude where one can enjoy being out in nature only a few hours away from a major city. With so many hiking trails, scenic vistas, easily accessible waterfalls and epic drives, it is no wonder more people are choosing to elope in Lake Tahoe now more than ever to have a more intimate ceremony surrounded by the perfect setting for wedding photographs. Best Time for Eloping in Lake Tahoe If you ask me, I would say Spring is the best time overall to elope in Lake Tahoe, ranging from March – mid June. Arguably the busiest (and best) time for an elopement in Lake Tahoe is during the summer months June to August, as most attractions are open and weather is perfect. In addition, catching the Fourth of July celebrations might also be something worth considering. For fall foliage, October up until mid-November is best, and there’s nothing like capturing the fall colors in your wedding photos! Of course, if the quiet of winter and snow are more appealing, the winter months of November through January are best for your Lake Tahoe elopement (although the second most busy time of the year in Lake Tahoe). For visitors who simply want to avoid tourist season, September through November is best. Elopement Packages in Lake Tahoe Elopement packages in Lake Tahoe start at $4000 for 4 hours to take full advantage of telling your wedding day story.Please CONTACT ME to discuss eloping in Lake Tahoe! The locations below are some of the best places to elope in Lake Tahoe and offer some awesome backdrops. Many people visit Lake Tahoe from out of town, then go to San Francisco afterwards to take in the sights in the popular City. If you are thinking of eloping closer to SF, check out the Best Places to Elope in San Francisco. Permit Info to Elope in Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe is a little notorious for being overwhelmed with elopement permits and photo permit requests. With such beauty and multiple places to elope in Lake Tahoe, your best bet is to call the office but here is the permit application page to start the process. It is recommended to allow at least 60 days to get a permit for your Lake Tahoe elopement. Any National Forest land requires a permit as well. Depending on what state you are in, the photography permit is different. Here’s the Nevada photo permit office Where to Elope in South Lake Tahoe Emerald Bay State Park Lookout 138 Emerald Bay Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150Rental Fee : $695 – $795 + site permit fee If you look up the best places to elope in Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay State Park is definitely at the top of most lists! With iconic views overlooking Lake Tahoe. this is also the most visited lookout in all of Lake Tahoe. It is best photographed during sunrise, since the surrounding hills block the sun as it sets in the afternoon. Lakeside Beach 4081 Lakeshore Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150Rental Fee : $700 – $900 A more unique elopement location in that it is located on a beach, a Lakeside Beach wedding has it all – seating, a ceremony arch, and the lake view! It shares the beach with the public technically, but is separated by a fence so you have a private area for your elopement. Logan Shoals Vista Point Lake Shore Blvd, Zephyr Cove, NV 89448Rental Fee : $645 – $695 (site permit included) This popular location is situated along the road, so it is one of the more common locations to pull over and explore in South Lake Tahoe. Seemingly made for elopements, they have a designated area within a short walk from the roadside parking. Gorgeous scenic views during sunset make this one of the best places to elope in Lake Tahoe. Tahoe Paradise Park 1011 W San Bernardino Ave, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150Rental Fee : $1025 – $1225 (ceremony only, site permit included) This more hidden park is located in the middle of a residential area, so is more commonly visited by the locals using the pickle ball courts or going for a little walk around the small lake. With a clubhouse, tented area, and 2 hour minimum, this hidden elopement location could be perfect for you! This is one of the best places to elope in Lake Tahoe but also has room for up to 300 people in the tented area. All sounds good? I’d love to discuss with you my elopement packages in Lake Tahoe CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS ELOPING IN LAKE TAHOE D.L. Bliss State Park 9881 CA-89, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 Despite not as popular as Emerald Bay State Park, this park nevertheless offers stunning views of Lake Tahoe and is a great elopement location. If you enjoy hiking to your ceremony location, this is a solid choice. Spooner Lake Nevada 89703 This quiet Lake offers a few areas for your elopement ceremony, with the most popular and scenic area near the main entrance. If you walk further around the lake, you can easily find a quiet area amongst the trees to say your vows. This is one of the best places to elope in Lake Tahoe if you want to have fall foliage since the reflection of the trees in the water are quite memorable. Sugar Pine Point State Park Pier Tahoma, CA 96142 Sugar Pine Point State Park is known for its pier

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cemetery wedding with the two brides holding hands and the shadow of her wedding gown showing on the wall
Offbeat Brides
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Offbeat Brides

Offbeat Brides Weddings Consider yourself an Offbeat Bride or interested in Offbeat Brides Weddings? Want to have a wedding that is authentic to you and doesn’t stick to the traditional way of marrying? I’m proud to be a member at the Offbeat Brides website because I love Couples who do things their way and make their wedding day their own! See the past Offbeat Brides below for some ideas and inspiration, and CONTACT ME to help photograph your most important day! And speaking of doing things your own way, if eloping with a small wedding is more your style, check out these San Francisco elopement locations. Roberta and Cu’s Cemetery Halloween Wedding Roberta and Cu got married at the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery on Halloween, putting together the most unique and creative wedding that I have ever experienced! They found me on Offbeat Bride, and together with 30 of their family and closest friends on Halloween day, they held their ceremony inside a mortuary chapel. Read more about their Halloween Wedding in the blog post! Karis and Will’s Faery Wedding at an Animal Sanctuary Karis and Will held their wedding at Isis Oasis Sanctuary, a part retreat center part animal sanctuary, that they had visited plenty of times as a couple. In addition to their pet ferrets acting as ring bearers, Karis and her offbeat brides maids wore faery wings to represent each season of the year. Marsha and Michal’s SF City Hall Elopement When I first met Marsha she was wearing a pink robe, and I just assumed that was what she was going to wear during the ceremony, which I thought was pretty neat! She then revealed she was covering her dress that she would reveal right before their San Francisco City Hall ceremony. Umm…it was freaking awesome!!! Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118    

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Informational
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How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

How to Choose a Wedding Photographer If you’re reading this I assume you are just starting your wedding planning and don’t know where to begin! This guide will hopefully answer the question, “How to choose a wedding photographer?” Like food, there are several different styles of wedding photography. When it comes to photography, there are little to no barriers to entry and one can be overwhelmed with so many different websites it can be intimidating. Below I have broken things down to try to make understanding the things to look for in a wedding photographer easy to understand. TLDR : View full galleries to ensure the FULL TIME photographer can shoot in both daytime and nighttime, and to make sure the photos speak to you and look exactly what you want for your wedding day in terms of candid vs posed, romantic vs goofy, etc. While you’re at it, make sure they have reviews NOT on their website to verify they give you what they promise. Write down 3-5 words that describe what you want in your wedding photography and they should line up with the images on the website (ideally the home page). Can they shoot with flash and photograph in dark settings? Make sure you see a photo of your photographer on the website to make sure you aren’t handed down to a random person the owner found on the internet to shoot for them. And finally meet / talk with your photographer to make sure your personalities fit.  Ask to see full galleries If you don’t read anything else…this is my #1 advice on how to choose a wedding photographer. Photographers will have some of their best images on their websites or social media profiles, but if you want to get a clear idea of their ability and style, ask if you can view at least 3 full galleries (ideally a similar setting and guest size). While you don’t need to request a full gallery from every potential photographer, if you’re down to two or three, it is highly recommended. Viewing a full gallery will allow you to gauge whether or not the photographer is capable of shooting in ANY situation (see my post about What Happens if it Rains on your Wedding Day). If you are throwing the most important party for yourself, you better hope the photographer you hire is fully capable of producing quality images in any situation. When you view the full gallery, pay attention to how the images make you feel. Do they speak to you and give you an idea of the couple, guests, and wedding day? Do the images elicit an emotional response to you? Do they capture emotions of the couple, and the VIP guests of the day? If family formals are the most important to you, are the groups well lit and composed? Are there cropped feet or crooked lines? Are they fulltime? Or do it for fun on the weekend? Whether its painting, cooking, or driving, the more we do something the better we are at it. We all have a natural ceiling if we don’t practice enough. Make sure the person you hire is committed to photography and actually does it more than once a week “for fun,” since there are A LOT of weekend warriors who work in tech on the weekdays, and do photography on the weekend.  This is the biggest (and most expensive) celebration you will ever have in your life. Why hire someone who does it “for fun?”  This is the most puzzling to me TBH. Regardless of price point, someone who does photography fulltime will care more about the experience than someone who does it on the side. Simple fact that they have more pride in their work. Do they have a reviews not on their website? Google, Yelp, Weddingwire, TheKnot…IF your person is legit, they should have a listing on at least 2 of these pages if not all. Random person you found on Instagram – good luck with no repercussions if they do a terrible job. Your wedding day isn’t ONLY in daylight. Can they shoot in the evening? SO many photographers ONLY put daylight photos on their website or IG because that’s what they prefer…no problem with that. Sadly, there are many “photographers” that don’t even know how to use flash. It’s like a chef only using the stove and not the oven! When reading on how to choose a wedding photographer make sure that includes all lighting scenarios.Make sure they can shoot evening photos (with flash)This ties into the number one recommendation above – see full galleries! RUN! When you DON’T see a photo of the photographer on the website! With a more anonymous photography company, chances are you will have a photographer assigned to you, who may or may not even have their photos on the website you love!  One of the “dirty secrets” of the industry is that large companies outsource the photography so you don’t get the same person who took the photos you see on the site. You may love the photos on the site, but you don’t get that person since it is a different photographer every time. There are many posts in FB photography groups asking for a “main/lead photographer” because the “Photo Company Name” outsources their work. It is very deceitful. A photo of your photographer will allow you to trust you will get exactly who you are looking at, and won’t be “pawned off” to someone else. Hopefully, the photographer will take the time to meet/talk with you personally, ensuring that you feel comfortable working with them. You will have the opportunity to discuss the details of your wedding and any specific moments you want the photographer to capture. What style of images do you want? If you don’t know…that’s OK! An easy exercise is to write down 3-5 words that describe your photos and the entire day. Some examples can be fun, candid, natural, glamourous, emotional, detail focused, bright, moody, and

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Interested in learning more? Fill out the form below!

415 756 9335 

ianchinphotography@gmail.com

762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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