Destination Wedding Videos

Mika+Eric // Vine Hill House

1/24/2025

Back in Northern California for this week's wedding to revisit a venue I've had the privilege to film at a few times in the past, Vine Hill House. A stunning property with sprawling views of the winery it sits on. Before we get to the venue, however, my coverage of Mika and Eric's wedding weekend takes me downtown to the Crooked Goat Brewery. The couple decided to host their family and friends at the brewery for a welcome party the night before their big day. During the party the couple had planned to have an open mic, allowing guests to come up and say a few words. Never wanting to turn down the chance to grab some additional audio for their film, I jumped at the opportunity. The evening went flawlessly, with what seemed like half the party wanting to say a few words to the couple. A testament to the people they are. With my gear packed up, I headed back to recharge and prepare for the wedding day ahead. Arriving on property the next day, I unpacked my gear and got an early start on coverage. Having filmed the festivities the night before, the group was already comfortable with the camera's presence. First stop was the main house, where Mika and the girls were wrapping up the hair and makeup processes. I checked in with Mika before grabbing a few shots of the process and heading outside with the details. With the groom not far behind, I and Roberto, the photographer, got started with the flat lay and dress shots. This venue is not short on cool locations and lighting for this type of content. We were alerted that the groom was ten minutes out, so we quickly packed up, not wanting to spoil any surprises. While this venue offers a wonderful getting-ready area for the girls, the groom hangs out outside in what will later become a cigar lounge during the reception. I headed over to meet up with Eric and start his getting-ready coverage. As much as I love to shoot real moments as they occur naturally, groom prep is one area I bend my rules. Typically the guys already come dressed, but I still need the content for the film. With the help of Eric's best man, we got Eric undressed and redressed for the camera. Back inside, the hair and makeup process had wrapped up, and we headed to the front of the house to grab some bridal party photos before Mika stepped into her dress. Rather than tuck ourselves into a bedroom for the moment, the front of the property was completely shaded and offered us a perfect location. Luckily, it didn't take much convincing, and Mika was on board. With the help of her mom, Mika stepped into her dress. With her wedding look complete, the bridesmaids were led out of the house so Mika could show off her dress. These reveals are becoming a popular trend, and I'm here for it! With the bridal party first look out of the way, we moved onto the more important first look, the one between the bride and groom. With Eric in place, Mika approached from behind, and with a tap on the shoulder, Eric laid his eyes on his bride for the first time. The couple decided to share private personal vows to one another before moving on to portraits. Personal vows add so much to the wedding film. It seems strange, but the opportunity to capture quotable audio from the couple on a wedding day naturally is pretty limited, so it's always exciting when a couple decides to write their own vows and share them for the camera. Guests soon began to arrive and take their seats for the ceremony. The couple opted for a short and sweet procession, reserving the aisle for the two of them, their parents, the ring bearer, and the flower girl. The ceremony was led by rabbi Dean, who walked the couple through the different traditions of the Jewish wedding ceremony. This culminates in the most iconic Jewish wedding tradition, the breaking of the glass. Following the ceremony we snuck the couple out for their sunset portrait sessions. The sun decided to put on an absolute show for us that afternoon, and the session was one for the ages. Dinner took place on the lawn in front of the main house and was capped off by some amazing speeches from the couple's closest family. We headed back over to what was once the ceremony site but now had been transformed into a dance floor. Mika and Eric kicked off the evening with their first dance, which started as a slow classic and transitioned into a fast choreographed number ending with an invitation to the guests to join in. The dance floor was never empty again, and the party raged deep into the night, blending Jewish traditional dancing with the mainstream hits. With my cards full, batteries drained, and a long drive ahead, I said my goodbyes to the couple and northern California. Until next time!