Destination Wedding Videos

Stephanie+Daniel // Purple Orchid Resort

10/11/2024

Livermore California, my hometown. It's not only great to be back to where my video career started, but to share the day with tons of familiar faces. My day started at The Purple Orchid Wine Country Resort and Spa. A venue I have had the pleasure of filming many times in the past. I arrived bright and early, and the bridal party was well underway with the hair and makeup process. I said hello to some old friends and got to work filming the details. I love finding spotted light for my flat lay shots, and this venue offered several options. The property is covered in beautifully kept foliage and tons of shade from trees. After I wrapped up with the smaller details, I moved onto the most nerve-racking part of the day—filming the dress. Even though I've been through this process hundreds of times in the past, having anything to do with handling the dress still makes me nervous. Luckily there was a nice spot inside the bridal suite to hang it up, which limited the risk of getting it dirty. Details were wrapped at that point, so I moved next door to film Daniel. One of the reasons why I love filming at this location is the proximity of the important locations on their property. The groomsmen suite is located next to the bridal. While this leads to a bit of extra choreography so the couple doesn't see each other, it's really convenient to jump back and forth between the two rooms throughout the morning. I arrived and got the ball rolling on Daniel's getting-ready process. I typically cover this event earlier, then it would be naturally occurring, but luckily Daniel and his best man, Dante, were willing participants. At the end of the process, Stephanie surprised Daniel with some custom cufflinks that had been inscribed with their wedding date. I love personal details like this. Back in the other suite, the bride was ready to step into her dress. Instead of filming that moment in the room, we thought it would be better to step outside, where the lighting was even better suited for the moment. With the help of her sister, Sara, and her mom, Mo, Stephanie completed her wedding day look. Stephanie then opted to do a first look with her dad, David. If I haven't said it enough over the years, DO A FIRST LOOK WITH DAD! This is my favorite moment at nearly every wedding. After the two wiped the tears away, we got Daniel placed to see his bride. The two completed this moment with a private vow reading before jumping into some portraits. Side note: if you are on the fence about doing personal vows, the first look is a perfect option to keep the moment private. As we moved onto the bridal party portraits, Stephanie asked to do a dress reveal with the groomsmen. This, at least, was the cover story. As the guys turned around, the true nature of the moment was revealed as Stephanie held two six-packs of Smirnoff Ice in her hands. Some were happier than others to chug the bottle on one knee. Guests began to arrive and take their seats as one by one the bridal party made their way down the aisle. Stephanie decided to share her walk with both her stepdad Julio and father David. During the ceremony, the groomsmen played a bit of revenge on the bride by acting like they lost the rings, only to reach into the bushes and pull out another Smirnoff Ice for the bride to chug. Little did they know, the bride and groom had opted to conclude their ceremony with a shot of fireball. Steph was a trooper and powered through both. The reception took place outside in the orchard behind the ceremony site. I will die on the hill that outdoor receptions are superior to indoors. At least as far as the wedding film is concerned. The content under the sun just can't be matched. The reception went on without a hitch, and the couple danced the night away. Just like that, the California leg of my summer 2024 wedding season came to an end.