A Carneros Resort Wedding All About Having Fun

Caitlyn and Matt had one big priority for their Carneros Resort wedding: FUN. They wanted to spend the day surrounded by their favorite people, eat an amazing dinner, pack the dance floor and actually enjoy every second of it. And that is pretty much exactly what happened.

Yes, there were tambourines. All day. “The tambourines were all about keeping the energy high. They definitely did the trick!”

Can You Get Candid Wedding Photos If You Need Direction?

They also told us from the beginning, “We both don’t LOVE having our photos taken.” They wanted direction when they needed it, but nothing that felt stiff or overly posed. Caitlyn described them perfectly: “We are a fun-loving couple. We like to laugh, and we don’t take ourselves too seriously.”

This is what we do best. We help couples relax, give them direction when they need it, and create opportunities for those effortless, candid moments to happen. With Caitlyn and Matt, we guided them toward the best light, found beautiful environments where they could interact naturally, and gave them just enough direction to help them look amazing without making anything feel overly posed.

There’s actually a lot of finesse behind making a photograph look candid. After 15+ years as a California wedding photographer, I’ve learned that the couples who tell us they’re uncomfortable in front of the camera are often the ones who benefit most from a little guidance. You don’t have to magically know what to do with your hands or where to stand. That’s our job. Your job is to relax, be together, and eventually forget about us a little bit.

And look at Caitlyn and Matt now!

Wondering how we go from “we’re so awkward” to “these are our favorite photos ever”? Let us show you.

A Carneros Resort Wedding Filled With Family

Their Carneros Resort wedding ceremony overlooked the rolling Napa hills and vineyards… with tons of white flowers lining the aisle and one of Matt’s close friends from high school officiating. He kept the entire ceremony script a surprise from them, which meant their reactions to everything he said were completely real.

“Our ceremony was one of our favorite parts of the entire day. Neither of us knew what he was going to say, and it ended up being so heartfelt, personal, and full of laughter. It couldn’t have been more perfect.”

One of our favorite little moments happened right after the ceremony: Caitlyn and Matt’s parents all walked back down the aisle together, all four of them holding hands! We rarely see that, and it was sooo sweet. Later during the speeches, their parents talked about how excited they were to spend holidays together in the future. It really felt like two families becoming one.

Those unscripted moments are such a big part of our approach to documentary style wedding photography. We’ll always give our couples direction when they need it, but we’re also constantly watching for the things happening naturally around them.

There’s a reason our couples say, “That felt easy!” — peek behind the scenes to see why.

The Captains of Fun

At the reception, Caitlyn and Matt took their “fun” requirement VERY seriously.

“Whenever our wedding vendors asked us to describe our vision in one word, we always came back to ‘fun.’ We wanted our guests to have as much fun as we did, so we decided to appoint a ‘Captain of Fun’ at each table.”

Each captain received a captain’s hat and one important assignment: keep the drinks full, get people out of their seats and onto the dance floor. The hats were a last-minute Amazon Prime delivery to Carneros Resort, and they ended up being one of the funniest details of the night.

“They ended up being such a hit. Guests loved them, they made for hilarious photos, and many of our captains still wear their hats whenever we all get together.”

“The speeches were another highlight. (Of course, Caitlyn’s maid of honor and Matt’s best man were Captains of Fun!)”

Their dog Dixie couldn’t attend, so she made an appearance on their custom matchbooks instead. They also handed out personalized tambourines once dancing started, and with a live band playing, the dance floor was PACKED.

This is where candid wedding photography becomes so much fun. There’s nothing to manufacture when everyone is already laughing, dancing, banging tambourines and having the time of their lives!!

Planning a Carneros Resort Wedding? We’d love to capture it for you! Skip to our contact page to check availability.

How Much Time Do You Need for Golden Hour Wedding Photos?

Golden hour portraits weren’t originally part of Caitlyn and Matt’s plan, but before we wrapped up for the evening, we saw the light getting gorgeous and asked if they wanted to sneak outside.

Thank goodness they said yes!

We spent just a few minutes photographing them with the vineyards and rolling hills behind the ceremony site, and then headed over to their family’s vintage truck for a few more. The warm light, Caitlyn twirling in her dress, and the two of them laughing together felt completely like them.

As California wedding photographers, this is what we love about natural wedding photography. Beautiful portraits don’t have to mean spending forever posing for the camera. Sometimes we give you a little direction, sometimes we step back completely, and sometimes we simply notice some gorgeous light and say, “Come outside with us for five minutes!”

After such a fun Carneros Resort wedding, Caitlyn and Matt eventually ended the celebration at a bowling alley after-party, where Caitlyn bowled in her wedding dress. HECK YES. 🔥 Pretty fitting for two people who told us from day one that their wedding should be SO MUCH FUN.

Your California Wedding Photographer

Whether you’re planning a fun-filled Carneros Resort wedding or celebrating at another beautiful Napa Valley venue, we’d love to capture it! After 15+ years as a California wedding photographer, we know that some of the best photos happen when you feel comfortable enough to forget about the camera. We’ll give you direction when you need it, help you find the best light, and then leave plenty of room for the real laughs, reactions, and wonderfully unplanned moments in between. If natural, candid wedding photography sounds like you, reach out to us to check availability and tell us what you’re planning!

Caitlyn and Matt’s Napa Wedding Pros:

Venue: Carneros Resort
Wedding Planner: Christa Jabkiewicz
Wedding Photographer: Onelove Photography, @myonelove
Band: Lucky Devils Band
Rentals: Encore Event Rentals, @encoreeventrentals
Hair & Makeup: Bridal MUAH, @BridalMUAH
Florist: Allison Louise Designs, @allisonlouisedesigns
Transportation: Napa Valley Tours & Transportation, @napavalley_tours