A Hartley Botanica Wedding

We absolutely loved this Hartley Botanica Wedding in Somis for Danny and Shannon! It was our 4th wedding in 8 days, which meant two double header weekends in a row! Though our feet were tired, our hearts were full, and we loved every second of photographing this wedding! We felt like we were wrapped up in a romantic fairytale! Hartley is one of our all-time favorite venues, and as soon as you see the ceremony you’ll know why. Their ceremony aisle is under a perfect archway of trees lit up with white twinkle lights, and it is a dream come true!

When it came to the details, everything was incredible. The all white bouquets perfectly contrasted against the black custom made bridesmaid dresses. And Shannon’s stunning cathedral length veil flowed in the wind and looked like a magic as it caught the golden light. The groomsmen were classy and timeless in black tuxes and bowties (which just happens to be our favorite combo)! We still feel like we’re dreaming as we remember their breathtaking ceremony under an archway of trees and twinkle lights, doves cooing during cocktail hour, a sparkler exit and a classic all white Rolls Royce as a getaway car! It’s clear the details were gorgeous and a dream to photograph, and as you know, we love pretty things and classy timeless details, but our favorite clients are the ones who have something so much deeper. The couples who are the best of friends and madly in love with each other, and can’t wait to celebrate the first day of their marriage with family and friends! And these two have something so special about their love, and were truly celebrated to the fullest!

They were such a joy to photograph! It’s so clear they are head over heel for each other by the way they look at each other! Danny is so romantic, and made sure his bride feels beautiful and loved at every moment. I mean, he proposed by surprising Shannon with packed bags and a weekend trip to Paris and he dropped to one knee at the very top of Eiffel Tower! Hello dreamy!!  During their engagement session he kept grabbing her face and telling her how cute she is, and during the wedding he kept announcing to everyone that this is his WIFE! Our hearts melted every time he said it! Shannon is absolutely stunning, and loves Daniel so well, and we cannot help but smile as we see them together because they make the cutest couple!

They first met when they were both working at Wells Fargo and we love what the groom said about her when he first met, “She’s so special and unique, when I first met her I took a second glance…” and then he paused and started to list some of his favorite things about her… “those beautiful eyes and that flowy hair.” We adore when our couples express how much they love each other, because it reminds us of all the things we appreciate about each other, which makes us smile and sometimes even shed a few happy tears too! Then it wasn’t long before they started to fall in love and quickly joined every part of their lives together. When Daniel decided it was time to propose, he went all out. He is such a romantic man who doesn’t half ass anything, (remember the surprise Paris proposal), this guy is such a stud! Shannon absolutely loves the Eiffel tower and thinks it’s the most magical thing in the world when the tower lights up at night. So he surprised her with a trip to Paris and somehow managed to skip the line for the Eiffel tower and get all the way to the top and proposed at the top as the lights show started.

Oh what a beautiful love they have for each other, and we know they will continue to pursue each other as they fall deeper in love and grow their family. We cried so many happy tears as they exchanged vows and shared their love story! We are so excited for them to be married, and we will leave you with one of our favorite things he said: “I wake up every morning and think it’s all a dream and then I look to my left and I see you.”

Congrats Daniel & Shannon! It was an honor and privilege to capture your beautiful wedding and we are so excited to share these photos!