Plan Your California Wedding: Vendors, Inspiration, & Expert Advice

We are SO SO lucky to have had Will photograph our mini wedding in Yosemite! Not only is he the nicest guy and super fun to hang out with, he is such a talented and dedicated photographer. He was so well prepared and thought of absolutely everything, even before the actual day. He sent us lists of accommodation, what to pack, what to wear etc. On the days we were there, he even brought us water, snacks, headlamps and walkie-talkies. He spared absolutely no effort to help us get the best photos possible, never tiring of helping us find the best light, best poses, best angles etc. Neither my husband nor I are used to being in front of a camera, but he was sooooo patient and made us feel at ease. My husband said that he was afraid that we wouldn’t be able to find a photographer who would be willing to hike to the gnarliest locations with us, but Will had no complaints and was in fact the one leading us off trail to find the coolest spots (lugging all his gear with him too). Will really cares about your experience and no amount of money can buy the amount of love and artistry he puts into his work. The experience was amazing, and the photographs were just stunning. I've had people tell me that they are the most beautiful wedding shots they had seen. I would recommend Will to absolutely anyone.

My partner and I were drawn to Vivian for her prior experience working with the venue and our wedding planner, and, most importantly, her vision. We were given curated referrals for a photographer from both the venue, Mister Jiu's, and our wedding planner, and something about Vivian's photos struck us as both intimate and purposeful, naturally capturing the best moments in her subjects and the moment. Vivian has a terrific eye for capturing everything from the planned and choreographed to the spontaneous. Many of our photos were taken at the venue and the surrounding area of San Francisco's Chinatown before and during our dinner celebration. We were always in good hands, experimenting with different poses, cameras, and film to achieve a varied look, which, upon reflection, my wife and I were so glad Vivian took the time to do everything she did. We also appreciated her ability to switch gears from serious to witty, perfectly capturing every moment our surroundings or guests placed us in. And importantly, Vivian captured every important moment, framing our loved ones and us perfectly, even when we didn't know she was doing so. Vivian always made us feel welcomed, was always kind, and appreciated the love and joy perfectly captured in our photos that day. Thank you, Vivian, for being there with us on our special day!

Working with the Kape team was one of the best wedding planning decisions we made. Not only are their photos beautiful, but they are incredibly professional, responsive, and easy to work with when planning an international destination wedding with an incredibly busy schedule. Juan and Lu went out of their way to pick up my bouquet the morning of our wedding on their way to us, and they arrived 30 minutes early just because. They directed us with such ease while taking our photos and were so fun to work with - I felt that they were a part of our celebration not just documenters of it. So grateful for them and the amazing work they do capturing people’s happiest day!

Teri Bocko of teri b photography was a wonderful photographer to work with. We were given her name through a friend, and I’m so thrilled she was available to shoot our wedding. She went above and beyond, even flying up to our wedding in SF from LA... and on her birthday no less! She was so easy to talk to, professional, punctual and her photographs came out beautifully. She has a very artistic approach and captures moments you will treasure forever. Highly recommend!

We can’t say enough good things about Jessica and the team at Apollo — they were absolutely amazing from start to finish! The best wedding photographer in San Francisco. Jessica made us feel so comfortable and confident during our couples portraits, which we did feel awkward at first, but she brought such a calming, positive energy that made it fun and natural. When it came time for our big (and slightly chaotic!) family photos, she took the lead with ease — guiding everyone with patience and professionalism. She managed to capture every shot on our photo list without needing a single reminder. Truly impressive! During the reception, she was everywhere — on the dance floor, around the venue— catching every laugh, every happy tear, every perfect moment. The photos capture exactly the vibe we dreamed of for our wedding day. Apollo as a whole was wonderful to work with. From the beginning, they really took the time to get to know us and understand what we wanted. Communication was always clear and thoughtful, and their pricing was very reasonable for the level of care and quality we received. Throughout the whole planning process, their team checked in regularly, which made us feel supported and never overwhelmed. On the wedding day, everything felt seamless. We trusted them completely, and they delivered beyond our expectations. Zero stress, just joy. We couldn’t be happier with our experience and would recommend Jessica and Apollo to anyone in need of a bay area wedding photographer in a heartbeat!

Hiring Ashley as our wedding photographers was one of the BEST decisions we made throughout our entire wedding planning process. Not only is Ashley incredibly good at what she does - our engagement photos and entire wedding gallery were stunning - she is also fun, kind and a blast to work with. My husband and I aren't models nor are we overly comfortable in front of a camera, especially for an entire day. Ashley made all the photographs feel organic, natural and "us." She captured our day so effortlessly while managing to get shots that truly blew our mind. When I initially was searching for a photographer, I found a lot of photos/editing to be either too edited, too moody, too cold, etc. Ashley's photography style and editing is PERFECT. Our photos are warm, authentic and artistic but also timeless and classic. Ashley is also incredibly responsive, professional and FUN. Our family and friends loved her and she managed to execute multiple giant group family shots in what seemed like record time. Ash's second shooter for our wedding day, Alex, was wonderful, too -- they make a great team! Because of Ashley, my husband and I have photos that perfectly capture our special day and will help us remember it forever. We can't thank her or recommend her enough!!!

Julia was amazing to work with! I love when someone has a passion and you can see it through their work. I was going through photographers and I kept seeing the same thing over and over. I wanted something different. I wanted our love and best day ever to be captured through our pictures. Julia did just that!

It’s very rare that someone checks every box, and exceeds expectations, but Nayza has done just that. She’s talented, artistic, expert at her craft, visionary, an excellent collaborator, and provides a supportive/safe energy space for your true self to shine through her photography. All of these characteristics translate through the final product. We’ve used her 3 times so far, each for important milestones in our lives (engagement, wedding, birthday), and couldn’t have found anyone better. Her ideas, her photography skills, her editing skills, her energy, her genuine excitement for the craft, all combine for her to produce something ethereal, something so magical, that we are forever touched by. All these years I thought I wasn’t “photogenic” but really, the person photographing me couldn’t “see” me. Nayza has the ability to do that. To bring out something special in each photo. Her photos encapsulate the not only the physical environment, but the emotions felt as well. I see our engagement and wedding photos, and immediately feel the feelings I felt on that day. And did I mention her own emotions while shooting? She’s so excited and the best “hype man” anyone could ask for. She makes us feel beautiful, and secure in knowing that she’s going to catch us in our best moment, in our best light. I could go on, but I’m hitting this website’s word limit! Just know that she hits the target every single time, and we can’t wait to use her over and over (and over) again!

Alison was an absolutely wonderful photographer and a pleasure to work with. She was super communicative and clear about what to expect and made the process stress-free for us. Anyone lucky enough to work with her is in for a treat and will not regret it. The photographs were beyond perfect.

From the moment we first talked to Amanda, her relaxed, funny, and warm personality instantly put us at ease. She is the perfect blend of professional and personable. Amanda fit right in with our friends and family on the wedding day, and somehow was everywhere at once to capture all the little moments we didn't even get to see. The photos she delivered are honest, artful and beautifully document our special day. She has a very light touch with posing and really let us just enjoy our day. We couldn't be happier with our wedding photos, and highly recommend Amanda to any couple looking for a talented, personable wedding photographer who is really fun to hang out with!

Michael shot my husband and Is wedding in October of 2025, and I am continually looking back and finding new things about each photo I adore. Michael truly captured the beauty of our special day, not just aesthetically (which is a given) but in his ability to capture the beauty of each moment and each relationship.

Alex and his team were such a wonderful part of our day. Finding a company that offered digital, film, drone, and video was more difficult than I thought it would be. But it was so refreshing to work with a small team and be able to craft the vision of our photos and video with him. Our guests absolutely loved him, and I couldn’t believe how quickly we got our images back! Thank you so much Cinematica for your magic and hospitality!

We recently had the pleasure of working with Pro Boda for our destination wedding in Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. From the very beginning, Selene and her Team demonstrated exceptional professionalism, creativity, and attention to detail. They took the time to understand our vision and turned it into a reality that exceeded our expectations. The planning process was seamless, thanks to Pro Boda's expertise and organization. They handled everything—from venue selection to coordinating with local vendors—with grace and efficiency. Their knowledge of the Baja region was invaluable, as they introduced us to stunning locations and unique touches that made our wedding truly amazing. On the big day, Selene, Aaron, and the rest of team ensured that everything ran smoothly. We were able to relax and enjoy every moment, knowing that we were in capable hands. Our guests were equally impressed by the flawless execution, attention to detail and the beautiful ambiance. If you're considering a wedding in Baja California, we wholeheartedly recommend Pro Boda. Their dedication and passion for creating unforgettable events are unmatched. Thank you for making our dream wedding a reality!

One of my favorite memories from our wedding day and all of the planning up to the big day was our interactions with Michele. From the moment we met her, we felt this genuine connection, and could not stop smiling after our introduction. I figured, we picked a venue, have our wedding outfits and a guest list, that is all we need, right? Well, if we didn't have Michele and her amazing team, I would have been a deer in headlights! Every conversation with her, you learn a little bit more about yourself. Her attention to details, understanding who you are individually and as a couple shines in her work. I don't have much of a creative eye, I didn't know what florals to choose or colors, all I had was a vision, inspired by my childhood. Michele brought it to life. Over the years, I have heard my friends say "Make sure you enjoy your big day" or "I wish I had time to enjoy the big day, I was so stressed out". Michele, because of you, we were able to enjoy every moment of our week long celebration. Thank you for all of the emotional support, the comforting eye contact and reminding me to take deep breaths. You kept us on schedule and made sure we had moments to ourselves to take it all in! Michele truly enjoys what she does and it shows. As I look back at our wedding photographs, I love seeing all the little details, representing us. She plays with creativity and makes dreams come true! Big moments in life truly take a village, and thank you for being part of ours. Thank you for always keeping in touch even after the wedding, and being part of our lives.

ERIA’s approach really highlights how much the guest experience depends on thoughtful details beyond the venue itself. I especially like the idea of treating a wedding as a complete experience, from the welcome dinner through the farewell brunch, rather than focusing only on the ceremony. For destination or winter weddings, the same attention to detail can extend to guest comfort and wardrobe. Layering options such as a well-made sweater for men winter can be a practical addition for outdoor arrivals, evening gatherings, or cooler-weather celebrations.

Kate did ALL the florals for my July 2023 wedding and I cannot tell you how many compliments I received about my florals. My vision was a timeless wedding with white florals, pops of blue, orchids and roses. Her and her team absolutely killed it. We had a mock trail at Terranea and she wow'd me there, so I was super excited for the actual wedding day. Her and her team showed up on time and all my flowers were super FRESH. She simply blew me away. Thank you, Kate. Every detail was perfect.

We had a fantastic video re-edit experience with Steven, who rescued our wedding video. We hired a different videographer to shoot our wedding, but then she failed to deliver us an edited video as promised (and paid for!). After a year of waiting, we got our money back, and thankfully were sent by a trusted friend to Steven for help. He couldn't have been more understanding of our situation. He took our raw footage and delivered an amazing video in a very quick turnaround that is everything we ever wanted. His incredible talent is only exceeded by his friendly communication and his passion for great work. If you want an amazing video to remember your big day, don't think twice, hire him immediately. Great service, great work, great prices.

They filmed our Tahoe wedding, I was recommended them by a friend to book them. It came out perfect! Clean edits, great music, and they made the whole day amazing. I would definitely recommend them again, great guy. I left a review on google, but I'll also leave one here because they're killer!

Jenella and Mikey were the most perfect photographer/videographer duo we could have chosen to capture our special day! Choosing a wedding photographer/videographer is such a daunting task but we’re so glad we found Jenella and Mikey and they were available to shoot for us on our wedding day. When we were looking through their portfolio, we absolutely loved their style and knew that was what we wanted for our own wedding photos/video. Throughout the whole process they were so great at communicating with us and helping us with planning for our big day. We also really loved being able to do our engagement photoshoot with Jenella and Mikey. Especially because when they showed up with their team on our wedding day, they didn’t feel like strangers coming to shoot our special day but more like friends who already knew us. We completely trusted them to capture all the special moments and tell our story through their photos/videos. Not to mention, they delivered engagement photos that we absolutely adore and were so dreamy. On our wedding day, there was so much going on but we felt so taken care of by Jenella and her team. The day felt like a blur but I can recall Jenella always being somewhere close by and available, offering us water and making sure we were good to go. They were so patient with us and we felt so comfortable with them. Mikey did such an amazing job with both our wedding video trailer and wedding film. It’s so hard to describe with words but it was everything we wanted and even more. Just perfect. The wedding video so cohesive with our wedding photos but also so special in its own way. Each photo was so perfectly captured, in the most beautiful way. We loved reliving our special day through the photos and film and will cherish them for a lifetime. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!