Photos by Lead Associate Danielle Kelley, Editing by Heather Scharf

They first met each other about six years ago. Katey’s friend Barbara had been trying to set Katey up with Brian for several weeks as she had a hunch they would be a perfect match. Eventually Brian called Katey and asked her to have lunch down at the Ferry Building. They hit it off and the rest is history!

While it was grey skies and frigid temperatures on the day of Katey and Brian’s engagement session, they were all smiles as they walked up to our location, and their connection was immediately apparent. We hopped around to a few different locations including The Legion of Honor and Sutro Baths and navigated around the weekend tourists. I genuinely enjoyed the experience of getting to know who they are as a couple, and how they love one another, and cannot wait to capture their wedding day in April!

It all began in 9th grade math class, which is a great place to develop a crush especially when everything else in class is not adding up. 😉 Despite this intrigue they had for each other, they ran in different circles until 12th grade. It wasn’t until they both happened to be on a bathroom break from math class (hmmm…I see a pattern here that IS adding up!) that they finally started chatting. That conversation led to many lunchtime Starbucks runs, which eventually led to Nikhil timidly asking Steph to prom!

After high school, they remained a dating duo despite going to undergraduate universities 10 hours apart, and then choosing different countries in which to live after graduation. It was a long road of extremely long distance dating, but eventually Steph moved to San Francisco to be with Nikhil. YAH! They then adopted a sweet puppy named Riley.

Exactly one year from Riley’s adoption, Nikhil suggested that they take a longer-than-usual walk at Fort Point with a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge. While Nikhil was positioning Steph with Riley for a picture facing the GGB (in the spot pictured above), he dropped to a knee and when Steph turned back around, he asked her to marry him. Their story deserves a standing ovation for the bravery, endurance, patience and love they needed to bring together what was always destined to be. I cannot wait to capture their wedding!

Ali & Fernando sure know how to roll with the punches! When the Kincade Fires made their original venue in Santa Rosa unsafe to use, they were totally at ease with the last minute switch to the gorgeous Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. It turned out to be a flawless day and a beautiful setting for a wedding. On top of all the lovely details, like the dusty blue bridesmaid dresses, florals and Ali’s wedding dress, I loved seeing how much these two families deeply loved each other. It was as though they had been one family united all along. I am so excited to share the photos from their fall wedding!

Wedding Venue: The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa – https://www.fairmont.com/sonoma/meetings-weddings/

Wedding Coordinator:  Bertoli Bridal and Design – Leah Bertoli – 707-291-8002 info@bertolibridal.com

Site Coordinator: Sasha Talsky for The Fairmont Mission Inn and Spa – smi.weddings@fairmont.com –https://www.fairmont.com/sonoma/meetings-weddings/

Caterer: The Fairmont Mission Inn and Spa –https://www.fairmont.com/sonoma/meetings-weddings/

Flower designer:  Vanda Floral Design   707-763-9271  Millita Walker  millita@vandafloral.com 

DJ or Entertainment: DJ Fabian   707-481-3226  deejayfabian@gmail.com 

Cake Designer: Rassasy Cakes   Erin Manly   Rassasycakes@gmail.com

Hair & Makeup Artist: Shayna Azevedo     707 – 495 – 8858  azevedo.shayna@gmail.com

Blooming photo Booth
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Dress Designer: Pronovias 

Invitation Desiger: Minted 

Lauren and Mike are as native to the San Francisco Bay area as you can get! She was born and raised right in the city and Mike is from Marin. It was only fitting that we hit up some of SF’s most iconic and beautiful locations on their engagement session. We started at The Legion of Honor, then the Sutro Baths for a variety of woodsy and ocean shots and wrapped up at a great Golden Gate Bridge outlook location. These two are so easy going and genuinely kind that hanging out with them and taking their photos was a dream! I especially loved Lauren’s split leap in the air on a thin strip of the Sutro Baths cliff!