Tara Arrowood's Online Journal

Melissa & Yas :: Engagement Shoot Hotspots in San Francisco

Tara Arrowood — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:52:26 +0000

This blog entry is dedicated to Melissa & Yas who just got married at Cavallo Point earlier this month. I'm featuring their engagement session now to get you excited for the blog about their wedding coming soon!

A little bit about the photoshoot...Melissa's dad drove us all around San Francisco so I could capture the couple in some of their favorite spots. We toured China Beach, Lands End, the Legion of Honor and the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. When you go to all of these locations in one day, it's like being a tourist! I love couples who love all the best spots in the city! And all of the costume changes were so cute. A girl wearing cowboy boots is a sure winner for a wife!

Jasmin & Nick {A Family Affair}

Tara Arrowood — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:34:10 +0000

Jasmin and Nick's wedding was like a giant group hug. There were siblings and multiple parents and a large entourage of family members. Everyone was on-hand to celebrate with the couple at the Westin St. Francis, San Francisco. Family is very important to Jasmin and Nick and this wedding was definitely a family affair.

The ceremony took place in the Colonial Room and the reception gathered in Alexandra's on the Westin Imperial Floor. Something unique to this wedding is that the famous Michael Mina designed the menu specifically for Jasmin and Nick. Not only did everything taste amazing, it looked totally awesome and lucky me got to take shots of the artistic plates and the chefs creating them. (So when you're looking at this blog and you see all the food shots, now you know why!) I couldn't pass up this opportunity!

Thanks to Jasmin and Nick and both of your families for letting me be part of your wedding day. A very special thanks to my 2nd shooter, Rana Faure as well.

Westin Catering: The Westin, Bill Hedgepeth, Director of Catering
Flowers + Decor: Laura Little, Floramor
Makeup: Darlene Carlson
Hair: Sabrina Rudd
Officiant: Father Tom
Baker: Gerhard Michler
Lighting: Got Light?
Ceremony Music: Emily Botel-Barnard, SF Conservatory of Music
DJ: Denon & Doyle
Photobooth: Video Amusement, Inc.

Carrie & Gijs :: A Wedding Homecoming

Tara Arrowood — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:02:40 +0000

Carrie & Gijs’ wedding was truly a homecoming wedding. Although already married, it was important for the bride to return to the land where she grew up to share a wedding celebration with family and friends. Her family’s 6000 acre ranch of uninterrupted, rolling hills just south of the town of Sonoma was the setting for the entire gathering. The family home was built in the 1950’s and the interior is true mid-century design. Sweeping views from the property boasted cattle grazing lands rather than vineyards. It was gorgeous.

The weekend kicked off with a fabulous rehearsal dinner at Carrie and Gijs' favorite Petaluma restaurant, Central Market. You'll see these photos first below, with the brick wall and rustic table setting. The restaurant specializes in "farm to table" cuisine and it's so yummy. (I highly recommend you check out their happy hour from 5-6pm daily, during which they serve free pizza and $1 oysters at the bar!) I also had the opportunity during this time to photograph Carrie and Gijs in their first wedding's apparel, with the trains, barns and rustic countryside setting as our backdrop.

The couple’s vision for the wedding day was to make it feel like a bountiful, rustic farmer's market in your own backyard. One of the goals was to source everything as locally as possible, from to the food, to the flowers, to the bowties sewed for the groomsmen. All of the fantastic beer was from the bride’s brother's local brewery, Uncommon Brewers; the wine primarily came from grapes grown on the family’s Wildcat Mountain vineyard; and even the olive oil on each table was produced on the family’s property. Carrie and Gijs also wanted to incorporate the Dutch concept known as "gezelligheid." As Carrie describes it, “It refers to an environment that is cozy or quaint, or can mean the experience of belonging, spending time with loved ones, or seeing a friend after a long absence. It's one of the hardest words to translate into English, but is absolutely everything that we sought to convey through our wedding, as well as our day to day relationships with each other and with our amazing family and friends.”

And nothing brings people together like good food, good wine and good music. Aaron Jonas catered the affair and every mouthful was scrumptious. In lieu of a wedding cake, there was an overflowing dessert buffet, complete with cakes, pies, mini galettes, and profiteroles. It was decadent and gorgeous. (Since my own wedding “cakes” consisted of Hostess cupcakes and Twinkies, I love when couples opt for non-traditional desserts!)

To complement the good food was the music. An impromptu kazoo serenade by the bridal party was a hilarious surprise to Carrie and Gijs. And speaking of hilarious, make sure you scroll down and look at the photos from our photo booth. World travelers Carrie and Gijs met through an international traveler’s network called Couchsurfing and couches were prominently featured at the wedding. For the photo booth, all I needed was a stylish couch and a few chalk boards, and the wedding guests took over from there. From couch surfing and predicting engagements, to pleas for help, the fun just kept on going.cakesTo complement the good food was the music. An impromptu kazoo serenade by the bridal party was a hilarious surprise to Carrie and Gijs. And speaking of hilarious, make sure you scroll down and look at the photos from our photo booth. World travelers Carrie and Gijs met through an international traveler’s network called Couchsurfing and couches were prominently featured at the wedding. For the photo booth, all I needed was a stylish couch and a few chalk boards, and the wedding guests took over from there. From couch surfing and predicting engagements, to pleas for help, the fun just kept on going.

Congratulations Carrie & Gijs.

Rehearsal Dinner: Central Market, Petaluma
Ceremony/Reception Location: Private Estate, Sonoma

Event Planner: Julie Atwood Events

Floral Designer: Spiral Hand

Table Centerpieces: Oak Hill Farm

Caterer: Aaron Jonas

Cheese Purveyor: Sheana Davis, Epicurean Connection

Beer Selection: Uncommon Brewers

Cake: Forget Me Not Cakes

Paper: Sandy Bremner Designs

Calligraphy: Calligraphy Girl

Bridal Gown: Martina Liana

Bridal Accessories: Etsy.com

Rentals: Wine Country Party

Lighting: Twilight Design

Music: The Floor Shakers

A Lovely {Rainy} Wedding :: Lisa & Erick

Tara Arrowood — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:59:42 +0000

They say that rain is good luck on your wedding day. Well if that's true, Erick and Lisa are in for a lifetime of luck and good fortune because it poured; not only on their wedding day, but throughout the entire wedding weekend at Kennolyn in Santa Cruz, California. Second shooter Kevin Meynell and I were wrangling with umbrellas and wearing plastic bags over our feet in attempts to stay dry. It was a wet, wet weekend.

But the good news is, Lisa was smiling and Erick was laughing and good times were had by all. The rain didn't stop this fun-loving, creative couple from celebrating. With a hands-on groom and DIY details, this wedding was a cultural celebration to remember.

Officiant: Nicole Bloss
Hair: Britney Rossi
Makeup: Kinder Asthetics
Cake: The Buttery
Floral Designer: Laughing Gal Floral
Band: La Gente
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Transportation: Santa Cruz Experience
Photobooth: The Laugh Box
Stationary: 7 Squared Design

Today's Bride Feature :: Sweet + Sassy Love Fest

Tara Arrowood — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:00:58 +0000

In the dreary months of winter, it’s nice to get a splash of bright color to shake up the monotony. Hence, the Sweet + Sassy Love Fest wedding featured in the 2012 edition of Today’s Bride Magazine.

The featured photos were selected from Leora Adams and Adam Berstein’s wedding at the Mayacamas Ranch. Designed and planned by Kathryn from Dream a Little Dream Events and color-splashed by Natasha Lisitsa of Waterlily Pond, this wedding was so bright and bold it got published in a book! {Florever Wherever, features floral inspiration from all over the world.}

And, Event Solutions Magazine featured this event on their magazine cover.

If you’d like to keep the Love Fest going, visit my previous blog entry on Leora and Adam’s wedding which features some of my favorite photos! Add some color to your life and spread the love.

Other notable Vendors:
Tent, Tableware, Props + Furniture: Hartmann Studios
Tables: Zephyr Tents
Lighting: Refraction

Today's Bride Feature :: Rustic Restoration Revisited

Tara Arrowood — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:01:06 +0000

OMG does not begin to describe what I felt when I walked into the Asiel Design Studio to find this amazing Rustic Restoration set in front of me. This design concept is exactly my style to a tee! From the alchemist cocktail bar to the cozy lounge setting and urban-yet-rustic dinner table, this room transported visitors to a whole new world where potions and airplants, industrial metals and natural materials are the design M.O.

This set was a photographer’s dream! Everywhere I looked there was some new, previously unnoticed element to photograph. And of course, they can’t all fit in the magazine so I’m sharing more with you here. I hope you drool over the images I’ve selected to feature in this blog. Be sure to check out the video by AVR Films too! You’ll get to see an interview with the designers and get a sense of the extent of work and detail that were poured into this project.

Credits and Accolades to the following:
Asiel Design
Hartmann Studios
Jen's Cakes
Marizette Paperie
Today's Bride
AVR Films

Today's Bride Feature :: La Femme Vintage :: Vintage Femininity

Tara Arrowood — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:55:15 +0000

This year, once again, I’m happy to say my work is being featured in Today’s Bride Magazine! I’ve been working with Cristine Thomas, the publisher, for years, and I must say, the 2012 issue is the most gorgeous magazine she has released.

Cover Photographers- Winter & Summer: Tanja Lippert | Spring & Fall: Jennifer Skog

The featured shoot below is called La Femme Vintage :: Vintage Femininity. Conceptualized and created by Jonathan and Linnae of Asiel Design, this room truly embodies their motto “design that evokes emotion.” The inspiration was to create a soft, ambient, ultra-feminine, moody setting. Pairing vintage pieces with new, using warm colors and lighting, draping in lace, accenting with golds, and using 9 different table centerpieces, Asiel transformed their warehouse into a beautiful feminine sanctuary.

Credits and Accolades to the following:
Asiel Design
Enhanced Lighting
Hartmann Studios
Napa Valley Linens
Jen's Cakes
Marizette Paperie
Mighty Thredz Design & Print Company
Luke Goodman Cinematography

Morgan and John {down on the farm!}

Tara Arrowood — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:53:00 +0000

A couple after my own heart........

Morgan and John called me last year to discuss hiring me to photograph their wedding. They too are photographers (no pressure) and have also photographed many weddings.

I asked them to describe their wedding day and they said: "Imagine the entire family coming over to the house on a Sunday afternoon for dinner. That's it - it's about family." Having been together since high school, they have so much history with their families. I am so excited for their wedding in Carmel in August. It's a true honor Morgan and John....thank you!

Here's some fun we had at Old Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek. If you haven't had the chance to check it out - they have an 'open gate' policy....you can let yourself in and out and pet the chickens! (and sheep and goats)

Alia + Ian :: A Napa Valley Classic

Tara Arrowood — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:50:52 +0000

When Alia & Ian became engaged, they went right to work on planning the wedding. Luckily, Alia is an Interior Designer at Jessica Hall Associates and has a passion for design and details. And I say “luckily” because that means “lucky for all of you readers, there’s lots of great eye candy in this wedding!”

Let’s start with the setting- what could be more perfect than the bride’s parent’s home atop Hennessey Ridge Road overlooking the whole Napa Valley in St. Helena? This place was so beautiful, I had to keep taking photos as the lighting and landscapes changed throughout the day and evening. Absolutely breath-taking. The pool area was transformed for the ceremony with a canopy of voile while the railings were draped with boughs of boxwood ivy and hundreds of white roses and freesia. For the reception, the home’s courtyard was transformed with lighting from Lunaria, a little bit of magic, and a lot of classic, simple elegance in every element of décor.

As for how this beautiful day came to be, Alia’s family jumped in to help with the planning and the busy bridesmaids put their hands to work too, just days before the wedding:

Father-of-the-bride Gary jumped on food and wine, bringing in Chef Sarah Scott to execute the most delicious food at a wedding I’ve ever had, while Wendy Sherwood from La Forêt created a gluten-free, 3-tier delight;

Mother-of-the-bride Jessica took the term “florist” to the extreme, transforming Alia’s living room into a production house where, for months, all the intimate decorative elements and tiny details were created-from ceremony programs and menus to favors and flower petal holders for every ceremony chair.

Sister-of-the-Bride graced the wedding ceremony with her voice to the music of “Come Away with Me” by Norah Jones.

And finally, a special thank you to Miss Alia Meyer Gaffney for providing me with the scoop on all the wedding details so that I could share them here on the blog along with the photos.

Chef: Sarah Scott
Cake: Wendy Sherwood, La Forêt
Electrical: Eric Norris, Bulldog Electric
Lighting Design: Lunaria
Band: Brian Cline Band
Dress: Vianett Bridal
Hair: Cooper Alley Salon
Layouts: Nicolas Sauzier of Jessica Hall Associates
Everything Else: Alia Meyer Gaffney, Ian Gaffney, Gary Grace, Jessica Grace, Daisy Meyer, Nicolas Sauzier, James Fox and many more.

Len + Irina: A Russian Wedding

Tara Arrowood — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:09:46 +0000

If their engagement shoot was any indication of what type of couple Len and Irina were going to be on their wedding day, then I was SUPER excited! This fun-loving duo dared to pose in front of ruined buildings in Hunter’s Point while dodging security, produced a bag of costumes for fun studio shots and even posed formally so I could capture the traditional engagement-type shots too. (More on this story in Len’s Yelp review!)

So naturally, when it was time for the wedding, I wanted to make sure the day was photographed in its entirety to capture all the elements that made this day uniquely Len and Irina’s.

The wedding included a religious ceremony at Mills College and a beautiful reception at the historic Julia Morgan Ballroom. Melissa from A Simple Ceremony decked out the ballroom with beautiful natural elements boasting branches, succulents, greens and even artichokes. Beli Deli stayed true to the ethnic heritage of the couple providing traditional Russian faire for the feast. There was music and dancing and happy faces all around.

Thank you Len and Irina for letting me share your wedding day and your style with the world.

Ceremony Location: Mills College, Oakland

Reception Location: Julia Morgan Ballroom

2^nd shooter: Kevin Meynell

Event Coordinator: Linda Hylen, Julia Morgan Ballroom

Floral Designer: Melissa Comito-Aakre, A Simple Ceremony

Cake: Eva Kant, Sweet Sanctuary

Catering: Beli Deli Gourmet Catering

Stationery: Champagne Sunday

Hair: Anthony Lymon

Bridal Gown Designer: Sarah Houston

Bridal Salon: Nouvelle Vogue

Tailor: Al’s Attire

Lighting: Impact Lighting