Rainy Fillmore Chapel Wedding in Fillmore, California | Michaela + Nick
Some wedding days go exactly to plan. And some wedding days ask you to pivot, adapt, and stay calm so the couple can stay fully present.
Michaela and Nick’s wedding day (January 3, 2026) was the second kind — with heavy rainfall, a timeline that needed real-time adjustments, and a ceremony that moved indoors. And honestly? It turned into one of my favorite galleries because it’s packed with meaning, personality, and the kind of joyful, “we’re in this together” energy that makes a wedding unforgettable.
They got ready in Valencia, California, celebrated at the Fillmore Chapel in Fillmore, and we even pulled off the most cinematic first look in the rain at Fillmore City Hall.
Here’s how it all unfolded!
Getting ready in Valencia, California at Michaela’s mom’s home
The morning started at Michaela’s mom’s house in Valencia, where things felt calm, warm, and family-centered — the kind of getting ready environment that instantly sets the tone for the whole day.
Before we jumped into the final touches, I photographed Michaela’s details as a flat lay, including:
all three rings (Michaela’s ring, Nick’s ring, and an additional ring)
invitations and save the dates
crystals collected by Lynn (Michaela’s mom)
The crystals were such a cool detail — a powder-blue-meets-emerald-green vibe — and I photographed the rings placed on the crystals and styled alongside them on a glass table. That glass surface gave me a clean reflection of the jewelry and crystal textures, which made the images feel elevated and editorial, while still personal to their story.
Then we moved into hair and makeup getting ready photos, capturing those candid, in-between moments with Michaela and her hair and makeup artists before the room shifted into something even more meaningful.
Something Borrowed and Something Old moments with both moms
One of the most heartfelt parts of the morning was watching both moms play a role in Michaela’s “Something Borrowed” and “Something Old.”
Nick’s mom, Cindy, helped Michaela put on her Something Borrowed necklace — a necklace from Cindy’s own wedding. It was a sweet, quiet moment that felt like an instant bridge between families.
And then Michaela’s mom, Lynn, helped her put on her Something Old bracelet — and this one was layered with history. The bracelet included a repurposed piece of jewelry from Lynn’s wedding: the jewel from an earring set where Lynn had lost one earring years ago. Instead of letting that last earring sit in a drawer forever, it was transformed into something Michaela could wear on her wedding day. That’s the kind of detail that turns an accessory into an heirloom.
After those moments, we photographed Michaela with both moms (Cindy and Lynn), plus her matron of honor (Stephanie, Michaela’s sister) and her bridesmaid — all the people who were grounding her and hyping her up before the day really began.
A rainy wedding day pivot: first look moved to Fillmore City Hall
Originally, we planned to do the first look at the old railroad bridge in Fillmore — but the rain was coming down hard, and the bridge offered zero coverage. Michaela had just finished hair and makeup, and I wasn’t about to send her into the rain and wind and risk messing up everything she’d waited for.
So we pivoted. The new plan was to head straight to the venue and do the first look indoors.
But as we drove down Central Avenue in Fillmore, I spotted Fillmore City Hall — tall Roman-style columns, a covered entryway, and the kind of architecture that looks timeless on camera.
We made a quick executive decision and relocated the first look to the covered entry at Fillmore City Hall.
And it was perfect.
I stood outside in the rain under my umbrella and photographed Michaela and Nick seeing each other for the first time in the most joyful, emotional moment — tears were shed, smiles were huge, and the rain added this cinematic energy that made everything feel even more alive.
One of my favorite behind-the-scenes moments from that sequence was Stephanie (matron of honor / sister) holding an umbrella to protect Michaela’s dress while Nick held an umbrella as they made their way back to the car. It was one of those “this is family” moments that says so much without needing any words.
Wedding party portraits at the Fillmore Chapel
Once we arrived at the Fillmore Chapel, we leaned into everything the venue offers — character, height, architecture, and texture that looks incredible in photos.
We photographed:
Nick with his groomsmen
Michaela with the groomsmen (including an arm-wrestling photo that was an inside joke)
the entire wedding party up on the second-floor balcony with the chapel windows and rafters behind them
Michaela with her bridesmaids
Nick having fun with the bridesmaids (because why not?)
There were also some great emotional moments with Nick’s family — including Nick’s dad helping him with his jacket, and Cindy helping with the boutonniere in a quiet, intimate moment before everything started moving quickly.
And then there’s Nick’s personality — Michaela specifically asked me to capture his goofiness because she loves how much he makes her laugh, so I made sure the edits included the moments where Nick was being Nick: the “riz face,” the jawline touch, the funny expressions, the playful energy that keeps Michaela smiling.
One of my favorite throwback moments from earlier in the day was recreating a photo of Michaela and Lynn from Lynn’s own wedding — Michaela sitting on a couch with her mom beside her — recreated in a modern way on Michaela’s wedding day. Those are the kinds of photos that become family history.
Indoor ceremony at the Fillmore Chapel (and it worked beautifully)
Because of the weather, the ceremony was moved indoors — which honestly worked perfectly because it’s a chapel. The space was made for meaningful ceremony photos: beautiful depth, clean lines, and that timeless atmosphere.
The florals were provided by Casablanca Flowers in Oxnard, and they photographed beautifully against the indoor chapel setting.
After Michaela and Nick kissed, they walked halfway down the aisle and Nick spun her into a dip — a big, fun “this is so us” moment that brought the whole room to life and gave us an incredible ending sequence to the ceremony set.
Family photos and the sweetest candid moments
After the ceremony, we moved into immediate family and extended family photos.
A few standout moments I loved:
Michaela with her mom Lynn and her grandpa (on her mom’s side) — both of them kissing his cheeks while he sat, and it was just pure sweetness.
Michaela with her two ring bearers (her sister’s son and her brother’s son) — proud, excited, and adorable.
These are the photos that hit harder as the years go by.
Just married portraits outside the Fillmore Chapel (yes, we caught a break in the rain)
Later in the day, the rain finally let up and we got a window to step outside the chapel for a quick mini session.
We captured exactly what Michaela wanted — playful, laughing, romantic portraits outside the chapel towers — plus photos showing off:
the front of her dress
the back of her dress
the way they naturally connect when nobody is telling them what to do
Short timeline, big payoff.
Reception inside the Fillmore Chapel: donuts, uplighting, and nonstop energy
They had around 75 guests, and the reception vibe was FUN.
Details included:
burnt orange uplighting around the walls (which looked amazing with the venue)
emerald green bridesmaid dresses (perfect contrast)
a donut bar
a three-layer cake with three different cake flavors
We also took some dramatic couple portraits on the second-floor balcony with the chapel rafters behind them — a moody, cinematic look that balanced perfectly with all the playful energy of the day.
Then came the grand entrance straight into the first dance, and Nick was already in full “make her laugh” mode — spinning Michaela, making funny faces, and keeping it light the whole time.
They also did something I love: table photos at the sweetheart table, where each guest table came up for photos. It’s such a smart way to make sure you have at least one great photo with everyone, without chasing people around the dance floor later.
There were heartfelt speeches (including a great best man speech), a thank you from Michaela and Nick, a father-daughter dance, a mother-son dance, and a cake cutting where they stayed true to their personalities — playful, goofy, and totally themselves.
And then… the line dancing.
Michaela loves to line dance, so she taught everyone a simple 16-count line dance — and about 50 out of the 70 guests joined in to learn it. The dance floor stayed packed after that.
From my perspective up on the second-floor balcony, I had the perfect angle to capture the crowd singing along (including a moment where everyone was singing to Chappell Roan), plus some great photos of Nick with his childhood best friends.
And I ended the gallery exactly how I like to end galleries like this: with the groom being absolutely hilarious while dancing — because if that’s the energy of the day, that’s how the story should close.
Why challenging indoor weddings require experience (and the right lighting)
This wedding was a great reminder of something I tell couples all the time: when weather forces most of the day indoors, it takes an experienced photographer to keep the quality consistent.
Indoor lighting changes fast. Window light fades. Timelines move. Moments don’t wait.
I ran a four-light setup throughout the day, and as the sun dropped and the windows got darker, I had to adjust quickly — repositioning lights, balancing ambient, and keeping the look clean and flattering without slowing the day down.
There’s very little room for mistakes in a wedding like this.
And I’m proud of how it all came out — the photos are beautiful, the story feels true, and the gallery is packed with the fun, loving personalities that make Michaela and Nick such a great match.
Vendor shoutout
Florals: Casablanca Flowers (Oxnard, California)
Planning a wedding at the Fillmore Chapel? (Or getting ready in Valencia?)
If you’re planning a Fillmore Chapel wedding in Fillmore, California — or you’re getting ready in Valencia and want a photographer who can pivot with weather, keep you calm, and still deliver a gallery that feels elevated and emotional — I’d love to connect.
Fillmore has so many hidden photo gems (like Fillmore City Hall), and rainy days can still create the kind of images you’ll want to frame forever.
If you’re looking for an experienced Fillmore wedding photographer, reach out through my contact page and tell me what you’re planning. I’ll help you build a photo game plan that works even if the forecast doesn’t cooperate.