Gerry Ranch Wedding in Santa Rosa Valley, California | Annie + Aaron

Gerry Ranch Wedding in Santa Rosa Valley, California | Annie + Aaron (July 22, 2022)

Annie and Aaron’s wedding day at Gerry Ranch in Santa Rosa Valley was the perfect blend of woodsy, romantic, and editorial. Everything took place on site, which made the day feel relaxed and intentional from beginning to end, with one beautiful moment flowing right into the next.

The gallery opens with one of my favorite ways to start a wedding story: a detail flat lay that feels like a time capsule. Annie’s Badgley Mischka shoes, Chance by Chanel perfume, a pearl necklace with a daisy-like pendant and a pearl center, their save the dates, his vows, her vows, and their rings tucked into a wooden ring box. Woodsy, sentimental, and elevated all at once.

Getting ready at Gerry Ranch

Annie got ready in the bridal suite at Gerry Ranch with her bridesmaids, and you can feel the excitement building in the photos. There’s a cheers moment with the girls, soft natural light pouring in, and a quiet set of portraits that feel calm and confident.

Aaron’s getting-ready photos matched the vibe perfectly. He had a classic 1948 red Mustang on site (a total showstopper), and I photographed him leaning against it before we moved into those crisp, clean moments like pulling up his socks, the guys hanging out together, and his best man helping him into his jacket.

One of the standout details was the inside of Aaron’s jacket, which had a paisley lining—an easy detail to miss in real time, but it photographed so well and fit the woodsy-classic look of the day.

Editorial wedding party portraits (with the grove light doing its thing)

This wedding had some of my favorite wedding party photos I’ve photographed at Gerry Ranch. There were eight groomsmen plus Aaron’s dad, and we created an editorial setup on the grass with the avocado trees blocking the harsh sun behind them—soft shade, clean light, and a very intentional feel.

There’s a sharp portrait where Aaron is standing, two groomsmen are seated, the others are posed facing different directions, and the whole frame feels like it could be a magazine spread.

Before the ceremony, I also captured meaningful moments with Annie and her mom: zipping the dress, placing the veil, and a quiet forehead-to-forehead moment that felt like the world paused for a second.

Bridesmaids first look and woodsy details

On the patio, Annie did a first look with her bridesmaids, and their reactions were pure joy—hands over mouths, happy tears, huge smiles. One of my favorite frames is from behind Annie, with the back of her head in focus while the bridesmaids are blurred out in front of her holding bouquets up to their faces. Then they drop the bouquets and you see the emotion even more.

There’s also a backlit moment of Annie spraying perfume in the sun that feels effortless and cinematic, plus a gorgeous patio group photo with the girls that ties the whole “woodsy but refined” aesthetic together.

Ceremony with mountains, a handmade feel, and live music

The ceremony setup featured a wooden cross with the mountains and grove backdrop behind it—simple, meaningful, and visually stunning. Annie and Aaron also had a display for guest seating/table assignments that looked handmade and fit the theme perfectly.

Their ceremony included live music by Angelo Arce, who played piano and sang, which added such a personal layer to the moment.

As the ceremony began, I captured the quiet emotional beats: Aaron hugging his dad, the wedding party walking in couple by couple, and a flower boy moment that had everyone smiling—he threw petals like he was tossing chalk before a game.

Annie walked in with her mother and father, and there’s a beautiful moment where Aaron is blurred out in the background while he hugs her father. During the ceremony, Aaron wipes away a tear, they pray together, and we get those wide shots where you see the audience in the foreground with the farmland and mountains in the distance.

The vows and ring exchange were especially emotional—Aaron reading his vows while Annie tears up, then Annie reading hers back. And one of the most meaningful visual moments: a rosary/pearl necklace draped over their hands as they held on to each other, photographed from shoulder-down so the focus stays on the symbolism and their connection.

Portraits around the ranch (editorial, sentimental, and a little cinematic)

After the ceremony, we moved into family photos and then portraits that leaned into both the editorial vibe and the tenderness between them.

There’s a close-up fingertip-touch photo with the avocado tree background melted into blur, a royal-style wedding party portrait with seated and standing poses facing different directions, and sweet moments with Annie’s grandfather.

As the light shifted, we got glowing backlit trees behind them, a beautiful under-the-veil forehead touch, and then some portraits with the red Mustang that feel timeless and fun at the same time.

Reception details, toasts, and the party

For reception details, the ceremony cross was moved behind the sweetheart table, which made for a strong focal point during dinner and speeches. The dessert table was styled with a chandelier above it, and I photographed the cake close-up before the night kicked off.

From the grand entrance to the first dance, the reception stayed sentimental and joyful. There are also photos with each guest table (a full set of those “everyone together” moments that couples always end up valuing more over time).

Later in the night, we went back out for a second round of romantics in the avocado grove: laughing, touching foreheads, holding hands on the dirt path with the mountains ahead—quiet moments in the middle of a full, energetic day.

Night portraits and the sparkler exit in the Mustang

As it got dark, the lighting got fun. There’s a standout moment with the bride and groom behind the dessert table at night while part of the avocado tree behind them is uplit in blue—such a cool contrast and a great example of how intentional lighting can make a reception feel elevated.

Then the party really took off: the groomsmen lifted Aaron and tossed him in the air, the bridesmaids tried to toss Annie, and everyone was laughing.

The night ended with a sparkler exit lit with off-camera flash, a kiss in the middle of the sparkler tunnel, and then the perfect send-off in the red Mustang: Annie and Aaron kissing inside the car, followed by my favorite final frame—shot from outside the passenger window with Annie in focus, looking back and waving goodbye to all their friends and family as they drove away.

Wedding vendors
Venue: Gerry Ranch (Santa Rosa Valley, CA)
Live music: Angelo Arce
Bride shoes: Badgley Mischka
Perfume: Chance by Chanel

Planning a Gerry Ranch wedding?

If you’re planning a wedding at Gerry Ranch and want photography that feels emotional, editorial, and timeless (with space to actually enjoy your day), I’d love to connect through my Amori Weddings contact page.