July 4, 2016

Arista Winery Wedding ~ Marisa & Zach!

Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4683

You fall in love with someone and decide to get married. You search and find the perfect venue, dress, suit, shoes, florist, photographer, invitations, caterer and on and on and on. Planning a wedding is a ton of work, so you better believe that every couple wants the perfect weather too. “Rain on your wedding day is good luck” … “Rain makes the wedding knot tighter”. Sure.

I think it came as a shock to everyone when the weather for Marisa & Zach’s Northern California wedding didn’t look so… wedding-like.  I’m sure like me, everyone was glued to that 10 day forecast, checking it everyday multiple times. The storm system was just not budging.

When the email came in that Plan B, the rain plan, was moving into effect, I think everyone involved with the wedding felt a little saddened.  Except I’m thinking the tent rental company, they kind of have to love Plan B!

BUT imagine this, what if Plan B was really Plan A+? Well I am here to show you that Plan B was like unicorns and rainbows- well actually just one rainbow. But an awesome rainbow!

Plan B was simply spectacular and this lovely couple deserved it all, especially that rainbow!

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VRBOJust down the road from the winery, Marisa got ready surrounded by her leading ladies at a lovely home they rented out from VRBO.
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4511Well there was one little dude, but with a smile like that he was allowed to hang with the ladies!

Brilliant Earth RingsMarisa and Zach made an ethical choice for their rings from Brilliant Earth, a company that only uses conflict free jewels. Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4515Since Marisa and Zach are both nurses, the stethoscope made the perfect little nest for the rings to be photographed!

Wash and Brushup CoMarisa’s hair looked so amazing, it was perfectly curled and braided by the talented Diadra of Wash & Brushup Co.
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4684It was time to go and the dress was in good hands with Marisa’s sister-in-law! Hotel Les MarsWhile all the girl primping was happening, the guys were getting ready at the Hotel Les Mars.Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4519The guys do not have to do much except watch sports, have a few drinks and eventually tie a tie and their shoes. Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4520Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4521Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4522But they do clean up nice!Arista Winery WeddingWhen I asked Marisa and Zach why they chose Arista Winery, they told me that when they visited other venues the actual place did not look as good as the pictures.  But when they arrived at Arista, the place was even better than the pictures! They loved the charm and beauty of it all and were blown away by the staff, especially wedding planners, Meredith and Taylor. Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4524The ladies tucked themselves away in the tasting room. As you can see it’s still not raining but the sky was threatening. Hayley Paige Wedding dressMarisa’s dress so masterfully created by Hayley Paige! Sure it was cool to hang it and get this image but this dress cannot be truly appreciated until you see it on Marisa! Jimmy Choo wedding shoesArista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4527Take a tip from this bride and stay on your getting ready timeline on your wedding day! She arrived at her venue with some time to hang out and enjoy herself with her ladies! Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4528Zach and his guys headed up the hill to the Pavilion to make sure he didn’t see Marisa. One of the incredible aspects of this venue is how the layout can be used for different parts of the wedding day. For this wedding, the ceremony was behind the tasting room but for other weddings the ceremony might be up the hill at the Pavilion.  There are so many options to customize your wedding at Arista. Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4529Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4531Back in the tasting room it was time for Marisa to get dressed!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4532Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4533Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4685Zach’s Mom and Marisa’s sister-in-law beamed with happiness!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4686Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4687Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4537Japanese garden at wineryWith the guys wayyyyy out of site, the ladies headed to the charming Japanese garden outside the tasting room for the last touches of getting ready. Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4539This dress! Marisa in this dress! Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4540Awwww, Mom’s little girl all grown up! Such a sweet moment!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4688Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4543Not only did Marisa have some time to hang with her ladies but we also had time to take just some pictures of her!  I was in photo heaven and secretly praising Mother Nature for holding on to her raindrops! Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4544Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4545The Bloomery Co.Can you believe this bouquet? Incredible! All the floral design and work was just stunning. Job well done by The Bloomery Co!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4550The ceremony was held at the Front Lawn.  It’s a space that’s perfect for a smaller wedding such as this or even a cocktail hour.  Everything looked so sensational and the sky just was making it even more exciting and dramatic!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4690Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4552Beautiful details everywhere you looked!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4553Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4554Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4547Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4548I even got some time to photograph the handsome groom! His sharp suit was created by Christian Roche. How cool is that under the collar detail!? No excuses now for forgetting the anniversary!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4549It was time for the ceremony to start.  The guys headed down and Marisa headed back to the tasting room. Hayley PaigeArista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4555Zach escorted his Mother down the aisle. Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4556Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4557Can you feel the love?! Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4558With music playing and excitement in the air, Marisa appeared into sight with her parents. Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4559Zach’s face erupted into the biggest smile at the first glimpse of his beautiful bride!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4560Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4561Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4562So much love at this wedding!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4564The ceremony began and was wonderfully officiated by their good friend Dean Baxter. Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4565Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4566Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4567Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4568Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4569Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4575Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4570Marisa and Zach exchanged vows…Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4571Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4572Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4573…then rings.
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4577With a stomp of a foot, Zach shattered the glass!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4578Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4579Then he kissed his bride!!!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4580Married!!!!!!!!! Mazel Tov!!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4581Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4582Whoot! Whoot!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4691While the newlyweds shared a few minutes together in their newlywed bliss, I got to spend some blissful minutes with this incredible bouquet!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4585The guests were taken up the hill to enjoy cocktail hour and we were busy having some fun photographing Marisa and Zach around the property and taking advantage of the dry weather.Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4586Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4587So much happiness!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4588Everywhere you turn at Arista there is a place to take pictures!  This venue is a DREAM for weddings!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4589And yes, this couple considered the pen that held the goats to be one of those places for pictures! They risked being bitten, stepping on poop and anything else that can happen with animals because they just love them so. Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4590And the animals loved them too and played nice!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4591Marisa wore her Mother’s veil! And with a little wind and some magic it performed so beautifully for some photographs!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4592We hopped on the Hummer driven by Meredith and headed up the hill. We were only halfway up when we were surrounded by the vineyards. The view seemed endless and was awe-inspiring. Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4593Of course we headed into them for some photographs, I mean this place is all about the wine!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4594Marisa’s Dad who was enjoying the said wine came by to say hello!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4595Besides the fact that these two were radiating such joy, do you notice anything?!?! The light changed. And just like that it became a sunny day! Mother nature decided to take her full gray clouds to the next town and let her rain drop! The sun delivered it’s wedding gift, some powerful and amazing rays of sunshine!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4596Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4692Sun + lavender + love!!! Yes!!
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Having resigned to the fact that it was probably going to rain, I had personally just been happy that it was dry during Marisa and Zach’s ceremony.  I kept saying in my head, “Just let them get married outside in dry weather. Just let them get married outside in dry weather. Just let them get married outside in dry weather. ” You get the drill.  It was a total unexpected bonus that the sun was out and lighting up Marisa’s glorious dress and shining down upon everyone!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4599Marisa and Zach strolled up the road soaking up the glory!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4600At the Pavilion, cocktail hour was underway. The views were amazing, the wine was delicious and everyone was celebrating the newlyweds and the good old California weather!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4601Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4604Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4602Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4603Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4605Marisa & Zach played their personalized Cornhole game!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4606Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4607Ha!  I bet those men had no idea that a photographer was creeping up behind them for the sake of taking a cool picture!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4608Plan B involved a tent. Was it needed?  Not for rain because it never did rain!  But I found that it provided a sense of intimate space that held everyone together and kept everyone cozy. Like one big group hug!  The tables were set so spectacularly! Nothing at this wedding was overlooked, everything was perfect! Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4609Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4610Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4611The food was out of this world! Incredible job done by Ramekins Catering.Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4612Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4613Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4614Happiness everywhere you looked!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4615Admiring the new jewelry!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4616Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4617Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4618Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4619I had to see about the incredible Oak tree outside the Pavilion being so nicely lit up by the sun. Now I’m going to tell you a secret. Wedding days inspire me to no end.  If I have a couple in love I could photograph them all day long even in a dark alley! This inspiration can be a blessing and a curse, I mean, my couples need to eat and they want to be with their friends and family.  Even though I want to photograph them the whole time I know I cannot. BUT this tree- this magnificent tree so perfectly illuminated by the late setting sun was begging for photographs. Envisioning Marisa and Zach walking through that light felt like it would be out of a fairytale and well, Marisa likes fairytales…Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4620As luck would have it, it just so happened that these two were moving towards the other side of the Pavilion anyway! I simply kindly asked them to walk this way rather than that way… and well, I may have done a little happy dance right there on the spot!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4621Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4622Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4623Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4624It was time for toasts. Marisa’s Dad then Mom spoke about their love for Marisa and Zach. Don’t you just love wedding toasts? Hearing the stories choke me up every time and I especially love a tiny bit of roasting… just a little though!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4625Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4693Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4627Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4628Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4629Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4630Cheers!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4631Next up was Zach’s Mom. Just like Marisa’s parents’ toasts, it had everyone laughing and crying! Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4632Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4633Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4634Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4635Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4636What a lovely tribute to the newlyweds!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4637And then there is was… the RAINBOW!!!  Mother Nature’s gift and one of the many reasons why I think Plan B was really Plan A+!  This rainbow might have been missed from down below. But here was a group of people loved by Marisa and Zach, perched up at the Pavilion on this gorgeous sunny early evening, basking in the glory of a rainbow!!! The incredible way Plan B turned was unexpected, magical and perfect!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4638Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4639Move over wedding cake, it’s time for some pies!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4640When I inquired why they chose pies over a wedding cake they said wedding cakes never seemed to impress them. So they decided to shoot for amazing flavor over tradition! I like that thinking!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4641Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4642Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4643It was time for the first dance! A sweet moment surrounded by their loved ones!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4644Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4645Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4646A kiss and a cheer from the crowd and then we rushed off to grab sunset while everyone else got the dance floor warmed up!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4647Zach by this time was a photo pro!  He knew just what to do for some fun pictures!!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4648Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4649The sunset was ready and showing off its cotton candy colors!  The old Oak tree allowed for a wonderful silhouetted frame of the newlyweds!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4650Back at the Pavilion, the wedding favors were out and the parent dances were ready to pull on some heart strings!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4651Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4652Notice Marisa’s Mom and aunt in the background?! So sweet!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4694Big hugs!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4655Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4656Then Marisa’s Dad got a big hug from his brother! Being present to capturing moments like this are what makes being a wedding photographer such an honor. Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4657It was then Zach’s turn with his Mom!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4658Their dance was faster and feistier!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4659Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4660Super fun!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4695Oh man, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one with a lump in my throat from those parent dances! But nothing like a Hora to get the energy buzzing again!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4662Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4696Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4663I think Zach knew what was coming…..
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4665Yep!  The chairs approached from the sides and the couple was lifted into the air!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4697Laughter filled the room as both Marisa and Zach held on for the ride!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4698Once back on the ground, Zach grabbed Marisa for dear life!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4668No time for resting though, the Hora must go on!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4669Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4670When the Hora was done and the music came on- Zach passed his bride to her Mother and the ladies danced it out!
Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4671Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4672Everyone had so much fun dancing the night away!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4673Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4674Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4675For those who might not have been the biggest dancers or just needed a little break, there was the candlelit tent or the amazing fire pit for relaxing!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4676Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4677But as you can see, Alex the DJ  from AMS Entertainment was doing an amazing job!Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4678Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4679The evening was coming to an end and the last song was upon us.Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4680Arista Winery Wedding- Susannah Gill_4681Ending with some sweetness by the fire pit, could you imagine something better than Plan B?

The wedding day was incredible from start to finish and we couldn’t be happier for Marisa and Zach.  Such a nice couple with such lovely family and friends! Marisa and Zach, thank you so much for allowing us the honor to document your wonderful wedding!

Thank you to all vendors who collaborated to make this wedidng such a dream!

Venue: Arista Winery

Caterer: Remekins Catering

Hair and Make Up: Wash & Brushup Co.

Florist: The Bloomery Co.

Rental Company: Encore Events Rentals

DJ: AMS Entertainment

Transportation: Royal Coach

Photography: Susannah Gill

 

 

 

 

 

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Susannah Gill Photography 
El Dorado Hills, CA
1.916.936.7363