Intimate Mountain Wedding at Camp Paivika in Crestline


"I've been a wedding photographer for 7 years.  In that time the center of my business philosophy shifted from weddings to marriage.  I began to see first hand that underneath the aesthetic was a concrete foundation of commitment and genuine love not between just two people but supported by everyone around them.  So, when Chris proposed we knew exactly the kind of wedding we wanted. Beauty for more than beauty's sake.  We wanted it to reflect who we were, and to center around our family and closets friends.  Love, family and community was our vision.  An intimate gathering full of comfort, warmth, and hospitality rather than a wedding reception.

Many of our details were hand made by my Mom, Dad, Chris or myself.  I designed the invitations and my mom did the envelope calligraphy. Her and I also hand dyed all of the table runners and linens.  Chris built some of the lawn games for cocktail hour, my Dad and I built the arbor using bolts from my childhood playhouse.  My jewelry was my Meme's (french for Nana), she passed when I was 14.  The ring box was my Pepe's old coin pouch, he also passed when I was 14.    

Our close friend performed the ceremony, and we each had our brother as a best man. The beginning of our relationship centered around long drives in his old ’95 Jeep Wrangler and Mumford and Sons.  My mom hand stamped all of the coffee cups with a gold Wrangler and I wrote out the lyrics to all our favorite songs and framed them for each table. Chris chose a fancy tux and bowtie, and I wore a bohemian dress and free people boots.  We cried our eyes out when I walked down the isle. I’ve never been to a reception that went by so quickly, but I think it felt that way because we spent it talking, laughing, crying and dancing with our people. With everyone that we had been doing life with for years; everyone we continue to do life with now.

I’m not sure if I am sharing too much or not enough.  It’s hard to put into words all the small, but significant details from the day.  Almost every little thing had significance to it.

I guess to summarize, we just wanted to celebrate with everyone who had shaped us as individuals and as a couple. And everyone who would walking along side for the rest of our lives." -Sarah Sotro 



Photography: Jay Eads | Venue: Camp Paivika | Headpiece: Rose Red Rose White | Wedding Gown: Wear Your Love | Bridal Shoes: Free People | Videographer & Photo Booth: Jc Guzman | Beauty: Dana Cummings | Rentals: Out of the Dust Rentals | Florals: Here Come The Blooms | Wedding Planners: Leilani Weddings | DJ: High Energy Productions | Ribbon: Silk and Willow