Kellie & Jay’s Bay Area Garden Wedding at Brownstone Gardens

I knew from the moment Kellie & Jay inquired that I was going to love them. Their vision for a Bay Area garden wedding at Brownstone Gardens was more than I could have hoped for… especially because they took such a hands-on approach to it.

They created their own centerpieces, and Kellie designed and made their entire invitation suite. Not just the main pieces either, she carried it all the way through with an envelope liner featuring a digital watercolor of Bridal Falls at the venue (which is where their Indian ceremony dinner took place, along with cocktail hour and the dances).

I would not be surprised at all if she opened an Etsy shop after this. Seriously… just wait until you see what she created.

Family was clearly at the center of everything for Kellie & Jay, and that showed up in how they chose to honor both of their cultures.

Kellie incorporated a Chinese tea reception in the rose garden, with round tables and baby’s breath centerpieces. From there, they transitioned into Jay’s traditional Indian ceremony, followed by a seated dinner under the canopy of trees at Bridal Falls.

Each part of the day felt intentional, but more importantly, they gave those moments space to stand on their own. Nothing felt rushed or combined just for the sake of convenience, which made it all feel that much more meaningful.

Saturday was their western wedding day celebration, with soft sage and dusty pink tones showing up throughout the bridesmaids dresses and florals.

Having photographed the bridal details the evening before, I came into day two already feeling creatively inspired. We got Kellie dressed under the same canopy of trees where dinner had taken place the night before, which tied everything together in a way that just made sense. At the same time, Jay was getting ready overlooking the same space where they would be celebrating later that evening.

Those little overlaps throughout the day are what made everything feel connected.

As the day moved from an emotional private vow moment…… (something like this is often part of a first look) into some of my favorite portraits I’ve captured in my career, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the overcast sky.

I know… clouds aren’t always what couples hope for on their wedding day. But in this case, it worked completely in their favor.

The lighting allowed us to use areas of the venue that would normally be too harsh in full sun, and it gave the entire space a softer, more romantic feel. The ceremony itself felt especially beautiful in that light, very different from the bold energy of the night before, but in a way that complemented it perfectly.

And because everything at Brownstone flows so naturally, we were able to move through the day without it ever feeling like we had to stop and “go take photos.” Portraits in the rose garden (my fave!), around the gazebo (okay, maybe these are my favorites), along the bridge, and at Bridal Falls all just fit into the day instead of taking it over.

I’m so honored that Kellie & Jay trusted me with their wedding photography, especially when it came to capturing the moments they weren’t able to be present for themselves. There’s so much happening across a two-day celebration like this, and being able to give that back to them…to let them see what it felt like from every angle, is something I don’t take lightly.

If you’re planning your own Bay Area garden wedding and want a day that feels just as intentional, connected, and easy to move through… you can reach out here to start the conversation.