Mendocino Woodlands Summer Camp Disco Wedding | Alison + Brendan
MENDOCINO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | MENDOCINO WOODLANDS WEDDING | WEDDING IN MENDOCINO, CA
“ we didn’t want a little ribbon around our day. we wanted to build it with our people. our friends and family came through for us, and they made our weekend magic. our people helped us set up camp, and together we created a space that was beautiful and joyful and ours. all weekend we worked together, sang together, cooked together, laughed together, danced together. “ - Ali, the bride
Mendocino is one of the most magical places I have ever visited. Nestled on the rugged coastline of Northern California, Mendocino casts a spell that enchants all who wander its winding streets and gaze upon its breathtaking vistas. This seaside village exudes an irresistible charm, beckoning all who visit to immerse themselves in its magic.
As you approach Mendocino along Highway 1, the landscape transforms into a masterpiece of towering redwoods, dramatic cliffs, and the endless expanse of the Pacific Ocean. The air is crisp, carrying the scent of saltwater and pine, instantly refreshing your senses and calming your soul.
This is exactly why Ali + Brendan chose to host their wedding here and share this unique destination with all their people. About a 20 minute drive from the coast is the Mendocino Woodlands, a quaint summer camp set within the expanse of the towering redwood forest, with enough off-grid cabins for guests to stay the weekend and not enough cell reception to be fully immersed in the nature and present with one another.
My second shooter and I arrived the day before the wedding to a welcoming group of Ali + Brendan’s closest loved ones sharing a meal, singing songs around a campfire and excitedly anticipating the next day’s festivities. On the day of the wedding, the sun shined bright through the redwood trees, creating a dappled dance of light wherever we stepped foot on the dusty floor. Everything about this wedding day was DIY, done by the bride herself. From the ceremony marigold mandala they stepped into to become one, to the dried floral garland hanging lovingly on the redwoods, it was all a true labor of love to set the tone for a magical wedding day.
As Ali and Brendan exchanged vows surrounded by towering trees and the scent of pine, it felt as though the forest itself was bearing witness to their union. The guests were treated to a spectacular vegan southern-inspired meal made lovingly by a Mendocino local, Fog Eater Cafe. Running the show effortlessly and quietly behind the scenes was Madeline Hurst and her team, FernFoot Events. She was absolutely lovely to work with and being a local she knows so much about Mendocino and the surrounding area… highly recommend reaching out to her if you are ever thinking of getting married in Mendocino.
I am so honored to have captured the love of Ali and Brendan, and I truly could go on and on about this wedding day in the Mendocino forest, but I will leave you with a perfect instagram caption wrote by the bride herself:
“when B and I started planning a wedding, we knew we didn’t want to go the traditional route. we wanted to do it our way and build something that felt true to us, even though we didn’t quite know what that would look like. uncertainty is scary, but we trusted each other and our community and our vision.
we didn’t want a little ribbon around our day. we wanted to build it with our people. our friends and family came through for us, and they made our weekend magic. our people helped us set up camp, and together we created a space that was beautiful and joyful and ours. all weekend we worked together, sang together, cooked together, laughed together, danced together.
our people helped me dye napkins, make garlands, arrange flowers, create a ceremony mandala, and made me look and feel beautiful. our dear Kate created the most perfect ceremony and married us. our people shared the most beautiful poems and stories, so many people wore yellow. i made the playlists, including a six hour dance playlist that we allllmost made it all the way through.
@mendowoodlands provided the perfect venue for us, a summer camp in a redwood forest with enough cabins for all of our folks to stay awhile. @fernfootevents believed in us, helped make our vision come to life, and kept things running smoothly. @dee.lake_ really and truly saw us and our love, and captured that. what a gift. @fogeatercafe served the most outstanding southern vegan dinner, and pie!!! @mattrowlandevents provided allll the rentals. @evalina.floral made me a gorgeous bouquet and sourced all the flowers.
people came from far and wide. three continents! from all different seasons and phases of our lives. and they connected with each other. and they made this day with us. and they honored our wishes and saw us and held space for what we wanted to create. we are so grateful. thank you 💛”.
Mendocino Woodlands Wedding Vendors—>
Photographer : Diana Lake Photography
Ceremony + Reception Location : Mendocino Woodlands
Planner/ Coordinator : FernFoot Events
Floral : Evalina Floral
Ali’s Dress : Sarah Seven
Catering : Fog Eater Cafe
Rentals : Matt Rowland Events
Catering : Fog Eater Cafe