Karl and McKenzie had the most incredible autumn wedding at Elliston Vineyard, and I absolutely loved them! They are the absolute sweetest couple, and I looked forward to their wedding so much, especially after their engagement session at Crow Canyon Gardens (blog coming soon!).

Their Story

McKenzie moved to the Bay Area from Arroyo Grande in 2015 for her new job at PG&E and Karl joined PG&E shortly after. Coincidentally, McKenzie’s desk was in close proximity to where Karl’s team sat, and even though she put up every wall imaginable, he kept coming around to talk to her. Karl took McKenzie for ice cream on her birthday, and they ended up getting caught up in talking and took an extra long lunch, which upon returning she got in trouble with her boss. They decided they’d probably have more time to get to know each other after work, and so hung out a few more times. They hit it off immediately, and the conversation and laughs felt natural and easy. They were really enjoying spending time with each other. Karl decided to take the chance, and ask McKenzie on a real date. She said yes of course. This would be the first of MANY sushi dinner dates.

After that first date, McKenzie and Karl were nearly inseparable. They met each others families and friends, traveled abroad to Paris, and went on many other adventures. They decided to take their relationship to the next level and moved in to an apartment with a (partial) ocean view in Pacifica (if you stand on the couch and smoosh your face to the window). They adopted Lucy, a wonderful cat with TONS of personality. Not too long after, McKenzie got a new job and started working out of San Francisco, and Karl and McKenzie moved to San Bruno. To add to the excitement, McKenzie’s sister Hannah and brother in law, Frank, had their first child, Eliyanah. McKenzie and Karl were deeply honored when asked to be Eliyanah’s Godparents.

The Proposal

It didn’t take long for them to both realize that they had found something special. Karl knew how he felt about McKenzie and was ready to take the next step and propose. With some help from his mom, and a few looks at McKenzie’s “secret” Pinterest board, he had the perfect ring made. When the ring was finished, Karl took McKenzie on a surprise weekend getaway to wine country in Guerneville. While on a hike in the Armstrong Redwoods, they stopped at a waterfall where he got down on one knee and asked her if she would be his wife. She said Yes! The weekend continued with lots of celebratory champagne. They followed this up with an ‘engagement honeymoon’ trip to Norway, where McKenzie met Karl’s cousins and they had an amazing time exploring the beautiful country.

Karl and McKenzie’s Autumn Wedding at Elliston Vineyard

Thank you McKenzie and Karl for inviting me to be part of your beautiful wedding! Congratulations and best wishes for an incredible marriage!

I would also like to thank the amazing vendor team that came together for McKenzie and Karls autumn wedding at Elliston Vineyards in Sunol, California.

venue Elliston Vineyard in Sunol; hotel DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pleasanton at the Club; music An Elegant Touch of Strings; dj/band Fantasy Sound; wedding cake Rachel Cyr of Rachel’s Cakes; florist LC Floral Design; bridal salon Papers and Petals; bridesmaids gowns Azazie; groom suit Suit Supply; groomsmen’s suits The Black Tux; hair Jen Hatcher; makeup Lisa Teller; invitations Minted

I love being a Elliston Vineyards preferred wedding photographer!