Pema Osel Ling Outdoor Wedding – Santa Cruz Mountains – Nina and Sergey

We’ve been looking forward to this wedding ever since we learned that Nina and Sergey are engaged (actually even before as we were kind of expecting this engagement to happen :) We didn’t know if we would be attending the wedding as guests or as photographers, but we were excited in any case, just because these two could not have planned a cookie-cutter wedding.

The wedding was bound to be natural, intimate, and relaxed – no one loves nature and outdoors more than Nina and Sergey who hike and camp every chance they get. Check this out – instead of stressing out about the wedding planning these two left on a three-week-long John Muir Trail backpacking trip just two months before the wedding! I’m still in disbelieve they did that :)

It was not a surprise at all that they wanted a forest themed wedding and Nina was looking near and far for the perfect venue. After months of looking they found Pema Osel Ling – a gorgeous Buddhist retreat in the Santa Cruz Mountains where they could have an intimate ceremony amidst the redwoods.

Here are some favorites:

 

I looove this super cute First Look photo, Sergey was making sure he wouldn’t see his bride before it’s time!

 

And this happened just a few moments later:

 

Nina is walking down the aisle:

 

This ceremony site was one of the most serene we’ve ever seen:

 

They kissed, surrounded by friends and redwoods!

 

And then it was magic hour – time for cuddles and portraits:

 

 

 

 

 

These guys really liked their photographers :)

 

And yeah, we ended up being both guests and photographers at this wedding. It was my first time shooting in a dress but I think I pulled it of! :)

 

Nina and Sergey – thank you for inviting us to your beautiful and intimate wedding! We loved watching you become one, wish you joy, harmony, and many challenging hikes in the years to come!

– Nat and Mike

All the wonderful vendors of the day:

Venue: Pema Osel Ling Retreat
Catering: Pema Osel Ling Retreat
Florals: Flowers by Edgar
Hair & Make-up Artist : Rachenee @ Art Ocassions
Ceremony music/DJ or Band name: SantaCruzDJ
Wedding deserts: Satura Cakes