Lauren and Spenser’s wedding at Waterfall Lodge in Ben Lomond was everything a forest wedding should be: heartfelt, laid-back, and bursting with joy from beginning to end. From our very first call, I could tell these two had a vision, and they were confident in every decision they made from the venue to the vendor team to the surprise musical moment that had everyone crying into their cocktails.

Also, their dog Milton was the ring bearer. He wore a bow tie and he stole the show. As he should!

As a photographer, I’ve worked at a lot of stunning venues, but a wedding at Waterfall Lodge will always be one of my favorites.

Tucked into the Santa Cruz mountains, this venue gives you the full California redwoods experience. Towering trees, winding trails, soft light everywhere you turn… it’s the kind of place where everything feels calm and enchanted.

Lauren and Spenser chose to have their ceremony out in the clearing, surrounded by those iconic trees. They skipped the first look, which meant Spenser saw Lauren for the first time as she walked down the aisle and he cried big time. His reaction was everything. You could just feel how much they love each other, and how long they’d been waiting for this moment!

After the ceremony, we wandered down one of the little trails that winds through the property and took their newlywed portraits there. It’s one of my favorite things about this venue, you don’t need to go far to find the perfect backdrop.

There’s also a balcony by a small waterfall tucked behind one of the cabins. It makes for an iconic shot for this venue and one I always love getting in the gallery. I love this shot of Lauren and Spenser there!

I love the reception space at Waterfall Lodge. It’s a large patio strung with lights that always looks really pretty, especially with all the table decor. That space always glows once the sun starts to set. And once dinner was done? Everyone moved into the indoor lodge space, where the dancing began and didn’t let up until the very end of the night.

One of my favorite moments was when a close friend sang live during their first dance. It was a surprise, and it made the whole moment feel so personal and tender. Safe to say there weren’t many dry eyes in the room.

Also, their whole crew knew how to party. That dance floor was packed! It was such a great way to end one of the smoothest weddings I’ve ever worked at.

Lauren and Spenser’s vendors were all top-notch so I expected nothing less, but this really was such a wonderful wedding at Waterfall Lodge!