Hailey and Houston came all the way from Orlando, Florida to get married surrounded by the California redwoods, and Waterfall Lodge could not have been a better fit for their redwood forest wedding.

These two are just super cute, chill, and easygoing. They found me through Golden Coast Planning and told me they loved my work over the other photographers they looked at, which was so special to hear. Hailey actually minored in photography, so she LOVES photos and we definitely bonded over that!

They had put so much time and thought into planning a romantic, laid-back wedding that really felt like them, and their redwood forest wedding ended up being exactly that.

Coming from Florida, Hailey and Houston wanted a setting that felt completely different from home.

They loved the idea of getting married surrounded by the redwoods at Waterfall Lodge, and between the forest, rustic cabins, and trails throughout the property, they definitely got the full California experience.

Waterfall Lodge is one of my favorite places to photograph for exactly that reason. It feels intimate and peaceful, and you have so many beautiful backdrops without ever having to leave the property. The towering redwoods and forest trails are obviously incredible, but even the cabins have so much character and make the entire wedding day feel like a getaway tucked into the woods.

The venue is also owned and run by a family who are incredibly kind and generous. They always bring in some of the best vendors to work there, and weddings tend to run seamlessly without any hiccups. As a wedding photographer, I always appreciate walking into a day knowing there is a great team behind it!

Family and guests had traveled from all over the country to celebrate with Hailey and Houston, and you could tell how excited everyone was to finally be there.

This redwood forest wedding was definitely a dream for the two of them, and they couldn’t wait to tie the knot beneath those massive California trees.

One of my favorite little details from their day was their matching custom Vans. They were very specific about wanting photos of them, and I love when couples bring details like that into their wedding day.

Why not wear something that’s special to you on your wedding day?

It’s those little personal choices that make your photos feel like your photos instead of something you’ve seen a hundred times before.

And these two have always done things their own way. They actually met online while playing a video game together! They started talking more and more, eventually met in person, and fell in love. How amazing is that?

My favorite part of photographing weddings at Waterfall Lodge is always getting to take the couple out for portraits around the property, and Hailey and Houston were so excited to experience all the redwoods had to offer.

They were completely go with the flow while we were shooting together. They were just happy to be there, which made it so easy to wander through the forest and create some beautiful photos without anything feeling forced.

The light coming through the trees is one of my favorite things about this property. When it hits just right, we can create those epic wide shots that really show how enormous the redwoods are while still keeping the couple at the center of the photograph.

Because if you’re traveling across the country for a redwood forest wedding, we definitely need photos that show off the redwoods!

Hailey and Houston’s wedding was romantic and laid-back in all the right ways.

They traveled across the country to get married somewhere completely different from home, brought their favorite people along for the adventure, wore their matching custom Vans, and spent the day enjoying everything this incredible property has to offer.

More than anything, I loved how excited they were to simply be there together.

If you’re dreaming about your own redwood forest wedding in Northern California, Waterfall Lodge is such a beautiful place to make it happen. Between the towering trees, forest trails, rustic cabins, and a team that knows how to create a seamless wedding experience, it’s hard to beat.

And if you want someone there who knows the property and all of my favorite spots for those epic redwood wedding photos, I’d love to be part of it!