Intimate Casa Vinedo Estate Wedding

Weddings

Oct 5

bride and groom portrait in a grassy field with view of mountains

A Dreamy Micro-Wedding at Casa Vinedo Estate

On a warm September evening, I had the privilege of photographing C & S’s destination micro wedding at the beautiful Casa Vinedo Estate, a residential wedding venue tucked into the hills of Murrieta, a sleepy vineyard-filled town north of San Diego that served as the perfect place for a romantic intimate wedding.

The couple’s children and their closest friends and family traveled with them from the Midwest to witness their vows and celebrate their love.

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Getting Ready at Casa Vinedo Estate

The bedrooms and front yard of Casa Vinedo Estate made an idyllic backdrop for portraits of the bride and groom’s new blended family, the couple getting ready for their intimate wedding ceremony, and finishing touches before walking down the aisle.

flower girl in white dress with flower wreath

bride and two flower girls group photo with flower wreaths on head and bouquet

bride and groom and their children family photo

blonde bride portrait with bouquet and veil

black and white portrait of bride and groom in front of mansion

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An Intimate Wedding Ceremony

Drinks in hand, the guests—a small group of only the couple’s dearest friends and closest family members—settled into their seats. The casual vibe suited perfectly a couple who got engaged over beer and pizza at the place where they had their first date. With no fuss or pretense, the bride walked down the aisle as musician Luke Metzler played, and Allen Bencomo of Whispered Vows officiated a funny, heartfelt, and moving ceremony.

elopement ceremony setup with palm trees and chairs

ringbearer walking down aisle at elopement

flower girls walking down aisle at elopement

blonde bride walking down aisle at elopement

bride, groom, and officiant at intimate elopement

bride and groom's children at elopement wedding ceremony

bride crying at elopement wedding ceremony

groom crying at elopement wedding ceremony

blonde bride reading vows at elopement wedding ceremony

black and white candid portrait of flower girl with wreath on head

black and white candid of bride and groom laughing during ring exchange

bride and groom first kiss at elopement wedding ceremony

black and white bride and groom first kiss at elopement wedding ceremony

bride and groom at elopement wedding ceremony

black and white bride and groom just married at elopement

bride and groom walking down aisle at elopement

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A Casual Cocktail Hour and Reception

The chill destination wedding/vacation vibes continued into cocktail hour, when the couple started the party by opening a bottle of champagne and toasting with their wedding guests. As the hors d'oeuvres by Chef Jillian Fae began to make their way out of the kitchen, the couple had their first dance in the sunset glow and guests looked on from their cozy seats by the outdoor fireplace.

bottles of champagne at elopement wedding

elegant dinner design at elopement wedding

bride and groom opening bottle of champagne

black and white candid of bride and groom opening bottle of champagne

black and white candid of groom pouring champagne for bride

black and white candid of bride kissing groom's cheek

candid of ringbearer shaking groom's hand

candid of flower girl with flower wreath on her head

black and white candid of bride and mother of bride

bride and groom first dance with mountains in the background

bride and groom romantic first dance with mountains in the background

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Romantic Sunset Portraits

One significant upside to planning a micro wedding is having the freedom to schedule your day exactly as you want it to be. For C & S, that meant planning the wedding timeline so that their newlywed portrait session aligned perfectly with the sunset light and moody blue hues of twilight.

After cocktail hour, explored the grassy Murrieta hillside surrounding the estate property, and the resulting portraits were cinematic, romantic, and free-spirited—perfectly representing the couple’s connection and adventurous spirit.