An Olema House Reception Micro Wedding in Point Reyes

A Lawn Ceremony at Olema House, Point Reyes

The ceremony was out on the lawn under the trees, chairs set on the grass in front of a dark wood arbor banked with a full floral installation — white and cream roses, pale yellow garden roses, lavender blooms, stock, and trailing greenery, string lights crossing overhead. Kate stood as officiant in white, folder in hand, while live strings played the processional.

The two moms came in together to Debussy's "Clair de Lune." Casey walked to "All of Me," and the best man and maid of honor followed to the same song. Then Mallory came in on her father's arm to Elvis singing "Can't Help Falling in Love," her veil catching the light the whole length of the aisle, her dad kissing her cheek before he stepped back. They said their vows in front of the forty people they had chosen — one shot catches them under the arbor mid-laugh, hands up between them — and walked back out married to "Best Day of My Life."

“Her father walked her in to Elvis and kissed her cheek at the front, and they walked back out married to "Best Day of My Life."”

Cocktails by Olema Creek, a Point Reyes Reception

Cocktail hour moved to the flagstone patio just outside the creekside rooms, the strings still playing while the guests spread along the water's edge. Olema House sits on private acreage along the banks of Olema Creek at the foothills of Point Reyes National Seashore — the town of Olema was once thought to sit near the epicenter of the 1906 earthquake, though that turned out not to be the case. Portraits happened while the light was still good, and the couple slipped back out for sunset shots later, during dinner, when the creek caught the last of the evening light.

Dinner on the Creekside Patio

Dinner was one long table set out among the redwoods, white linen down the middle with a green garland runner, gold chiavari chairs on both sides, and glass-teepee patio heaters glowing along its length as the evening cooled — the kind of lush, green, string-lit setting a Point Reyes property gives you for free. The couple was announced in to Nat King Cole's "L-O-V-E," straight into a first dance to "I Will Always Love You." Mallory danced with her father to "Butterfly Kisses" by an ivy-covered arbor, and Casey danced with his mother to Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Over the Rainbow."

Mallory's father gave the welcome speech, and dinner followed at the creekside table, guests pulling cream shawls over their shoulders as the light dropped, glasses raised in a long toast down the row. Later, Mallory's sister gave a toast, the couple gave their thank-yous, and they cut a single-tier cake from Sweet C's Cakeshoppe — dressed with pressed flowers and a blush floral garland — to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," Casey wrapping her up in a hug over it. The strings played until the evening wound down, and the two of them changed into pajamas for the after-party.