A Foggy-January Winter Wedding at Sand Rock Farm

Portraits Among the Winter Redwoods

Family and friends gathered on the grounds for photos while Tatiana and Chris slipped off for their own portraits around the property. Sand Rock Farm is a ten-acre private estate in Aptos, its old redwood grove and wooded paths giving them ground to work with without anyone having to go far. The winter woods that had felt so enclosed during the vows framed the portraits too — the couple on the leaf-covered paths, Chris in his dark suit and white sneakers, Tatiana's beaded gown catching what light there was.

They worked through the family groupings, then took a few of just themselves among the trees before the light went and everyone headed for the barn.

A Winter Barn Reception in Aptos

As evening set in, everyone moved to the barn, café lights strung overhead and warm through the open doors, white drapes pulled back and a patio heater standing by against the January chill. Inside, the wood farm tables were set with a dusty-blue gauze runner down the middle, navy napkins at each place, pillar candles, and low arrangements of blue-and-white flowers on the old wine barrels. Five Star Catering handled the dinner, and the room warmed up fast the way old barns do, the wooden walls and overhead beams holding the heat in.

Tatiana and Chris cut the cake and had their first dance, and then the floor opened up and stayed full — guests hugging under the string lights, the café lights bright against the grey outside, the whole crowd still going when the foggy night finally wound the evening down.