A Multicultural Spring Wedding at Sand Rock Farm

Vows in the Redwood Grove at Sand Rock Farm

The ceremony was in the redwood grove, a small clearing ringed by tall trees with a woven grapevine arch at the front and the guests' chairs pulled into a loose circle on the packed earth. Light came down dappled through the canopy. Tiffani Hughes of Secret Garden Ceremonies officiated. Brandon walked in first with his best man, then the maid of honor came down the aisle with Charley the dog on a leash beside her. Veronica came last on her dad's arm, to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," her veil catching the afternoon light.

They said their vows there under the redwoods and walked back out through a shower of real lavender to John Legend's "Ooh Laa" — twenty people and two dogs, on the estate where Santa Cruz County's first winery was planted back in the 1880s.

“Veronica came down the aisle on her dad's arm to 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,' and both dogs were as much a part of the day as anyone.”

Portraits Across the Spring Estate

Family portraits happened right after among the redwoods, then Veronica and Brandon slipped off for their own — a few minutes under a leafy grapevine arch, the bride's lace bodice and the groom's rose suit against all that green. Brian Lima worked the property with them. It gave them room to wander: the restored farmhouse with its peace-symbol grapevine wreath on the gable, the wooded paths, a game room where the groom leaned over the old pool table for a shot beneath a sign that read "This is how our story begins."

Everyone moved to the barn while the couple finished with the photographer, Oogly and Charley along for most of it. The barn was already set — a reclaimed-wood bar backed by racks of wine bottles, wine-barrel cocktail tables each holding a single bud vase with a rose or a tulip, café lights strung overhead.

A Family-Style Spring Dinner in the Barrel Room

Dinner was family-style in the barrel room, each table set with a bottle of champagne and one of sparkling cider. Brandon's dad announced the couple's entrance, the best man gave his toast, and Veronica and Brandon thanked everyone themselves.

Their first dance was to "Love Is Here to Stay," and they cut a dark chocolate and strawberry cake to close the night. Twenty people, two dogs, a day that started with tea poured for their elders and ended with dancing in a redwood barn in Aptos. Sand Rock Farm lodges its guests in rooms right on the property, so the people who stayed didn't have far to go when the dancing finally stopped.