Waterfall Lodge Wedding in the Santa Cruz Mountains | Ben Lomand, CA
Kaitlyn and Paul | Waterfall Lodge Wedding | Santa Cruz Mountain Wedding | Ben Lomand, CA
Kaitlyn and Paul’s wedding day can best be described as so Kaitlyn and Paul. From personalized Vans shoes to dried wildflowers, from super hero socks to a dinner cooked by the groom, they had so many unique personalized touches to their day. It was truly incredible.
We are excited that Kaitlyn & Paul’s amazing Waterfall Lodge wedding was published in Mountainside Bride!
Let’s start off with their choice of wedding venue. Nestled deep in the Santa Cruz mountains, in the town of Ben Lomand, is the breathtaking Waterfall Lodge. From the moment you step into this amazing wedding spot, you are surrounded by massive redwood trees. The Waterfall Lodge even has cute little A-frame cabins that are perfect if you want to make your wedding celebration a wedding weekend. In fact, that’s exactly what Kaitlyn and Paul did! Also on the property is an impressive and beautiful rustic barn and of course, a waterfall.
The theme of the wedding day was simple, personal, and comfortable. The decor consisted of burlap and lace, rose gold, and grey tones. All of the florals were designed using dried wildflowers and wheat purchased directly from a farm in Montana through Etsy shop Paula Jeans Garden.
Kaitlyn got ready in the bridal suite of Waterfall Lodge with the help of her mom, stepmom, 7 bridesmaids, and her two flower girls (also her little sisters). All the ladies wore coordinating flannel shirts to get ready and had some fun taking photos in them before putting on their dresses.
Kaitlyn wore a strapless A-line lace gown and Paul wore a charcoal grey suit. The bridesmaids wore long dark smoky blue dresses, while the flower girls wore a lighter shade of blue. The key theme of the attire was Vans shoes. The entire wedding party, the parents, and even some of the wedding guests wore Van shoes. Kaitlyn wore white Vans that were personalized with “Mrs. Nelson” on the heel and Paul wore black Vans with “Mr. Nelson” in the same spot. Kaitlyn and Paul even hashtagged their wedding as #VansandWeddingBands! For even more fun, the groom and his groomsmen accessorized their Vans with super hero socks!
Then it was time for one of the most emotional and special moments of the day, Kaitlyn’s first look with her dad. Let’s just say there were a lot of tears, not only from Dad himself but from the row of bridesmaids as they watched this special wedding day moment unfold.
Kaitlyn’s grandfather officiated the ceremony, which made it extra sweet and special.
Cocktail hour was held in front of the gorgeous barn and was a super comfortable and casual event with sofas, a photo booth, and corn hole available to entertain guests. The dinner reception was held on the outdoor patio behind the barn and was decorated with string cafe lighting and simple burlap, greenery, fresh cut tree slabs, candles and lanterns.
The couple’s first dance and Kaitlyn’s dance with her dad were held outside on the Waterfall Lodge patio outside of the barn before dinner began. Ready for even more personal touches? Paul, who is a chef, designed the entire menu for the dinner service! His crew cooked it right outside in front of the guests and it was beyond delicious! The couple sent each guest home with a custom made spice rub and suggestions on how to enjoy it at home.
We had such a fun time at Kaitlyn and Paul’s Waterfall Lodge wedding and were so happy to have the opportunity to witness and document this amazing couple’s wedding day. The details, the love, and the closeness of everyone there was just so special.
Planning: Event by Dawn
DJ: DJ Jeffty
Florals: Paula Jeans Garden (Etsy)
Wedding Dress: Essence of Australia
Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie
Bridal Store: Elegant Lace Bridal
Shoes: Vans
Hi! We’re Breanne and Fernando, husband and wife wedding photographers from Vivo Photography. We photograph weddings and engagements all over the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose. Are you currently planning your engagement photos or wedding? We would love to be part of your team. Click the button below and Let’s chat!
