Monterey Wedding at a Coastal Garden Estate | M+B
4/03/26
M+B’s Monterey wedding at a coastal garden estate was intentional, relaxed, and deeply personal. As a Monterey wedding photographer, I focus on creating space for real moments, connection, and a timeline that allows everything to unfold naturally.
Getting Ready At The Coastal Estate
The morning started slow and intentional — the kind of calm that only comes from being surrounded by the people who know you best. tucked along the coast, m + b got ready just steps away from where everything would unfold, letting the day ease in naturally without rushing a single moment.
First Look
As a Monterey wedding photographer, this is one of my favorite moments to document because it allows couples to slow down and be fully present. The Bride wanted a private first look with her parents.
Parents seeing their daughter for the first time is always one of the most emotional parts of the day. There’s something powerful about witnessing it from the outside — watching a moment where time seems to slow down as years of memories come rushing back. From childhood to this exact moment, it all leads here.
For parents, it’s more than just seeing her in a dress. It’s everything at once. The moment they first found out she was coming into this world. Her first steps. Learning how to talk. Growing from a kid into a teenager, then into the person she is now. And now, standing right in front of them, starting this next chapter of her life.
From her perspective, having her parents there to witness this moment is something she doesn’t take lightly. It’s a gift. Not everyone gets that, and she knows it.
Standing there, it’s not just about the wedding. It’s everything that led up to it. Being raised by them. Learning how the world works through their eyes. Watching their marriage, seeing what it looks like to choose each other every day, and quietly holding onto that as something she wanted for herself.
As she steps into this next chapter, there’s this mix of emotions. Gratitude, excitement, and a deeper understanding of what marriage really means because she’s seen it firsthand.
And in that moment, with them right there, it all comes full circle.
First Look with Bride and Groom
This moment is always different for every couple, and that’s what makes it so meaningful. first looks give space for real emotion to come through without an audience, without pressure, just the two of them.
This is where everything slows down. Where they can actually take it in!
This choice felt true to them. they were able to fully immerse themselves in the moment and let it unfold naturally. For B, it was seeing everything come together. The dress, the veil, the makeup, all the details she had been planning for so long. For M, it was seeing him for the first time while he stood there in his blue suit, wearing the watch gifted to him from one of her Europe trips.
Just being together. Hugging, grounding each other, and taking a moment before the day continued.
An intimate Monterey ceremony
Set against the coastal air and surrounded by their closest people, M + B’s ceremony felt grounded, intentional, and real. Nothing felt rushed or overdone. It was simply about being present and stepping into this next chapter together.
One of the moments that stood out most was watching B walk down the aisle with her dad. There is something about that walk that carries so much more than just the moment itself. It holds years of memories, from when her parents first found out about her, to watching her grow, learn, and become who she is today. And now, being able to witness her step into this part of her life.
Throughout the ceremony, there were small details that carried a lot of meaning. Three candles were placed on a chair in honor of their grandparents, representing both sides of their families and the presence they still hold in moments like this.
As they walked back down the aisle together, surrounded by their people and a send-off of bubbles, it felt light, joyful, and fully them. A simple alternative to sparklers or petals, but one that created movement, energy, and a moment that felt just as memorable.
Portraits Off The Property At Monterey State Historic Park
As the light began to shift, we stepped off the property and walked to Monterey State Historic Park, just five minutes away. Choosing a nearby location like this allowed us to create something different from the traditional spots while still keeping the timeline relaxed and intentional.
This is something I guide my couples through when building their timeline. Not just where photos happen, but how the day feels while we’re moving through it. Having a second location close by creates variety in the gallery without adding stress or travel time.
It also creates space. Space to slow down, step away from the noise, and actually be present with each other. These are the moments where couples get to check in, breathe, and take everything in as it’s happening.
From a photography standpoint, this is where some of the most natural and connected images happen. Nothing forced, nothing rushed. Just the two of them, fully immersed!
Reception
From emotional speeches to a packed dance floor, the reception was full of energy, connection, and moments that unfolded naturally. One of the most meaningful details was the cake, made by the bride’s mom and topped with their dog, which made the entire experience feel even more personal and intentional.
As a California wedding photographer, documenting these moments, the reactions, movement, and energy of the night, is just as important as the portraits. This is where the full story comes to life.
Monterey Wedding Reception Moments
Documenting reception moments like speeches, cake cutting, and dancing is what brings the full story of a Monterey wedding day together.
Planning your own Monterey wedding?
If you’re planning a Monterey, Carmel, or Big Sur wedding and want your day documented in a way that feels natural, intentional, and true to you, I’d love to connect.
M+B’s Monterey wedding at a coastal garden estate was intentional, relaxed, and deeply personal. As a Monterey wedding photographer, I focus on creating space for real moments, connection, and a timeline that allows everything to unfold naturally.
Getting Ready At The Coastal Estate
The morning started slow and intentional — the kind of calm that only comes from being surrounded by the people who know you best. tucked along the coast, m + b got ready just steps away from where everything would unfold, letting the day ease in naturally without rushing a single moment.
First Look
As a Monterey wedding photographer, this is one of my favorite moments to document because it allows couples to slow down and be fully present. The Bride wanted a private first look with her parents.
Parents seeing their daughter for the first time is always one of the most emotional parts of the day. There’s something powerful about witnessing it from the outside — watching a moment where time seems to slow down as years of memories come rushing back. From childhood to this exact moment, it all leads here.
For parents, it’s more than just seeing her in a dress. It’s everything at once. The moment they first found out she was coming into this world. Her first steps. Learning how to talk. Growing from a kid into a teenager, then into the person she is now. And now, standing right in front of them, starting this next chapter of her life.
From her perspective, having her parents there to witness this moment is something she doesn’t take lightly. It’s a gift. Not everyone gets that, and she knows it.
Standing there, it’s not just about the wedding. It’s everything that led up to it. Being raised by them. Learning how the world works through their eyes. Watching their marriage, seeing what it looks like to choose each other every day, and quietly holding onto that as something she wanted for herself.
As she steps into this next chapter, there’s this mix of emotions. Gratitude, excitement, and a deeper understanding of what marriage really means because she’s seen it firsthand.
And in that moment, with them right there, it all comes full circle.
First Look with Bride and Groom
This moment is always different for every couple, and that’s what makes it so meaningful. first looks give space for real emotion to come through without an audience, without pressure, just the two of them.
This is where everything slows down. Where they can actually take it in!
This choice felt true to them. they were able to fully immerse themselves in the moment and let it unfold naturally. For B, it was seeing everything come together. The dress, the veil, the makeup, all the details she had been planning for so long. For M, it was seeing him for the first time while he stood there in his blue suit, wearing the watch gifted to him from one of her Europe trips.
Just being together. Hugging, grounding each other, and taking a moment before the day continued.
An intimate Monterey ceremony
Set against the coastal air and surrounded by their closest people, M + B’s ceremony felt grounded, intentional, and real. Nothing felt rushed or overdone. It was simply about being present and stepping into this next chapter together.
One of the moments that stood out most was watching B walk down the aisle with her dad. There is something about that walk that carries so much more than just the moment itself. It holds years of memories, from when her parents first found out about her, to watching her grow, learn, and become who she is today. And now, being able to witness her step into this part of her life.
Throughout the ceremony, there were small details that carried a lot of meaning. Three candles were placed on a chair in honor of their grandparents, representing both sides of their families and the presence they still hold in moments like this.
As they walked back down the aisle together, surrounded by their people and a send-off of bubbles, it felt light, joyful, and fully them. A simple alternative to sparklers or petals, but one that created movement, energy, and a moment that felt just as memorable.
Portraits Off The Property At Monterey State Historic Park
As the light began to shift, we stepped off the property and walked to Monterey State Historic Park, just five minutes away. Choosing a nearby location like this allowed us to create something different from the traditional spots while still keeping the timeline relaxed and intentional.
This is something I guide my couples through when building their timeline. Not just where photos happen, but how the day feels while we’re moving through it. Having a second location close by creates variety in the gallery without adding stress or travel time.
It also creates space. Space to slow down, step away from the noise, and actually be present with each other. These are the moments where couples get to check in, breathe, and take everything in as it’s happening.
From a photography standpoint, this is where some of the most natural and connected images happen. Nothing forced, nothing rushed. Just the two of them, fully immersed!
Reception
From emotional speeches to a packed dance floor, the reception was full of energy, connection, and moments that unfolded naturally. One of the most meaningful details was the cake, made by the bride’s mom and topped with their dog, which made the entire experience feel even more personal and intentional.
As a California wedding photographer, documenting these moments, the reactions, movement, and energy of the night, is just as important as the portraits. This is where the full story comes to life.
Monterey Wedding Reception Moments
Documenting reception moments like speeches, cake cutting, and dancing is what brings the full story of a Monterey wedding day together.
Planning your own Monterey wedding?
If you’re planning a Monterey, Carmel, or Big Sur wedding and want your day documented in a way that feels natural, intentional, and true to you, I’d love to connect.
