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If you’ve never seen the Nestldown wedding venue, it’s quite a treat. It’s a whimsical not-so-little property (ahem) nestled down in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains. A delightful setting for Cathy & Johnson’s wedding. Upon arriving, Cathy was already finished with makeup from Design Her Image, so we just scuttled into the guest house for getting ready and a little gift exchange

Meanwhile, the guys retreated to the barn to suit up.
Cathy and Johnson are both spiritual and wanted to do a prayer before their first look. They requested to be set up back to back so they could say a few words before turning around for their first look, which greatly increased the anticipation. Their expressions when turning around was priceless.
As guests trickled in and down the the ceremony site, the wedding party took a little bit of a breather and cooled off inside the barn. The Nestldown wedding ceremony site itself was surrounded by redwoods and made for a truly majestic setting. Cathy & Johnson shared personal vows where they reminisced on their courtship and identified the traits that drew the other in, as well as shared experiences that lead them to this day. Post-ceremony, we spent a little time with portraits before the newlyweds arrived via Nestldown’s mini-train to the cocktail hour.
The reception was held outside on the lawn. As the sun dipped behind the trees, the temperature dropped to perfection. The atmosphere during dinner was sublime. Guests enjoyed the culinary delights prepared by Poetry in Motion Catering and a string of toasts.
Following the final toast, all retreated inside the barn for dancing to finish out Cathy & Johnson’s Nestledown wedding day.
Also, there were bubbles!