Starr and Austin’s Nella Terra Cellars wedding in Sunol, California was fun, playful, and centered around celebrating with the people they love. Family and community were a huge part of their day, from the people standing beside them to the speeches, handwritten notes, and little interactions happening throughout.
Starr and Austin met as transfer students at UCLA before reconnecting on Instagram after they had both moved back to the Bay Area. So it feels pretty fitting that social media also played a small role in connecting them with us. They found Hey Honey Photography online and chose us because they loved how fun, relaxed, and comfortable our couples looked.
That was exactly the experience we wanted to give them. We offered plenty of direction when it was helpful, then stepped back when moments were already unfolding on their own.
Getting Ready With Their Favorite People
Starr and Austin started their wedding day surrounded by their closest friends and family. Starr wore a Madi Lane gown, with her bridesmaids in Azazie, while Austin and his groomsmen wore SuitShop.
Their maroon, green, and white color palette brought in all the fall vibes while still feeling playful and celebratory.
Starr wanted the details she had chosen for the day documented, including her dress, veil, jewelry, rings, vow books, invitation suite, and other personal pieces. For Austin, getting ready was more about the people around him and capturing the candid camaraderie with his friends.
It’s a balance we love photographing. The details help tell the story of what the day looked like, but the people in the room are what make those photographs mean something years from now.
First Look and Wedding Party Portraits
Starr and Austin chose to do a first look before their ceremony, followed by portraits with their wedding party and immediate family.
We gave them direction when they needed it so no one was left wondering what to do or where to stand, but we also paid attention to what was happening between the photographs. The laughing, conversations, and interactions with the people they love are just as important as the portraits where everyone is looking at the camera.
Getting those photographs done before the ceremony also meant Starr and Austin could spend more of the celebration actually celebrating instead of disappearing for a long portrait session afterward.
Nella Terra Cellars Wedding Ceremony
Family was woven throughout Starr and Austin’s ceremony at Nella Terra Cellars.
Austin was especially looking forward to seeing the wedding party – and Starr – walk down the aisle. Starr’s parents accompanied her, Austin walked with his parents, and Starr’s brother-in-law Ryan officiated the ceremony.
And then there were the vows. Before the wedding, Starr and Austin both said one of the things they were most excited about was hearing each other’s vows and finally getting to celebrate their marriage with everyone they love.
The ceremony ended with another moment at the top of their photography priority list: their kiss and recessional together.
Cocktail Hour and Sunset Portraits
Because Starr and Austin chose to do their first look and many of their portraits before the ceremony, they didn’t have to spend all of cocktail hour away from their celebration taking photos.
We did step away with them for sunset portraits later in the evening, taking advantage of that golden light around Nella Terra Cellars. Keeping most of their portraits earlier in the day meant this could be a short, intentional break rather than a long photoshoot pulling them away from their guests.
That’s always the balance we’re looking for: creating space for beautiful portraits while making sure our couples still get to actually experience their wedding day.
Personal Details Throughout the Reception
Starr and Austin included several thoughtful details throughout their reception that reflected how important their people are to them.
They created a memory table to honor loved ones and wrote personal letters for the guests seated at their head table. Engaged couples had “you’re next” signs on their chairs, while Starr and Austin had “just married” signs on their own. They also displayed letters from Starr’s students.
Those details say a lot about the kind of celebration they wanted to create – one that wasn’t only about the two of them, but also acknowledged the people and relationships surrounding them.
Speeches, Dancing, and an Ice Cream Cart
Starr and Austin had been looking forward to the speeches long before their wedding day. Toasts came from both sides of the family, along with the best man and maid of honor.
Speeches are one of our favorite parts of a wedding to photograph because we aren’t only watching the person holding the microphone. We’re watching the couple, their parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends too. Some of the best reactions happen on the other side of the room.
The reception continued with Starr and Austin’s first dance and a mother-daughter dance before everyone hit the dance floor.
And instead of a traditional wedding cake, they had an ice cream cart for dessert – which feels very on-brand considering Starr had already told us she was most excited about dancing and eating ice cream.
Ending the Night With a Bubble Exit
After a full night of celebrating, Starr and Austin ended their Nella Terra Cellars wedding with a bubble exit surrounded by their guests.
It was such a fun way to close out a day that was playful and celebratory from beginning to end. More importantly, it gave Starr and Austin one last moment right in the middle of their people.
That’s what stands out most about this wedding. Yes, we want to make beautiful photographs, and we’ll give our couples plenty of direction to make that happen. But we never want getting the photo to become more important than experiencing the reason everyone is there in the first place.
Presence over perfection, always.
If you’re planning your own Nella Terra Cellars wedding and want wedding photography that gives you direction when you need it and room to actually experience your day when you don’t, we’d love to hear what you’re planning. Reach out to us to learn more about working together!
Creative Team
Photography: Hey Honey Photography
Ceremony + Reception Venue: Nella Terra Cellars
Planning + Coordination: Simply Lovely Events — Lindsay Brys & Tannya DeMeyer
Catering: On the Vine Catering — Jessica Marin
Florals: Delford West Flowers — Karl Eckel
DJ: Amos Productions — Rick Mustafa
Photo Booth: Pix.Co — Leica Joaquin
Dessert: Sugar Mama Desserts — Renisa Satrijo
Hair + Makeup: Beauty by Melanie — Melanie Lucero
Videography: Your Day Media — Jimmy Vo
Wedding Dress: Madi Lane
Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie
Suits: SuitShop
