Izzy and Jesse’s Colorful Rancho Nicasio Wedding Celebration in West Marin.

Izzy and Jesse met in the Bay Area—both energetic, vibrant, and adventurous. No surprise they connected on a camping trip. Their love for the outdoors, sparkles, good food, and fun was magnetic. West Marin is one of my favorite places to shoot—the rolling hills, golden fields, scattered oaks, and charming towns never get old. Izzy and Jesse clearly feel the same. Their Rancho Nicasio wedding brought it all together: local oysters, favorite soft serve, stunning Sebastopol farm flowers, colorful tables, and festive streamers that added a special touch to their ceremony.

Izzy and Jesse got ready in Inverness. They also did their first look there. We then made a couple of stops for pictures on the way to Rancho Nicasio. We did family pictures before the ceremony. After the ceremony, toward the end of cocktail hour, we went on a little adventure and took a few more couple portraits. Once we returned, they had dinner and went into dancing. Somewhere in there, it rained a bit.

Getting Ready and First Look in Inverness

Izzy’s rental house in Inverness was super cool. The English vibe was strong, and the nicknacks and trinkets were fascinating. As a long-time flea market shopper, I could imagine how fun it was collecting all the stuff for the house. My practical side felt pity for the poor person who has to clean the place. When I arrived, Izzy was already done with her hair and makeup. After she put her dress and shoes on, we paraded down the block to where Jesse was getting ready. Izzy and Jesse did their first look under a beautiful oak tree overlooking Tomales Bay.

Couple Portraits, Details, and Family Pics Before the Ceremony

After the first look, we took a few shots on the pier where Jesse was getting ready, then headed to Rancho Nicasio. We stopped at a farm stand, the reservoir, and a cool barn along the way, adding variety and capturing the landscape. At the venue, Izzy and Jesse’s vision came alive. The dinner tables were bursting with color. Jen from Jenniflora worked her floral magic with wildflowers from her farm. The table of unicorn snot (glitter gel) was decked out with colorful cowboy hats and wigs. After snapping details, we quickly found a spot for family pics. Without a wedding party, pre-ceremony portraits went smoothly and fast.

A Colorful Ceremony

All the guests received colorful streamers when they arrived at Rancho Nicasio. One of Izzy’s friends rallied everyone for multiple rounds of streamer waving throughout the ceremony. So fun! The ceremony was sweet and funny and full of laughter.

Cocktail Hour and Couple Portraits in the Hills

The oyster bar during cocktail hour was amazing, with endless trays of briny morsels. The cheese and cracker platter was just as good. Midway through, a light rain started, but it didn’t dampen the wedding’s joyful vibe. Toward the end, we headed to the tiny church down the block. I hoped to get into the field behind it like before, but an electric fence blocked the way. Undeterred, Izzy and Jesse were up for an adventure. We found a gated field with cows, and luckily, the owner was nearby and kindly let us in—plus gave tips on avoiding the cows!

Dinner and Dancing at Rancho Nicasio

After our adventure in the cow-filled golden fields, we returned to Rancho Nicasio for dinner and dancing. Izzy and Jesse’s first dance kicked off the meal, followed by a sweet welcome toast. The rain had stopped, and dinner was delicious. By the time dinner and toasts were done, the soft serve ice cream station was set up. Folks wandered over for soft serve and sparkles before cutting it up on the dance floor. Allison from Heart of Gold DJs rocked the dance party. Christina from Paisley and Plum Events kept everything in order and running smoothly. This was such a great wedding. I love how colorful this wedding was.