A Styish Victorian Gardens Wedding at Mallo Pass Farms
Jessica and George’s Victorian Gardens Wedding at Mallo Pass Farms in Mendocino
Jessica and George’s wedding at Victorian Gardens—tucked between Point Arena and the town of Mendocino—was a delightful affair. This has been the summer of Mendocino weddings for me, and I was happy to be back. The coastal views are always stunning. Victorian Gardens, once a bed and breakfast, just recently started hosting weddings. I believe this was the first full-scale wedding on their property.
The rooms are super charming, and the Victorian house itself is gorgeous—I especially loved the kitchen. Jessica and George wanted to be close to the coast, and this place fit the bill perfectly. While Mendocino is a bit farther than many Bay Area venues, it doesn’t feel that way. The dramatic scenery along the drive makes the journey part of the adventure.
Getting Ready
When I arrived, most of the ladies already had their makeup done. George and the guys were trying to figure out how to tie their bow ties. Jessica put on her dress and did some touch-up on her lips. I bounced back and forth between the rooms and cruised around the property, taking in the new environment. Ashley and Katie, from Oak and Ash Floral Design, were setting up the flower arch in the ceremony location and getting the rest of the flowers together for the day. Zoe Braga, a fantastic Mendocino event coordinator, was setting up tables and making sure all the things were in their place.
First Look and Portraits Before the Ceremony
Sometimes the “first look” just happens. This was one of those weddings where the couple didn’t really make it a thing. I came back from scouting a spot for the wedding party and family portraits, and Jessica and George were walking down the stairs together. So dressed in their finery, we headed over to one of the little barns on the property and took wedding party and family pics. I always look for a relatively level spot that is close by and has nice light.
Ceremony
Because the Victorian Gardens is so new to weddings, they don’t really have a specific location where they do ceremonies. The day before the wedding, George and Jessica had scouted a spot with a view of the ocean and carved a path to the area where they would be married. As luck would have it, fog rolled in during the ceremony, obscuring the view of the ocean. It was still a beautiful ceremony.
Cocktails and Couple Portraits Around the Farm and at the Coast
Toward the end of cocktail hour, Jessica, George, and I did a quick walkabout the farm. There are so many sweet little places on the property to explore. It is also close enough to the coast that a quick trip for some California coastline pics can be done in a short amount of time. As usual, taking the time to take couple portraits was a nice break and a fun adventure.
Dinner and Dancing
Guests sat at two long tables for dinner in a V-shaped configuration. Jessica and George were in 2 vintage chairs at the vertex of the two tables. It was a nice setup. After dinner and speeches, folks moved into the greenhouse to get their groove on. This was such a lovely affair with so many little fun touches. I hope to be back here again soon.
If you are looking to get married in Mendocino, also check out Oz Farm. Here is a crazy non-traditional camp-out wedding and a super fun magical wedding I shot there over the summer. It is delightful and just down the road from the Victorian Gardens.