Couple posing for portrait at Heartwood Mendocino wedding.

Julia and Devin’s Sweet Jewish Wedding at Heartwood Mendocino

Heartwood Mendocino has quickly become one of my favorite wedding venues. Thoughtfully built and meticulously maintained, it’s a hidden gem just a few miles outside the town of Mendocino. The on-site tent cabins are really cool. With exposed wood beams, rustic doors, and big windows, they offer guests a truly unique experience. Each cabin has its own personality.

In addition to these charming cabins, bell tents are also available. Guests can even pitch their own tents or stay in campers. For those who prefer hotels, there are plenty of hotels and rental houses nearby. From the bathrooms to the showers to the architecture and layout, every detail has been carefully considered at this awesome venue. It’s no surprise that the owners are super sweet people.

Julia and Devin described themselves as pretty photo-shy people, something many of my couples say about themselves. It was important to them to have beautiful photos documenting time with their friends and family, without spending the whole day in stiff, posed shots.

Their wedding weekend kicked off Friday (before I arrived) with a rehearsal, dinner, food, drinks, and plenty of merriment. That’s also when the portable wood-fired sauna and cold plunge they rented arrived. Hell yes to portable saunas.

By Saturday, the celebration was in full swing. The day started with arts and crafts, yoga, and breakfast. By the time I arrived, guests lounged on the lawn, rotated between the sauna and cold plunge, and got ready in the main house. The vibe was wonderfully relaxed. I wandered around, soaking up the scenes.

Getting Ready Everywhere

At Heartwood Mendocino, “getting ready” happens all over the property. There was even a shower schedule for the weekend, with each guest assigned a time slot. Aside from that, people got ready in their cabins, tents, and wherever else felt right. Julia and a group of friends got ready in the main house, Ellie’s Farmhouse, on the property.

A few people, including Julia, had hair and makeup done by Beauty on Set, while most of the ladies opted to do their own. Julia and a group of her friends did shots of Tubi 60 in the Farmhouse… this magical drink working its warmth into the day. Devin popped into the house to get into his suit, and the first look unfolded spontaneously right there in the farmhouse. Afterward, we stepped outside for family photos.

Family Photos and Ketubah Signing

As usual, I kept family photos straightforward and efficient. We found a great little spot just past the sauna where we took pictures under a grove of redwood trees.

Then it was back to the farmhouse, where Julia and Devin signed their ketubah in a cozy greenhouse space. Signing the ketubah always feels like such a tender, intimate moment in Jewish weddings.

Ceremony in the Secret Meadow

After the ketubah signing, I wandered down the winding path through the woods toward the secret meadow. The trail is lined with whimsical gnomes; keep your eyes open for them if you ever find yourself there.

Julia and Devin brought up an Argentinian Klezmer band from LA, who played as guests made their way through the forest. The ceremony itself was a sweet, modern Jewish celebration.

Cocktails, Couple Portraits, and Magic

In 2024, I photographed another wedding at Heartwood Mendocino, where the bride (also named Julia) had hired a magician to perform close-up magic during cocktail hour. It was such a great experience for the guests and made for some fun photos. When I told this Julia about it, she loved the idea and brought in San Francisco magician Andrew Evans of The Magic Patio. His close-up magic had everyone wide-eyed and entertained. So many great reactions to his tricks.

Toward the end of cocktail hour, I whisked Julia and Devin away for a few quick portraits nearby. The cabins make fantastic backdrops, and there are so many nooks around the property that are perfect for photos. Julia and Devin were eager to get back to the party, so we spent less than 15 minutes shooting before rejoining the crowd.

The magician wrapped up cocktail hour with a fantastic trick that left everyone laughing, shaking their heads, and grinning in disbelief.

Dinner and Dancing Outside of the Farmhouse

Still buzzing from the cocktail hour magic, guests headed to dinner, where long tables were arranged in a huge semicircle facing the dance floor. The setup gave everything an intimate, communal feel, even with a large group. After heartfelt toasts and a delicious family-style meal, Klezmer Juice got the dance floor moving.

The hora is always a little wild, and this one was no exception. I try to get right into the middle of the chaos if possible. After Julia and Devin were hoisted into the air, their parents and siblings also got their turn. From there, the hora flowed into a DJ set, and the party rolled on late into the night.

When I was getting ready to head out, trays of donuts were about to be served. I grabbed one for the road. Before leaving, I jumped into the photo booth with Zoe Braga and her awesome team for some goofy shots. Thanks, Penny and Co., for the sweet photo booth and cool props!