Katy and Andrew – California Wedding
Back in March I got an email from an old friend, Katy, asking if I wanted to come over to photograph her wedding in the mountains of California in June. Well, I thought about it for all of about two seconds before replying YES! I spent the next couple of months trying to contain my excitement at this great chance to escape a cold Dunedin winter, see some of the US, catch up with Katy again and meet Andrew.
Katy is American, originally from Rockford, Illinois. I worked with her when she was living in Dunedin a few years ago. Andrew is a kiwi, originally from Upper Hutt. They both now live and work in Mammoth Lakes, where Katy is the graphic designer for the ski resort, and Andrew is a ski instructor. They met in New Zealand and have spent the last few years chasing the snow back and forth between their respective countries. Interestingly, they actually got married a while back, in a registry office in Ashburton! In every other respect, this was their wedding day though, with a great bunch of friends and family travelling from all corners of the globe for one big party in California!
So after a busy couple of weeks in Los Angeles, New York and a train trip back across to California, I turned up in beautiful Mammoth Lakes, a ski resort town high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It was time to go to work.
We started off with a quick drive around a few places. First stop, a pine forest…
Then to the Mammoth Brewing Company, a boutique brewery (with seriously good beer) where Andrew works in the summer…
And to a stunning lake with snow lying around the shores…
And finally a cool tunnel which made for some different shots…
Back in town, we met everyone at the golf course for the family group photos and some more fun shots… luckily the course was yet to open for the summer, so we didn’t have to dodge wayward golf balls!
From here we headed to Little Eagle Lodge where the rest of the guests were waiting. Katy and Andrew weren’t going to have any kind of ceremony, seeing that they were techically married already, but in the end decided to say a few nice words to each other. The unofficial bridal party also shared some thoughts.
Little Eagle Lodge is right at the bottom of one of the ski field chairlifts, so we all headed up the mountain! The plan was to get lots of photos up here with the guests sipping their cocktails on sunset. Unfortunately, it was freeeeeeezing, and even the hugs from a certain Wooly Mammoth didn’t manage to warm us up enough!
With numb fingers and toes, it was back to Little Eagle for the reception, and some food and drinks to warm the belly!
The drinks flowed, the band kicked into it and the dancing started… and continued well into the night.
What a great day! And a very unique and special wedding. Thanks so much to Katy and Andrew for giving me such an amazing opportunity, I can’t thank you guys enough. The few days I spent in Mammoth were one of the highlights of my travels and I can’t wait to come back soon!
