How to Have a Backyard Wedding in the Bay area
Here’s how to have a backyard wedding in the Bay area.
Step one: Have the ingenuity to step outside of the box…
Step two: It helps if you’ve got a backyard big enough to fit all your favorite people too. Luckily this couple did! The bride grew up right here - at the Berkeley Zen center! So it was very fitting to hold another important chapter in her life, right where life sort of began.
Every inch of their wedding celebration was thought out and artfully crafted and I was glad to connect them with the perfect person to help coordinate & execute it on the day as well. (Thanks Janice!)
My favorite part of documenting these is just taking a step back and taking it all in. From the handmade wedding program, to the couple’s wedding signage. Listening in on the conversations and the natural gravitation towards the laughter and hugs. Just watching all the little groups that naturally form when people are seeing each other for the first time in many years or even if only a few days had passed. All the smiles, all the warmth and even the amazing fashion choices. And to round it off well with the yummy local food and drinks scattered around with music coming from a live band, who is also part of the couple’s wonderful community!
Community - was really the heart beat of their celebration. And if there’s anything we need more of these days, it’s that. It’s what I absolutely LOVE most about being part of weddings like this. It is such a comforting and warm hug.
Thank you Silvie & Cooper for having me document this for you and letting me partake in your community!
“We are beyond thrilled with our experience with Cherlyn. From our very first interaction, she exuded warmth and responsiveness, making us feel at ease and confident that we were in good hands. Her photography skills are phenomenal—each photo is intimate and natural, perfectly capturing the small moments we didn’t even know to savor. Working with her was an absolute pleasure. She was incredibly easy to communicate with, always prompt and professional. On top of her amazing photography, she went above and beyond by helping us find a day-of coordinator at the last minute, which made our special day run even more smoothly. We highly recommend Cherlyn to anyone looking for a talented, kind, and fun wedding photographer.” - Silvie
Wedding Team:
Photography: Cherlyn Wagner
Coordination: Janice Clement Events
Catering: The Cheeseboard Collective
Music: Bride’s Dad’s Bluegrass - Suzy & Eric Thompson et al
Planning your own backyard wedding in the Bay Area? Whether it's at a family home or a place full of personal meaning, I’d love to help you document it in a way that feels real, relaxed, and fully you. Reach out if you're dreaming up something a little different - cause I’m here for it!!
