A few more images from Aaron and Carries wedding in San Jose. A beautiful day at Santana Row in San jose and the wedding ceremony at Gateway church.

View more of our wedding portfolio here, Bay Area Artistic Wedding photography

I knew when I first met Chan and Kao that their wedding was going to be amazing and it sure did turn out to be a great day. When I first met Chan the story on how they found me was one of the coolest stories I had heard. A couple years ago while my wife was pregnant with our baby girl we decided it was time for a new car. After the usual driving around from car lot to car lot we finally found a few cars we were interested in. After going through a few test drives we decided on a car and starting the normal dealings with the sales guy. He was a pretty nice guy and we started chatting about work and life… I found out he was engaged and told him he had to check out my work. He responded that he would take my card but his fiance already found someone that she liked so couldn’t promise me anything. I told him not to worry I am the best, but was thinking who is this other photographer his fiance already wants to book and hasn’t even met with yet. To make a long story short, Chan had been viewing my site and blog for awhile already and wanted me to shoot their wedding. So when her fiance came home from work that day and set down my card on their table she was shocked when she saw it. She asked Kao where he got my card and then told him that I was the photographer she had been talking about! Crazy story I will never forget.

Kao and Chan are such a sweet couple and they really had an amazing wedding. The hotel ballroom was transformed into an amazing display, words can’t even describe it. You will all have to wait just a little bit longer for the photos. In the meantime here is a quick shot of Chan and I as they were taking down the photo booth.

Congrats guys!

- Mark

Congrats Brandon and Crystal for having us document your wedding day. It was a fun day in San Jose that had me laughing along with the bridal party all day! What a great group of people to work with, there are tons of images we are wrapping up and should have a slideshow coming soon!

Thanks again for having me as part of your day.

Mark

Our Wednesday Weddings post this week is on Orinda Country Club. A really classic venue the country club was built in 1925 and has a classic california/spanish Mediterranean style to the main building. Here is a little more info about Orinda Country Club

Since opening in 1925, the historic Spanish Mediterranean style clubhouse has always played the consummate host. The hand-carved beam ceilings, ornate mahogany balconies, and contemporary furnishings create an atmosphere of timeless beauty and elegance.

On the club terrace, the sweeping views from the 1st tee out across the San Pablo Valley and Orinda hills provide a magnificent setting for occasions big and small intimate and larger than live.It is an exclusive domain set on 250 very private acres. A natural preserve of alders, bays, and oaks. San Francisco is but 20 minutes away, yet you are sequestered from the disturbances of the modern world.

Arriving at the Orinda Country Club is, in itself, an event. Part movie set, part getaway, it is a secluded retreat with a warm Mediterranean welcome. A place well-equipped to turn any engagement into a unique experience. The Grand Ballroom places the accent on grand with its high ceilings, chandeliers, balcony, and fireplace.
Our gracious Club Rooms lend an elegant mood to smaller gatherings. Whether the invitation is to close companions or an entire corporation, a professionally trained staff is at your command. The dress is black and white, the service is china, and the dining is, or course, very fine. As befits a private club with close ties to the Napa Valley, our cellar boasts some of California’s finest vintages. A full bar awaits in the Fairway Lounge (Insider tip: try a Ginda, the house special, made with gin, tonic, and a sprig of rosemary.)

Check out more info about booking your wedding or event here: Orinda Country Club Events

Here is a recent wedding we photographed out there:

Orinda Country Club wedding from mark stagi on Vimeo.

We had a really fun wedding out at Clos la Chance winery in San Martin a few weeks back and just finished the slideshow.  Clos LaChance is a gorgeous place to get married at, it is surrounded by beautiful rolling  hills with grapevines and the main building and courtyard really remind me of an Italian Villa, it is just a perfect spot for a wedding.  Check out our wedding slideshow here, Clos LaChance Winery Wedding Photos

–Mark