Fairview Laguna Seca Wedding

Ryan and Alyssa had a beautiful Fairview Laguna Seca Wedding on a sunny day, surrounded by their friends and family. On this day, many came from far and near to celebrate these two, “tying God’s knot” and saying, “I do” and “I will” forever.

Alyssa and Ryan

I remember when I first met these two. Alyssa found me from a podcast episode I was on and followed me on Instagram shortly after. My first impression from viewing her Instagram was that she really loved Ryan, loved her nieces, and loved sharing God’s word and strength during times of hardness. In relation to her, I am also a Navy Wife, and so we also connected about the pros and cons of this lifestyle. We even joked over being in Hawaii at the same time. I even photographed her homecoming in Hawaii (but for a family, not her). So to be in the same area as a future bride (and friend) fascinated us. In true fashion, we were close but never met until she started to plan her wedding.

Flash forward to our consultation. I was drawn to the love these two shared and had for each other. At this time in their relationship, they were living in separate time zones. When Ryan joined, my first impression was that I loved his sense of humor and his willingness to make Alyssa happy in life and during the wedding planning process. These two are so connected as one. They complement each other, and always consider the other’s feelings.

Throughout planning this wedding, I watched them reconnect, move across the country, get a home together in Monterey, travel for work, and so much more. Aside from wedding planning, I loved keeping tabs on their daily lives and seeing them succeed in work and their relationship. Alyssa is inspiring and full of joy. Ryan loves to go with the flow and stay true to himself and his marriage. Truly, they are a couple I love and I am so grateful I get to be their friend as well as their photographer!

Fairview Laguna Seca Wedding

This incredible wedding day at Fairview Laguna Seca was filled with love, giggles, and an astonishing reception party! While Ryan and his guys got ready at home, Alyssa and the bridal party booked a suite at the Hilton Garden Inn in Monterey to prep for the big day. Tiffany, my second shooter, got to hang with the guys while I stayed with Alyssa. The getting-ready details included his/her rings for The Naval Academy and MIT, donuts, a champagne saber pop, and more!

We decided to look at Laguna Seca next to the trees and fence along the main highway. Even with busy cars, this still made for a great location. With the sunny weather, we had shade from soft green trees, making this an excellent spot for these two to see each other before the ceremony!

Fairview Laguna Seca Wedding Ceremony

After a fun morning getting ready and looking at the venue, it’s time to start this Fairview Laguna Seca Wedding. The welcome signs and decor were printed by Upcycle Designs and had such a nice touch when welcoming guests to the wedding! D’ Lilly’s Flowers created the flowers for the wedding. She and her team did an excellent job, and I loved seeing her work come together to make the most beautiful flowers for Ryan and Alyssa.

After the bride and groom walked down the aisle for this ceremony, the officiant gave the guests 30 seconds to take photos of Alyssa and Ryan at the arch. I loved seeing that happen because it is an excellent way for the guests to take pictures and put them away to be in the moment. During this ceremony, Alyssa and Ryan also tied the knot of the cross (the first time I saw this) to bring their marriage together and with god always by their side. Between this, their vows, and a lovely kiss in the middle of the aisle, I could not have asked for a better ceremony for these two. It was perfect for them!

Before the party began, Tiffany and I captured the wedding party and family portraits. This part of the day was so fun and bittersweet. Alyssa’s dad had a stroke just over a month ago and could not attend the wedding. This was heartbreaking for Alyssa. But we all stayed strong for her, supported her, and our beautiful bride still had a smile on her face! She even FaceTimed her dad (see that image coming up). Otherwise, this was a great time to celebrate and spend time with family, taking formal photos until the partying and drinking began!

Golden Hour at Fairview Laguna Seca

I get very excited when a couple agrees to do golden hour photos! Not only do they get extra pictures of themselves, but it allows them to spend some time together and enjoy the day. We decided on a location past the golf tee before the cliffs. This was the perfect spot for a golden hour because we had different backdrops. This was a perfect time for Alyssa to show off her dress from Epiphany Bridal and to capture some sweet moments with Alyssa in her veil!

Fairview Laguna Seca Reception

What better way to end a wedding day than with a crazy reception with lots of dancing, a sparkler exit, and a late-night taco snack at a local place in Seaside!

This Fairview Laguna Seca Wedding for Alyssa and Ryan is now in the books for one of my favorite couples and weddings to document. I love these two and enjoyed meeting and chatting with so many of their friends and family. Also, ten out of ten will come back here again to photograph another wedding if asked too!

Congratulations to Ryan and Alyssa! You did such a fantastic job planning this wedding, and I wish you both the best in all that the future has for you in the Navy and out of the Navy!

Monterey Wedding Photographer

Hey! My name is Dana, and I am a destination wedding photographer. My home base is Monterey, California, but I love traveling and photographing weddings on the East Coast and several parts of Europe. Since 2018, I have photographed joyful and loving wedding day moments for travel-enthusiast couples. I love what I do and cannot see myself doing anything else. Thank you to those who have hired me for their wedding day/weekend. It means so much to me!