Vivian and Brady’s Elliston Vineyards wedding was more than a wedding day—it was the celebration they didn’t get to have the first time around. The couple had eloped the previous August while Vivian was busy in nursing school, but they still dreamed of celebrating their marriage surrounded by the family and friends who hadn’t been able to be part of their elopement.
They chose Elliston Vineyards in Sunol, California, for an intimate celebration with 64 of their closest loved ones. Vivian’s family traveled from the San Francisco area, while Brady’s family made the trip from Tennessee, bringing everyone together for a day centered around family, connection and finally getting to experience the traditions they had missed the first time around.
Set among the rolling hills of the Tri-Valley, Elliston Vineyards gave us a beautiful backdrop for the entire wedding day—from getting ready and their ceremony to portraits around the property and their evening reception.
Vivian & Brady’s Romantic Elliston Vineyards Wedding
There is something especially beautiful about a wedding at Elliston Vineyards in Sunol, California. Tucked into the hills of the Tri-Valley, this historic estate combines vineyard views, beautiful architecture and intimate outdoor spaces that make it an incredible setting for a romantic Northern California wedding.
I had the pleasure of photographing Vivian and Brady’s celebration at Elliston Vineyards after the two had originally eloped the year before. With Vivian busy in nursing school, they hadn’t had the opportunity to plan the traditional wedding celebration they envisioned. This time, they gathered 64 of their closest family and friends to celebrate their marriage together—and the day felt incredibly personal from beginning to end.
From an Elopement to an Elliston Vineyards Celebration
Vivian and Brady’s story began three years earlier when they met on Tinder. Vivian joked that it might not be the most romantic way to meet, but clearly, it worked.
Their original wedding looked a little different than they had imagined. Vivian was in nursing school at the time, and with so much on her plate, planning a traditional wedding simply wasn’t realistic. Instead, Vivian and Brady eloped in August and officially began married life together.
But there were parts of a traditional wedding they still wanted to experience—especially having their closest friends and family there with them. They had missed having bridesmaids, groomsmen and loved ones participating in their ceremony, so their celebration at Elliston Vineyards gave them the opportunity to bring everyone together.
Vivian described the two of them as goofy but a little shy. They love joking with each other but aren’t particularly comfortable being the center of attention, which made a relaxed approach to their wedding photography especially important. Rather than forcing every moment into a pose, I wanted their photographs to feel like them while still giving them direction whenever they needed it.
Getting Ready at Elliston Vineyards
Vivian and Brady chose to spend their entire wedding day at Elliston Vineyards, with their getting-ready locations, ceremony and reception all on the property. Keeping everything in one location allowed the day to flow naturally and gave us plenty of time to document both the planned details and the candid moments happening around them.
Because Vivian and Brady decided not to do a first look, we kept them separate before the ceremony. That meant the first time they would see each other that day would be as Vivian came down the aisle—a moment they had intentionally saved for the ceremony.
An Intimate Elliston Vineyards Wedding Ceremony
The ceremony was especially meaningful for Vivian and Brady because it included so many of the people who hadn’t been part of their original elopement. With approximately 64 guests, the celebration felt intimate while still giving them the experience of being surrounded by their bridesmaids, groomsmen, family and friends.
Family was also incorporated in a thoughtful way throughout the celebration. Vivian’s family is primarily from the San Francisco area, while Brady’s family traveled from Tennessee to be there. Sandy Guo served as both officiant and emcee and translated between English and Cantonese so Vivian’s Cantonese-speaking family members could experience the ceremony alongside everyone else.
For a couple who told me they don’t particularly love being the center of attention, the ceremony felt especially focused on what mattered most to them: sharing this moment with the people they love.
Wedding Portraits Around Elliston Vineyards
After the ceremony, we explored the grounds of Elliston Vineyards for Vivian and Brady’s wedding portraits. They had told me beforehand that they felt about a four out of five when it came to being comfortable in front of the camera and appreciated direction with posing, so my goal was to give them enough guidance to feel confident without making their portraits feel overly posed.
That’s one of my favorite ways to approach wedding portraits. I’ll step in when a couple needs direction—where to stand, what to do with their hands, how to move into flattering light—and then give them enough space for their actual personalities and connection to come through.
Celebrating With Family & Friends
More than anything, Vivian and Brady told me they were excited to see their loved ones become part of their wedding celebration. Their reception was the culmination of exactly that—two families who had traveled from different parts of the country finally gathered together to celebrate their marriage.
Those are often some of my favorite photographs from a wedding day. Beyond the portraits and carefully planned details are the interactions that can’t be recreated: reactions during speeches, laughter between friends, parents watching from across the room and all the small moments happening when nobody realizes the camera is there.
Vivian & Brady’s Wedding Vendors
Venue: Elliston Vineyards
Photography: Vanessa Montano Photography
Second Photographer: Nicole Flotte
Coordinator: Kaylee Zhang
Officiant & Emcee: Sandy Guo
Florals: Jeanette Fan
DJ: Alex Tom
Hair: Netanya Westhoelter
Elliston Vineyards Wedding FAQs
What is Elliston Vineyards like for wedding photography?
Elliston Vineyards offers a beautiful mix of historic architecture, garden spaces, mature greenery and scenic hills, which gives us plenty of variety for wedding photos without having to leave the property. I especially loved the natural light inside the estate for getting-ready portraits and the outdoor gazebo area for the ceremony and wedding-party photos.
Can you get ready at Elliston Vineyards?
Yes. Vivian and Brady both got ready at Elliston Vineyards, which made the photography timeline much easier because their getting-ready photos, ceremony, portraits and reception could all take place at the same venue. The historic interiors also gave us a completely different look from their outdoor portraits later in the day.
Where are the best places for wedding photos at Elliston Vineyards?
There are several beautiful portrait opportunities throughout the property. On Vivian and Brady’s wedding day, I used the historic interiors for getting-ready portraits, the garden and gazebo area for wedding-party photos, and the grounds surrounding the estate for their couple portraits. I always choose portrait locations based on the light at that particular time of day rather than relying on one predetermined spot.
What is the Elliston Vineyards wedding ceremony space like?
Vivian and Brady held their ceremony outdoors in front of Elliston’s gazebo, surrounded by greenery and the hills behind the property. The setting photographed beautifully and provided a classic garden backdrop while still showing off the natural landscape surrounding the venue.
Should we do a first look at Elliston Vineyards?
You don’t have to. Vivian and Brady chose not to have a first look because they wanted the first time they saw each other to happen during their ceremony. A first look can give us more flexibility for portraits before the ceremony, but if seeing each other at the aisle is important to you, I can build the photography timeline around that instead.
When is the best time for wedding portraits at Elliston Vineyards?
I prefer to plan outdoor couple portraits around the actual light on the wedding day rather than choosing a fixed time months in advance. Elliston’s surrounding hills, trees and different areas of the property create changing light throughout the day, so I build portrait time into the wedding timeline while leaving enough flexibility to take advantage of the best light.
Do you photograph Elliston Vineyards weddings on both film and digital?
Yes. I’m a hybrid wedding photographer, which means I photograph with both digital and film throughout a wedding day. I choose the medium based on the moment, lighting and look I’m trying to create, giving couples a gallery that combines the flexibility of digital photography with the timeless character of film.
Looking for an Elliston Vineyards Wedding Photographer?
If you’re planning your own Elliston Vineyards wedding, I’d love to document your celebration in a way that feels natural, romantic and true to you. My approach blends candid storytelling with an editorial eye, with plenty of direction when you need it and space for the genuine moments to unfold naturally.
As a hybrid wedding photographer, I photograph with both digital and film and serve couples throughout Sunol, Livermore, Pleasanton, the Tri-Valley, Napa Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Planning a wedding at Elliston Vineyards? [Inquire about your wedding date.]
Planning a Northern California wedding? You may also find these venue guides helpful:
- 7 Best Livermore Wedding Venues for Wine Country
- 10 Best Napa Valley Wedding Venues for Romantic Vineyard Weddings
- 5 Hidden Gem Venues in Napa for Small, Heartfelt Ceremonies
- Your Ultimate Guide to 18 Stunning Sonoma Wedding Venues
- 7 Best Pleasanton Wedding Venues, Including Palm Event Center
- Northern California Wedding Venues
