Heather & Andrew at The Oddone Vineyard

September in Sonoma Wine Country carries a particular kind of energy. The vineyard grapes are full, the evenings are warm, and the air begins to soften just enough to signal the shift into fall. As most San Franciso Bay Area residents know, September is our summer! It is one of my favorite times of year to photograph a wedding, especially a vineyard wedding in Healdsburg.

Heather and Andrew’s intimate wedding at The Oddone Vineyard felt less like a production and more like a continuation of family history. As a Bay Area and Wine Country wedding photographer, and someone who works frequently throughout Northern California wedding venues, these are the celebrations that stay with me. Not because of scale or spectacle, but because they are shaped by the people and the place that holds them.

Everyone gathered for a large group portrait in front of the vineyard, honoring the tradition of past Soup Festivals and family weddings. The couple said this is easily their favorite moment captured from the entire day.

A Family Vineyard with a Story

The Oddone Vineyard is not a public wedding venue, but a private family estate in Healdsburg that has been part of Andrew’s extended family for decades. Owned by Pier and Barbara since 1988, the property includes a home built in 1990 and a vineyard planted in 1998. Rows of Cabernet stretch in front of the house, alongside Zinfandel and Petit Sirah, with grapes sold to local Sonoma County wineries and select vintages reserved for Pier’s own winemaking. Certified sustainable and organic, the vineyard has also been the setting for annual family gatherings for more than thirty years.

I arrived early on the day of the wedding, to Pier’s warm welcome. He invited me inside their home and was excited to share with me a collection of photo albums from past family celebrations. Weddings. Reunions. The annual “Soup Festival,” a beloved November tradition where family and friends gather for homemade soup, complemented by Oddone wine.

Early on when they were dating, Heather first met Andrew’s family at Soup Festival in 2014. Andrew said, “as you can imagine, bringing Heather, a girl I had only known for eight months and had only been properly dating for even fewer, to a big, chaotic event to meet quite literally my entire extended family, was a big deal!” (Scroll down to see their photo together at the 2014 Soup Festival, at the bottom of this post!) The vineyard is clearly such a special place, that it naturally was where they chose to host their wedding. Their ceremony took place beneath what the family lovingly calls the “Wedding Oak,” the same oak tree that has been witness to seven family weddings!

The ceremony held under the “Wedding Oak.”

After that first Soup Festival invitation, Heather was welcomed into even more family traditions, including harvest, crush, and bottling days at the vineyard. At the wedding, guests were served two homemade Oddone wines that Heather and Andrew helped make themselves: a 2022 Petit Sirah and a 2023 Zinfandel. Andrew said, “Heather was soon thereafter brought “into the fold” for family winemaking events on weekends. While all the activities related to winemaking were and continue to be fun, these weekends were also a very welcome, romantic getaway for us to a particularly relaxing, idyllic place that initially had a very special place in my heart, but that was now very special for both of us.”

In Sonoma and throughout Wine Country, vineyard weddings are often admired for their scenery. But this land held so much heart— both scenery and a wonderful family legacy.

The couple in front of the house at Oddone Vineyard home.

A Ceremony Framed by Vines and Light

The main house served as a calm, welcoming home base for the day. It was there, at the foot of the staircase, that Heather and Andrew shared their First Look, a quiet, unhurried moment that beautifully captured their connection and personalities before the celebration began.

From the house, the day naturally unfolded outward. Guests were greeted with white paper parasols and offered cold drinks from an electric blue wheelbarrow before making their way down the vineyard rows toward the oak tree.

A little signage guidance for guest arrival at the expansive vineyard.

The bride shared some advice for those who are planning their own wedding: “the day goes by so incredibly quickly, so be present, eat/drink your fill, don’t sweat the small stuff, and chat with your guests!”

Guests arriving were greeted with cold drinks and parasols on this warm fall day in Healdsburg.

A simple arch draped in soft white fabric stood beneath its branches, understated and intentional, as the groom waited. Heather walked toward him through the vines wearing a sleek white gown, simple and chic. No lace. No tulle. Her bouquet was a full gathering of wildflowers featuring white daisies, effortless and fresh.

At the altar, the couple shared a shot of Underberg, a ritual that began years earlier during an anniversary dinner in San Francisco and became their way of marking moments centered on good food, celebration, and excess. It was a playful, personal addition to the ceremony that surprised guests and felt entirely true to them.

A shot of Underberg to kick off the celebrations!

From the bride: “have a friend/family member officiate, because they’ll surprise with little additions specific to you like a cheeky Underberg at the start of the ceremony!”

Just married and the couple led the way out of the vineyard!

As the ceremony came to a close, late afternoon light filtered through the vineyard rows, and sun rays wrapped around Heather and Andrew as they walked together. It is the kind of golden natural light photographers hope for on days like this, and one of the many reasons I feel lucky to be a California wedding photographer.

Family photo time included portraits with the Dogs of Honor, Hamilton and Mango!

Casual Elegance by Design

Planned by Corina Beczner of The Poppy Group, the reception design balanced sophistication with ease, bringing together candlelight, collected details, and an effortless sense of flow across the property. The reception took place behind the house, bordered by trees and a garden filled with tall yellow Maximilian sunflowers. Long farmhouse tables were set without heavy linens, softened by runners, while mismatched teacups and saucers waited for coffee and dessert. Vintage china chargers, crystal candle holders, and elegant matchboxes contrasted beautifully with cornhole boards placed on the lawn nearby.

“Laid back charm with candle-lit romance” is how Corina Beczner describes the wedding reception design.

The overall design could best be described as a collected, candlelit garden style, an easy, romantic look centered on alfresco dining and place settings that felt gathered over time. Many of the details were repurposed from past friend weddings, adding another layer of personal history to the celebration.

Soft white linen runners and pops of chamomile were just the thing for this garden party.

Lovely arrangements of white wildflowers and greenery, with soft whites and pops of chamomile, were placed across the tables. Over one hundred tapered candles glowed in etched glass and hurricanes. As the sun dipped lower, string lights overhead began to glow, reflecting off the pool, which was surrounded by cocktail tables and oversized umbrellas.

A charming sweetheart table for Heather and Andrew was styled in the same candlelit garden aesthetic and tucked naturally into the landscape.

There was also a handmade gift from Pier’s son, Gian. Gian and his family custom made a dual tap keg with the Heather and Andrew’s names, wedding date, and the top surface even lit up! These personalized, custom made touches always make a wedding extra special and unique.

Food as the Centerpiece

Heather and Andrew are passionate about food, and it showed. Choosing where to splurge in your wedding budget can be challenging, but excellent food was a priority for them. So they chose a private chef over traditional catering, and the experience felt like a beautifully hosted dinner party rather than a formal reception. After the wedding, many guests told Heather that “ it was the best wedding dinner they had ever had.”

The pistachio flatbread was incredible! The dogs of honor also adorned the cocktail napkins.

Guests began cocktail hour with pepper-crusted seared ahi tuna, ratatouille tarts, and pistachio flatbread. A colorful plated local harvest salad opened dinner, followed by Wagyu New York steak, signature duck, and roasted butternut squash with cannellini beans entree options. Dietary restrictions were thoughtfully considered and fully integrated into the menu rather than treated as an afterthought, something that mattered deeply to the couple.

Mini pastries including delicate éclairs and brightly colored macarons were served alongside a simple, elegant two-tier white wedding cake. Later in the evening, the couple surprised one of their guests with a small candle-lit cake for her birthday. Every detail was considered, and every guest cared for!

The bride said that they “opted for long farm tables that created a communal feeling with free flowing conversation rather than the formal round tables that are more common at weddings.”

The couple hosted a warm, garden party style dinner, with a menu for foodies!

Having photographed many weddings over two decades, I have seen how a meal can shape the tone of an evening. Here, dinner invited conversation. Laughter lingered. No one rushed the moment.

It’s all about the vibe! It was a candlelit dinner reception with a delicious food and good conversation.

Chosen Traditions

Heather once leaned towards having a San Francisco City Hall ceremony. Andrew envisioned the family vineyard. They agreed to let the family decide, and of course, the vineyard was the clear winner! I think it’s safe to say they made the right choice! Their day radiated warmth and personal touches throughout.

“We both wanted it to be as intimate at possible, prioritizing friends who had become family over extended family that we didn’t have a close relationship with. And wow, are we so happy we made that call. Our total invite list (only A-list, no B-listers) was 63 people and we ended up with 55 guests, many of whom we had known for 10+ years. Thankfully both of our moms were fully supportive of this choice even though it meant family members they considered close were not invited.”
It’s no secret that a higher guest count at weddings is the most common way for a wedding budget to go up. So here is some good advice from the bride in planning your guest list and keeping it both intimate and intentional: “Check in with your single friends before sending invites and see if they feel strongly about needing a plus-one. We did this and most of our single friends declined a plus-one before we sent out invites, which helps us narrow down our guest count even more. “

As the evening unfolded, guests mingled freely while the couple’s dogs Hamilton and Mango wandered the property, greeting familiar faces and becoming part of the festivities. The couple said that “having your pets attend is the sweetest cherry on top. Though you will want to assign a point person to keep an eye on them so that you aren’t distracted/worried.”

Mango checks in with mom. I love a wedding reception where the dogs can take part!

At the reception, Heather changed into a silky gown and shares this advice: “for the bride I recommend an outfit change into something comfy/less expensive especially if your wedding dress is tight! That way you’ll enjoy dinner while being comfortable and you won’t worry about spillage if you are accident prone like me!”

Later in the dinner reception, toasts followed from both mothers, a twin sister, and a best friend. As the sun disappeared behind the vineyard, string lights and candlelight transformed the space into a warm and inviting evening. One guest was totally surprised with a candlelit birthday cake, carried over by the couple, with thanks from them for sharing her birthday on their wedding day.

The bride’s twin sister gives an honest, funny, and heartfelt toast!

There was no formal dance floor. Instead, a spontaneous circle formed on the lawn, followed by an unexpected push-up contest (Heather beat out all the guys— except Andrew). It was only later that anyone realized there had been a brief power outage during the reception. Candlelight and generator power carried the evening so seamlessly that it went entirely unnoticed.

Some wedding planning advice from the bride: “Don’t be afraid to have a small, intimate wedding! We were legitimately able to talk with each and every one of our guests, which made the event so much more special. (If possible) only invite your “must-have” guests that you’d be very disappointed if they could not attend.”

Some advice from the groom: Ask your DJ to pepper in a few random songs that specific friends will notice.

Why Intention Changes Everything

Heather and Andrew prioritized conversation over choreography for their wedding. Presence over performance. Meaning over expectation. From a photographer’s perspective, that approach changes everything. It allows me to focus on quiet exchanges, the feeling of the day, the beautiful setting and golden light, and to document how the day truly felt.

A sunset stroll in the vineyard before the couple joins their party. Everything at the property was close by so the couple didn’t miss much by taking some photos, and got to spend a lot of time with their guests!

From Heather: “Put together a vendor team you respect and trust! The majority of our vendors were referrals and this made such a big difference.”

The Vendor Team

Planner: Corina Beczner, The Poppy Group
Venue: Oddone Vineyard, Healdsburg
Florals: Dragon Fly Floral
Catering: Adam Small Cooks
Bar: NorCal Social Mix
Rentals: Encore Event Rentals
Cake: Costeaux
DJ: Techtonic Events
Videography: Sun Beat Films
Transportation: Pure Luxury Transportation
Gown: Emerald City Gowns
Photography: Sonya Yruel

A much appreciated note from Heather: “On our wedding day, Sonya was somehow everywhere all at once — running up vineyard rows to capture the perfect shot, snapping the most charming candids of our guests, and even helping to place a fan in front of our cake so it wouldn’t melt in the summer heat. She was also so effortlessly in sync with our videographer that our guests assumed they were a long-standing team from the same company (they were not!).”

As a Sonoma and San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer, Sonya moves between vineyard estates, historic city spaces, and coastal celebrations. The setting always matters. But the weddings that feel most powerful are the ones shaped by care, confidence, and a clear sense of what matters most.

If you are planning a vineyard wedding in Sonoma, exploring Sonoma wedding venues, or considering an intimate celebration somewhere within the San Francisco Bay Area, I would love to hear what matters most to you. The most meaningful wedding photographs begin long before the wedding day, in the choices couples make about how they want to gather, celebrate, and remember.

Blog post in collaboration with The Lifestyle Historian

An Intimate Healdsburg Vineyard Wedding in Sonoma Wine Country