San Diego County Professional Photographer
Being a Professional Photographer here in Southern California, I love all of the different styles of wedding venues and engagement locations that this part of the state has to offer. What makes it even better is getting to meet and work with amazing people. Whether it’s to photograph their engagement session, their wedding, various stages of their family life, or any combination of those, each one of them is truly great to work with. But perhaps our favorite part is hearing their stories. This is especially true for Thomas and Vanessa. We had the pleasure of photographing their Rancho Buena Vista Adobe Wedding in Vista, California.
After going on a blind date set up by mutual friends, Thomas and Vanessa immediately saw the potential for a furthered relationship. Connecting over their love for God, and over many more dates, their relationship began to blossom. After their first encounter being a “blind” date, the couple decided on a “blind” first look for their wedding day.
Thomas was looking handsome awaiting his bride in a Tommy Hilfiger navy blue suit, a maroon paisley tie, and brown shoes. Vanessa’s hair and makeup added to her elegant look with a gorgeous up-do and a bold and romantic lip color. She stole glances all day in an a-line high-neck dress with a beaded lace top. The bride’s dark and romantic bouquet of colors was made up of peach, maroon, blue, white, and greenery. While the Bride Tribe was dressed in maroon gowns, the groomsmen coordinated with Thomas in navy blue but opted for just the vests.
The Rancho Buena Vista Adobe wedding venue is a rustic, yet simple ranch that offers a unique and romantic atmosphere. The hacienda-style adobe and courtyard create an enchanting atmosphere with antique roses, native plants, and fruit trees for the grand affair. It really embodies the charm of Buena Vista. This is such a gorgeous location for a ceremony, accompanied by its manicured grounds and lush landscapes.
With a gorgeous venue like the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe in Vista, California, and a color scheme of rich navy blue, maroon, and gold accents, this rustic and moody garden wedding was straight out of a fairytale. The ceremony site was set among flowering bushes, dreamy towering trees, and a stone path, which all came together to create an elegant and whimsical setting. Vintage details were placed throughout the venue and added a touch of rustic charm to this outdoor wedding.
All of the details of this beautiful rustic wedding were captured by the team at Three16 Photography.
We would really like to thank Vanessa and Thomas for allowing Three16 Photography to be part of your special day. We wish you many years of love and happiness!
Check out their love story. We hope you enjoy it, and their photos, as much as we do.
Vanessa and Thomas’ Love Story
How did you both meet?
We were introduced by mutual friends, Dan & Marcia, at church and agreed to a blind date. Blind on Vanessa’s end … Tommy decided to do a little research! 😉
Tell us about your first date. Who was more nervous and what did you guys do?
For our first date, we went to Coffee Bean just to talk and get to know one another. After our initial meeting, we both decided we wanted to meet up again and so we went to this yummy and quaint Italian restaurant. Afterward, we walked around downtown Brea ending the night with some frozen yogurt. Solid date.
What’s the proposal story and give us all the details!
A long but beautiful story. I was coming back from a busy but FUN weekend with one of my best friends in Santa Barbara and we agreed to all meet in La Jolla after our weekend trip. I got dropped off after being stuck in five-hour traffic(!!) and Tommy suggested we go for a walk to catch up and talk about our weekend. Now, I knew engagement had to be coming soon but didn’t think it would be that weekend because our plans were all over the place and it was a FULL weekend! Anyway, he drove me to one of our favorite spots, La Jolla Shores. We have very sweet memories there and I figured he wanted to take a walk down memory lane.
We got out of the car and began to walk up the hill toward the wooded area. The sun had set at this point, so we had the afterglow thing going on; prime time to sit and look out over the ocean! As I walked up the hill, I saw stringed lights in the trees and stopped walking. “Wait, what are THOSE! What are we doing!? What are YOU doing?!” He laughed and invited me to walk toward the stringed lights. He had two movie theater seats, a projector screen, and a projector all set up. “We’re going to watch a movie!” He escorted me to the seat and pressed play. Over the course of our dating, he had filmed and compiled videos and photos, and used them to create a video! He wrote a script and narrated our story with jokes, sweet words, and kind sentiments. I was crying the whole time of course. At the end of the video, he asked me to come and stand with him. I took his hand and stood with him as he shared his heart for me and our shared love of God. He bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him with a ring in hand! Of course, I responded with a resounding, “YES!” Best day of our lives until July 15th, 2017 😉
As you approach the wedding day, what have you both enjoyed most about the wedding planning process?
During the wedding planning process, we’ve both enjoyed learning more about each other and celebrating our differences.
What has been the hardest part about planning your wedding?
The hardest part about planning our wedding has been being apart (distance-wise) for the majority of the planning process but now that I’ve moved down to San Diego, it’s been much more enjoyable!
Why did you choose your particular wedding and reception venue?
Rancho Buena Vista Adobe seemed to fit into what we desired in regards to having everyone stay close, and having an outdoor venue with natural beauty.
Where did you draw some of your inspiration from for your wedding day?
After praying about what we wanted our day to look like, we settled on the verse in Psalm 34, verse 3, “Oh come magnify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.” We felt like this really embodied what we desire for our day, that we would have our loved ones gathered around in celebration of all that God has done.
Where are you going for the honeymoon and why did you choose that destination?
We are first going to San Francisco for a couple of days then jetting out to Miami for a Caribbean cruise! We are VERY excited as San Francisco has a very special place in our hearts and the cruise was just a fun opportunity to relax and enjoy!
Vendors used for Vanessa and Thomas’ gorgeous Rancho Buena Vista Adobe Wedding:
Location Information
Ceremony & Reception: Rancho Buena Vista Adobe
Address: 640 Alta Vista Drive, Vista, CA 92084
Vendor Information
PHOTOGRAPHY
Company: Three16 Photography
Instagram: @three16photography
VIDEOGRAPHY
Company: Glass Woods Media
Instagram: @glasswoodsmedia
FLORIST
Company: Willow & Lace Company
Instagram: @willowandlaceco
DJ
Company: DJ Paul
CATERER
Company: Mexico City Cuisine
HAIR & MAKE-UP
Name of Person: Bryna Gallegos
Instagram: @boosieandbutton
GROOM’S SUIT
Brand / Designer: Tommy Hilfiger
DECOR
Company: CC Vintage Rentals
Instagram: @ccvintagerentals
WEDDING INVITATION
Company: Boosie & Button
Instagram: @boosieandbutton
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