Keely and Joe – 1880 Union Hotel in Los Olivos, CA

The 1880 Union Hotel is a vintage western wedding venue in Los Alamos, CA. It is a total hidden gem! It features gorgeous suites for couples to prep in, with abundant window lighting and vintage, high vibe furniture. Keely and Joe got married in February of 2020 and just escaped lockdown!! This wedding happened so long ago and I still look back at this day fondly.

Both of the getting ready suites are close to each other, which made it super easy for me to pop back and forth to get some awesome getting ready shots of both their groups. The light coming through the windows of Keely’s suite was gorgeous, and I used my macro lens to capture some detail images. We also had fun with group photos of each party!

Once Keely was ready, we captured some simple bridals before their first look. For their couples photos, we started with some posed up shots and then I went hands off so that they could savor some intimate moments together! Something I love about first looks is that you can get portraits and formals done before the ceremony. It usually allows the day to flow more freely, especially since there’s so much excitement and celebration right after officially tying the knot!

This wedding venue gives the most gorgeous backdrop for ceremonies. The light was perfect, and there was space behind the altar where I could capture Keely & Joe’s reactions to each other’s vows. Once the ceremony was over, we headed upstairs to sign the marriage license during cocktail hour. Guests lingered downstairs while they signed their names as witness.

The rest of the evening was filled with celebration, from their grand entrance, to toasts, to cake, and dancing!

K&J’s wedding was one of the first few weddings I ever photographed, and I’m still in love with these photos to this day. I absolutely adore this couple – they’re kind, quirky, and fun to be around. They’ve since had me photograph more milestones of their lives, and it brings me so much joy to witness such special moments as couples continue their journeys together.

Keely left the sweetest review from working together on their engagement session, wedding, and maternity photos:

“Mary provided excellent quality service for us, offering fantastic photos and comfortable environment. She gave us romantic engagement photos, unique wedding pictures, and joyful images celebrating the the upcoming arrival of our first child. We cannot wait to book more sessions with this wonderful photographer who brings ease and happiness to each session. We love Mary and the magic she captures and brings!”