Month: November 2017

Wedding at Shadowbrook in Capitola

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It’s hard to find a location that is more romantic than the Shadowbrook restaurant in Capitola-by-the-Sea.  The historic restaurant with it’s stained glass windows and cozy atmosphere just makes for a perfect wedding location.  Ariel and Jonathan were married here on June 11, 2017, surrounded by close friends and family.         Photography: Tony Fitzgerald Photography  |  Venue:  Shadowbrook Restaurant  |  Officiant:  Rev. Kimberly Cope  | Cake: Shadowbrook Restaurant  | Hair and Makeup: The Last Resort salon and Spa  

Seascape Resort Wedding in Aptos

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Jennifer and Paul were married at the Seascape Resort in Aptos on June 10, 2017.  The ceremony took place on the bluff overlooking the ocean, on a perfect summer day.  The bride’s father, a preacher, was the officiant for the ceremony and her two sons had the honor of carrying the rings and giving the bride away.  A concert harpist added a touch of elegance to both the ceremony and cocktail hour.   The groom is from Ireland and guests at the wedding included were friends and family from his homeland.  The couple wanted the reception to be a relaxed, family affair, and the Seascape Resort was a perfect location for the celebration.       Photography: Tony Fitzgerald Photography  |  Venue and Catering:  Seascape Beach Resort  | Harpist : Anna Maria Mendieta  

Secret pecan tart recipe

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For Thanksgiving I made a pecan tart with a foolproof crust recipe from America’s Test Kitchen.  It seriously is foolproof and the best crust ever.  The secret is that it uses vodka.  We had some Seagram’s Sweet Tea vodka left from a summer backyard party, and that was the perfect thing for a pecan tart.

Santa Cruz Wedding at Chaminade in June

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On a sunny day in June, Venus and David were married at the Chaminade Resort in Santa Cruz.  The bride is a pilot, so there was a plane theme woven throughout the champagne and dusty rose florals at the reception.  The bride and groom had been friends since they were children, so photos of them decorated the ceremony chairs and the reception hall.  The bride’s relatives designed the decorations for the formal cake, and the cakes were topped with photo characters of the bride and groom as children.         Photography: Tony Fitzgerald Photography  |  Venue:  Chaminade  |  Cakes: Buttery Bakery and Nothing Bundt Cakes |  Hair and Makeup: The Last Resort Salon and Spa |  Florals and Decor: Eventscapes

St. Lucy Catholic Parish wedding in Campbell

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Lisa and Paul were married in St. Lucy Catholic Parish on May 16, 2017.  The lovely ceremony was attended by their family and friends.  Afterward the couple left the church led by a bagpiper and held a reception in downtown Campbell to celebrate.         Photography: Tony Fitzgerald Photography  |  Venue:  St. Lucy Catholic Parish |  Venue and Catering: Villa Ragusa  | M2MPhotobooths | The Bay DJ  

Wedding at Mission San Juan Bautista

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Susan and Arrin were married in the historic mission at San Juan Bautista on April 22, 2017.  They wanted the wedding to be romantic and timeless and thought the historic mission, with it’s rose garden courtyard, was the perfect place.  Susan is from Scotland, and brother, sister and close friend traveled all the way from Scotland for the wedding.  She wore a long champagne gown with vintage lace and amazing flowery sleeves.  A highland bagpiper played as she walked the corridor to the mission doors and entered, starting the ceremony with a regal entrance.  After a short receiving line in the rose garden, the guests were led by the bagpiper to the reception at Casa Maria.       Photography: Tony Fitzgerald Photography  |  Venue:  Mission San Juan Bautista  |  Catering and Cake: Classic Catering  | Bagpiper: Lynne S. Miller