bride & groom outdoors in hills of California

Summer Garden Wedding in Sonoma County, CA

Aya & Nazzar | Sonoma County

bride and groom walking through hills of Sonoma County

The Proposal

Nazzar’s plan was to make Aya think they were doing a couples photoshoot, then surprise her with the proposal. They were going to Paso Robles with some of their closest friends to celebrate Aya’s 25th birthday, and on the way there, Nazzar and Aya took a detour to Malibu Creek State Park (near where Aya grew up). They met up with the photographer and proceeded to take couples portraits at the park. While the photographer was taking individual portraits of Aya, Nazzar was able to sneak behind Aya with the ring. When the photographer instructed Aya to do a pose that required her to turn around, Nazzar popped the question and she said yes!

The Wedding

Aya & Nazzar chose French Oak Ranch in Sonoma County as their wedding ceremony location because they knew they wanted to be in the wine country area, yet wanted something that truly felt remote and private, like its own little world where they could give their guests a special experience that was just their own. They knew it was special when they first saw how idyllic it was in its natural beauty, from the greenery, the serenity, the beautiful pond, and the lights that light up across the pond and in the barn.

Aya & Nazzar wanted Christ at the center of their marriage, so they put a lot of intentional pieces into their ceremony that would be meaningful to them and their loved ones. The ceremony included a gospel choir and a butterfly release after the kiss.

It was a beautiful summer garden wedding – the perfect combination of Bridgerton and every Black love story wedding scene in 90s films. Their guests came from all over the country to celebrate, and the couple was surrounded by all the people who truly love them. It was a weekend filled with all the beauty of Aya & Nazzar’s past, present, and future.