Melissa + Yaron – a Rustic Mountain Wedding at Upper Meadow Lodge – Palomar Mountain, San Diego, CA

Melissa + Yaron first connected over their shared love of music, travel, and their many, many mutual friends! It was actually kind of a wonder these two hadn’t met earlier! Given how much their social circles overlap, I guess that’s part of the magic of timing.  When it’s right, it’s just right. And everything fell right into place for these two as they fell in love and decided to spend their lives together.

When it came time to plan their wedding day, Melissa, a writer, musician, and yoga instructor, envisioned a romantic elopement. Far removed from the pomp and circumstance of modern elaborate wedding receptions. But Yaron, with deep ties to his culture and family, was hoping for a large celebration filled with music and friends and family. Something to share with everyone they knew and loved! And in a true testament to “marriage is compromise”, they eventually settled for an intimate ceremony on a sacred site up on Palomar Mountain.

About an hour northeast of San Diego, California, Palomar Mountain spoke to both of their hearts.  Sprawling over 18 gorgeous acres, Upper Meadow Lodge, with its lush primordial forest of ancient cedar trees, meadows filled with ferns, and a vast array of wildflowers, provided the perfect setting for the serene, intimate wedding they had in mind.  And when my second photographer, Christina, and I made our way up there it was easy to see the appeal.

This forest is magical, and the energy there so pure.  Melissa and Yaron’s wedding was beyond beautiful; it was perfect!