An Intimate Northern California Wedding at The Sea Ranch Lodge

Before The Sea Ranch Lodge ever came into the picture, Kristen and Will’s story started somewhere a little less coastal—a dating app in Colorado. They matched on OkCupid while living in Denver and met for dinner at a local spot called Machetes. It was one of those first dates where you lose track of time without intending to. Easy conversation, zero pretense. The kind of night you don’t really want to end.

From that evening on, they’ve been together nearly every day. After eight years of partnership—moving, working, adventuring—Will proposed in Utah. He brought a tripod, told Kristen they were just taking some photos with their dog, Cash, and then read her a poem before getting down on one knee. He even captured the whole thing on video. Their story is intentional and well traversed, and that energy is exactly what shaped their wedding day.

Discovering The Sea Ranch Lodge

Kristen didn’t find Sea Ranch through a wedding planner or a styled blog shoot—she did on Google Maps. Zooming in on every hotel and lodge from Seattle to Big Sur, she was on a mission to find the place. Somewhere coastal, scenic, and special. A destination that felt like a true escape.

When they arrived at Sea Ranch during a road trip to tour venues, it was sunset. The sky was soft and golden, the ocean stretching endlessly beyond the bluffs. Kristen immediately felt like she’d stepped onto the Irish coast. Moody. Timeless. A little bit Pride and Prejudice, but with better lighting. It didn’t feel like California. And that was the point.

Tucked along a rugged stretch of the Sonoma coastline, The Sea Ranch Lodge is known for its architecture, minimalist design, and deep connection to the land. The lodge describes itself as “a place that inspires awe and invites reflection,” which feels pretty spot-on when you’re standing on a cliffside meadow with the Pacific crashing below. For couples, the venue offers multiple ceremony sites and gathering spaces, all immersed in the natural beauty and quiet elegance of the region.

Kristen and Will decided to keep everything on-site. Ceremony overlooking the ocean, followed by dinner inside the lodge, with good company, connection, and a location that felt completely their own.

An Intimate NorCal Wedding at The Sea Ranch Lodge

An Intentional Wedding on the Northern California Coast

It was November on the Northern California coast, that sweet spot when the air still holds some warmth—not too hot, not too cold. Kristen and Will started their morning with a walk around the property. It set the tone for everything that followed.

The night before, Kristen had turned their room into a mini flower studio. She’d picked up loose blooms from Point West Wholesale in Santa Rosa, spread them out across the floor, poured a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, and queued up Twilight. She made all the arrangements by hand. Bouquets, table flowers—everything. It was a late night, but more like a creative reset before the big day.

Even though planning hadn’t been without its bumps—timelines shifted, things fell through—none of that lingered. The energy on the wedding day was simple. Sometimes the most meaningful moments come from letting go of the script.

NorCal wedding portraits at sunset at The Sea Ranch Lodge

Film Wedding Photography | Sea Ranch Wedding Photographer | Evynn LeValley

Sea Ranch has a weathered barn, cliff edges, and beautiful golden meadows. Dinner was set inside The Sea Ranch Lodge, where the architecture speaks for itself. It framed their evening in a way that didn’t need extra dressing up.

Everything about the day carried Kristen’s fingerprints—from the flowers she arranged to the way she leaned into the setting instead of fighting to make it something it wasn’t. And maybe that’s the takeaway here. You don’t need a sprawling guest list or a rigid timeline to create a wedding that feels soul-stirring. Sometimes it’s just about choosing a dream location, trusting your instincts, and letting the day live.

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