La Tarantella Wedding in Santa Ynez
Tucked into the hills of Santa Ynez, La Tarantella feels a little like leaving California for the afternoon. Warm stucco, towering cypress trees, olive branches, lavender-lined paths and gardens that seem to soften as the sun gets lower, the property has the ease of California wine country with an unmistakably European point of view.
It was the perfect setting for a wedding that felt elegant, intimate, and incredibly relaxed.
Rather than competing with the landscape, the details of the day seemed to belong within it. Guests gathered outside, moving between the gardens and pool as the afternoon unfolded. The bride’s clean, modern gown felt especially beautiful against the texture and warmth of the property, while classic black tailoring kept everything feeling timeless.
A Wedding Venue That Feels Like Tuscany in California
One of the things I love most about photographing a wedding at La Tarantella is how much the property gives you without ever feeling overly manicured.
There are beautiful photographs everywhere, but they aren't necessarily the obvious ones.
I found myself drawn to the smaller pockets of the property, light coming through the trees, the architecture framed by lavender and olive branches, guests gathered casually on the lawn, and the bride and groom disappearing into the gardens for a few quiet minutes together.
It allowed me to photograph the day in the way I love most: observing what was naturally unfolding while stepping in with direction when a photograph called for something a little more intentional.
Photographing La Tarantella on Film and Digital
Santa Ynez has a quality of light that photographs beautifully throughout the day, but particularly as afternoon begins to turn into evening.
I photographed the wedding using both film and digital, allowing each medium to interpret the property a little differently. Film brought a softness to the gardens, skin tones and sun-drenched landscapes that felt perfectly suited to La Tarantella. Digital allowed me to move quickly through the more fleeting parts of the day, expressions, movement and interactions between the couple and their guests.
What I love about weddings in Santa Ynez is that luxury here doesn't have to feel overly polished.
There can be beautiful fashion and thoughtful design alongside guests standing barefoot in the grass, glasses left on tables, movement, laughter and all of the little things that happen when people are genuinely enjoying themselves.
La Tarantella lends itself especially well to that kind of celebration.
The property is beautiful enough to create a sense of occasion, but private and intimate enough that the day can still feel like a really incredible dinner party somewhere in the Italian countryside.
And photographically, that's where things get interesting.
The architecture and landscape create the setting, but the people bring it to life.
Venue: @latarantella_gfv
Planner: @evelynfrancescaevents
Florist: @eventsbymaxi
Catering: @fieldtotableevents
Makeup: @shaniecrosbie
DJ: @secondsong_official
Hair: @juliabeautyandstyle