It’s always nice to see familiar faces at weddings, so when Wendy, the sister of a former client, reached out to me about photographing her La Arboleda Ranch wedding, I was thrilled.

Not only because everyone at Aami & Ash’s wedding was so nice, but because Wendy and Corey were planning a Hindu wedding ceremony, so I knew I’d be in for a celebration rich with color and steeped in tradition.

And it certainly didn’t hurt that the wedding was to be held at a beautiful rustic ranch in the remote hills of Santa Barbara County, between Lompoc and Buellton. La Arboleda Ranch is a private orchard cottage estate, spacious and beautiful and relaxing.

Wendy and Corey enjoyed a casual morning of getting ready and socializing; we started photos in the early afternoon and enjoyed the directional sunlight that comes with a January wedding.

When it came time for the ceremony, Corey rode in on a horse. The officiant led everyone through the meanings of the many rituals involved in the ceremony, and finished up as the sun set. Wendy, Corey & I headed straight for the small bridge on the property to make the photo at the top of this blog post; my favorite of the day.

For the rest of the night guests enjoyed a delicious Indian dinner and a fun reception with an active dance floor. See those photos and the rest of my favorites from Wendy & Corey’s La Arboleda Ranch wedding in the gallery below.