I am honored Devon & Ducky chose me to capture their beautiful Sonoma wine cave wedding at B. Wise Estate. Ducky has worked for a number of exceptional photographers over the years, so for her and her husband to choose me to capture their wedding among that crowd of talent was pretty high praise!
Additionally, Ducky and I have been friends and co-workers for quite a few years now. Ducky is not only a wonderful person, but she is also my favorite makeup artist who helps me enhance the features of all my female clients before I photograph them.
It was honestly a special treat for me to get to photograph her and her husband’s marriage. Not only because of our friendship, but also because of the vampire-themed wine cave wedding they had planned. It felt like it was right up my alley with my cinematic spin I like to put on my photos. The following is what happened.
Groom Formal Portraits
Devon wore a charcoal grey suit with a deep red tie that matched the moody, gothic aesthetic of the day. He didn’t have groomsmen, so I focused on getting more creative solo portraits of him that used dramatic shadows to reflect their vampire-inspired theme.
I kept his setup clean, posing him into the light I found around us. Devon was very comfortable on camera and with subtle adjustments the vibe was cinematic and dramatic. I love the way his photos came together, and much of the credit goes to him for styling such a cool look for himself.
If you want to learn how to style yourself better with your wedding’s theme, I recommend that you check out my guide on how to color coordinate your outfits for photos. Good styling will elevate your photos tremendously, and there’s very little you can do to fix bad styling later. It’s for this reason that it’s important to plan what you’re going to wear well in advance like he did.
Bride Formal Portraits
I’ve worked with Ducky for years as a makeup artist, so photographing her as the bride this time felt surreal. Seeing her in front of my lens instead of behind the scenes was a full-circle moment.
For her contribution to the vampire theme, she went platinum blonde and had luscious extensions added before the wedding. She wore a champagne-colored dress which featured gold lace embroidery and beaded detailing. She asked me to capture a few modest bridal boudoir photos of her slipping into it before capturing her bridal portraits.
After I captured the details of her getting ready I continued to capture more portraits of her. I leaned into posing her in the full afternoon sun, letting the hard, dramatic shadows shape the image. It’s the toughest light to work with, but the results are striking—especially with a subject like her, open to being directed into it. I thought it contributed to the darkly beautiful vibes that they wanted.
Bride and Groom First Look
Their first look happened just as the golden hour sun filtered through the trees. Ducky reached for Devon’s lapel as he turned to face her, and his smile said everything. The moment was intimate, raw, and unscripted. The connection between them had that rare, electric kind of stillness.
For moments like this, I take a “plandid” approach. I find beautiful light, set the scene, and simply say “action.” From there, I let things unfold naturally and capture what happens. This works better than strictly photojournalistic photos because I’ve already scouted a spot with a stunning backdrop and great light. I’m not staging your moment—I’m just asking you to do what you were already going to do… just over there.
Sonoma Wine Cave Wedding Ceremony
Rhonda and John, the estate’s owners, graciously opened their private home for the celebration. Inspired by Italy and Provence, the estate blends indoor and outdoor living beautifully. Sculptures dotted the gardens, and two overlooks offered the best views of Sonoma Valley I’ve ever seen—one at the pool house, where Ducky and Devon took their solo portraits, and another on the back side of the wine cave.
This wasn’t your typical wedding. The wine cave at B. Wise Estate gave off an old-world vibe—textured walls, flickering candles, and intricate art adorned the cavern. Devon and Ducky went all in on a dark, romantic aesthetic. For their Sonoma wine cave wedding ceremony, they stood beneath a coffin-shaped arbor that Devon built himself. Tapered candles illuminated the tunnel exit, and rose petals trailed along the tunnel and up the aisle.
The ceremony was held at that back overlook. Ducky emerged from the cave just after the sun dipped behind the Sonoma Mountain range, stepping into a view that felt both intimate and epic. For most weddings I usually photograph the bride from the altar as she walks down the aisle, but for this one I chose to do it backwards following her instead as she emerged from the tunnel.
Sonoma Wine Cave Wedding Reception
This wine cave wedding reception was cozy and intimate with just close friends and family. After capturing the rest of the group photos that they requested I then shifted my approach to capture the party candidly for the remainder of the night. No dancing at this wine cave wedding, just top shelf wine and deep conversations. My kind of party!
Couples Portraits
At the end of the night, I asked if they’d be up for a few more couple’s portraits. They were all in. The wine cave was a dramatic playground I couldn’t resist. That dark, moody vibe gave everything a cinematic edge I love.
I wanted their portraits to feel like scenes from a gothic romance. I posed them close, like they’d just snuck off for a private moment by candlelight. I lit them to highlight soft, flattering light on her face and deeper, moody shadows on his. With just the right direction, nothing looked stiff or staged—it felt like I caught real moments as they unfolded.
In reality, one of Ducky’s bridesmaids was standing just out of frame, holding a light on Ducky. Total MVP.
Sonoma Wedding Photographer Jason Guy
I’ve known Ducky for years, and when she asked me to shoot her wedding, I was honored. She’s not only my go-to makeup artist but also someone I trust creatively. For her to choose me – especially with her background working alongside top-tier wedding photographers, meant the world to me.
Their vampire-inspired wine cave wedding wasn’t just visually stunning—it was deeply personal. Even the ”Til death do us part pledge — was done authentically in their style. I love capturing authenticity like that!
If you’re planning a wine cave wedding, whether in Sonoma or Napa, feel free to get in touch by tapping the button below. As a Sonoma wedding photographer, I’d love to hear your vision and help bring it to life!