image couresty Oak Farm Vineyards
When I visited Oak Farm Vineyards to photograph Krystle and Ians wedding, I had no idea what to expect. You drive down a quiet two lane road with hills that go up and down, and it seems like nothing is out there. Tucked into the outskirts of Lodi, CA. , Oak Farm Vineyards Weddings appeared on my left as an oasis of sorts…a patch of green earth amidst a sea of yellow. You make the turn in and suddenly you start seeing that there IS something out here! Oak Farm Vineyards is almost 150 years old, and was built as a personal estate for William DeVries. It has been updated to serve as a winery and an excellent event destination, but still retains it charm. With huge oak trees everywhere , white cottage buildings, and an awesome covered reception patio adjacent to a barn reception area, its a beautiful place to get married…and a really fun place to shoot wedding photos.
I was especially stoked on all of the different places to shoot at Oak Farm Vineyards, and I could shoot 30 weddings there in a row without using the same spot I bet. I saw some excellent locations near the pond, where they actually have a rowboat floating there for the couples who like that classic picnic look . They have an awesome growing arch for brides to walk through en route to their groom ,
and a massive oak tree that serves as a point of interest and a shade provider during the ceremony. The obvious area at Oak Farm is the Vineyards, and if you catch them in the Fall they are filled with leaves!
Recently I got the opportunity to catch up with Sarah Vigil, who is the Events Director for the Oak Farm Vineyards Weddings, and we chatted about NPR, being a young mom, thinking about how tiring running is, and of course, the Oak Farm Vineyards and what makes them awesome.. here’s some of her prized brain matter, condensed into an enjoyable read:
Sarahs top 5 reasons Oak Farm Vinyards is bad-ass:
1. It feels like home, not some pretentious fake victorian villa.
2. You are able to relax here, and just be in your moment.
3. We dont have white roman-esque columns attached to any of our buildings…the architecture compliments the area
4. It’s a family owned property, and they take great pride in its appearance and presentation
5. We have a gigantic Oak tree to get married under, and a boat!! Cmon, how many places have a boat?
Sarahs secret relaxation station on the property:
Theres a little grassy area behind the barn that is perfect for catching some peace and quiet… shhh, dont tell. (my bad, Sarah)
Sarahs favorite Oak Farm Vineyards weddings so far have contained:
- Shabby-chic styles
- Antique chairs
- Each table decorated slightly different
- Adorable country theme with cowboy boots as centerpieces
- Chandeliers, crystals and feathers combied for a glam reception
- All manner of DIY awesomeness
- Laid-back brides, low-key and down to earth groups whose priority is having a great time and keeping everyone smiling
Sarahs favorite season to host a wedding at Oak Farm Vineyards:
Early Fall is her p>ick, with the cool mornings, warm nights, leaves on the vines, and everyone mingling under the patio lights enjoying the party!!
Personally, I’m a fan of this venue, I enjoy shooting there, and I think brides benefit from having a large, open property like this at their disposal. It is secluded and big enough that you can let your hair down, get great pictures almost anywhere on the property… and if you run out of wine… they have you covered!! I wrote this review and contacted Sarah for two reasons:
1. I want to shoot more weddings here, and I am hoping one of my brides will fall in love with this place
2. I think Oak Farm Vineyards deserves the attention, because they are awesome!
Reach out to Sarah at sarah@oakfarmvineyards.com and schedule a consultation, or head over to their CONTACT page and there is much more info.
Much <3,
Dave
