Olive Grove Elopement Session By Jaime Lauren Photography

By Magnolia Rouge

This beautiful styled elopement shoot took place at a Californian Olive Estate. Jamie & Brandon had originally wanted to engage Jaime Lauren Photography for their wedding day however she was going to be away travelling at the time. After the wedding they got in touch with her to do an additional shoot as they didn't feel that they had enough time on their wedding day. Inspired by her travels through the eastern Mediterranean, Jaime conceived of an elopement shoot that would combine elements of Turkey with the California light and landscape, and provided the couple with the collection of photographs they longed for.

From Jaime; �While many Mediterranean-inspired weddings take on the flavour of France or Italy with soft pastels and muted tones, I wanted to infuse this styled elopement session with a bit more of the vibrant, exotic nature that is found in the eastern Mediterranean. While the backdrop is still full of dusky earth tones, bold touches and rich jewel tones add an aura of mystique and understated luxe.

Livermore was the perfect setting for this, as its dry Mediterranean climate is perfect for nurturing the olive groves and vineyards so commonly found throughout the Mediterranean. The golden afternoon light mimicked the earthy hues of Turkey's gentle coastal mountains and farmland.

�Olivina and Wente Vineyards are owned and operated by two of Livermore's oldest families, the Crohare's and the Wente's, whose 19th century properties are adjacent to one another and are nestled up against the golden hillsides of Livermore. These venues set the stage for the ideal Mediterranean-style elopement, where a couple could be intimately wed among the olive groves at Olivina and then dine just up the road at the warmly sophisticated restaurant at Wente � where their very own kitchen garden produces much of the restaurant's organic, seasonal fare.

We created two looks for our bride, one for day and one for dusk. The first featured a simple updo to help bear the mid-day heat, minimal jewelry, and a rustic �I've just been picking flowers' look. We shot these under a shaded overgrown olive canopy that lead up to the main groves. The second and a more sultry look for sunset was styled with hair down, a delicate hair piece, and dramatic earrings. No florals this time as the bride carried a Turkish shawl for a burst of colour.�